Derek Keenan facts for kids

Derek Keenan is a famous person in the sport of lacrosse. He was a great player and is now a very successful coach and general manager. He was born in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, on October 2, 1961. Derek Keenan has won many important awards in the National Lacrosse League (NLL). He has won the NLL General Manager of the Year award three times. He also won the Les Bartley Award for Coach of the Year three times. He won both awards in 2006, 2010, and 2014. He currently leads the Saskatchewan Rush team as their head coach and general manager.

Derek Keenan's Lacrosse Journey

Derek Keenan had a long and successful career in lacrosse. He played for amateur teams like the Oshawa Green Gaels and the Brooklin Redmen. He also played in college at Ithaca College, where he was recognized as an All-American player. Keenan also represented Canada in field lacrosse at several world championships.

Starting Professional Play

In 1992, Derek Keenan began his professional career with the Buffalo Bandits. He quickly made a name for himself, winning the Rookie of the Year Award in his first season. The Bandits were very strong during his time there. They won the Champions Cup (the NLL championship) in both 1992 and 1993.

Time with the Toronto Rock

After a break from playing, Keenan joined the Toronto Rock in 1999 for six games. He then became an assistant coach for the team, working under head coach Les Bartley. The Toronto Rock won the NLL Championship in 1999. With Keenan as an assistant coach, the Rock reached the championship game in the next four seasons. They won three more championships in 2000, 2002, and 2003.

In November 2003, Les Bartley stepped down from his role. Keenan was then made the interim general manager. However, after a tough start to the 2004 season, Keenan and the interim head coach were replaced.

Coaching and General Managing Roles

In 2005, Derek Keenan became the head coach and general manager for the Anaheim Storm. He helped the team improve their record. Even though the team got better, the Storm stopped playing after the 2005 season.

Later in 2005, Keenan was hired to lead a new NLL team in Portland. This team became known as the "LumberJax." In their first season in 2006, the LumberJax had an amazing record of 11 wins and 5 losses. They were the first new team in NLL history to finish first in their division. For this success, Keenan received both the GM of the Year Award and the Les Bartley Award for Coach of the Year.

By November 2012, Keenan was coaching the Edmonton Rush in the National Lacrosse League. He was also honored for his great career by being inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame in November 2012. He continues to be a key figure in the NLL, currently leading the Saskatchewan Rush.

Family Connections

Derek Keenan has some interesting family connections in the sports world. His second cousin is Mike Keenan, who is a well-known former coach in the National Hockey League (NHL). Derek Keenan's wife, Wendy, was the sister of Joe Nieuwendyk, a famous hockey player who is in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Wendy passed away on January 2, 2015.

Player Statistics

Derek Keenan's playing statistics in the National Lacrosse League are shown below.

Awards and Honors

Derek Keenan has received several important awards throughout his career: