In an exclusive interview with Winston Seeney on ArenaMedia's live draft netcast last Thursday, Sal LoCascio announced he has been named the new head coach of the New York Saints, replacing Scott Huff. Brothers Norm and Bob Engelke are rumored to become assistant coaches.

The appointment as head coach ends LoCascio's playing career, after eleven season. Perhaps one of the premier goaltenders in the game, LoCascio was named an All Pro five times, Team MVP seven times, was a member of the 1994 All-World Team, and was a starting goalie for Major League Lacrosse's All-Star Tour this past summer. His college career at Massachusetts was also very successful, as he was thrice named Team MVP and four times an All-American, recording 729 saves over his four-year career. Syracuse University head coach John Desko says of LoCascio, "He is second to none."

LoCascio has had a major impact off the field, as well. He hosts the Saints' All-Pro Lacrosse Camp, where many young stars learned the essentials of lacrosse. He finished his professional career this summer with the MLL Summer Showcase, and his NLL finale was earlier this year, against the Buffalo Bandits.

The Engelkes are not strangers to New York Saints lacrosse. Norm Engelke was one of the team's assistant coaches the past several seasons, and served (with John Phillips) as Saints co-head coach (4-3 record) following the mid-season resignation of Vinnie Pfeifer in 1998. Bob Engelke was the team's first head coach, from 1987 to 1992, winning the 1988 Eagle League championship and compiling an overall record of 33-22 (30-18 regular-season; 3-4 postseason).

The hiring of LoCascio as head coach and rumored hiring of the Engelkes seemingly brings to a close the tenure of Canadian box lacrosse expert Jim Hinkson as an assistant coach with the Saints. There is no word on whether Hinkson will join the staff of any other NLL team this season.

In his first NLL Draft, LoCascio put together a mix of rookies and veterans, drafting future stars such as Ben Prepchuk and A.J. Haugen while retaining current stars such as Steve Sombrotto and Jason Wulder. This may be the formula for success for the Saints, who have struggled the past few years. LoCascio will always be remembered for his terrific goaltending, and let's hope nobody on the Saints will ever again wear Sal's number two.