Asplundh Steps Up to Coach Mount Greylock Boys Lacrosse
(6).jpg) |
| Brandon Asplundh, right, coaches in 2007 as graduate assistant under Springfield College men's lacrosse coach Keith Bugbee. |
Brandon Asplundh took over the reins of the Mounties this month, succeeding Jeff Stripp, who guided the team from its days as a club program through its first two seasons as a varsity sport.
Asplundh has been an offensive coordinator and head junior varsity coach under Stripp for three years, and he said it was an easy decision to apply for the top job.
"I actually heard only a few weeks ago, maybe three weeks ago, that Jeff was not goign to be returning," Asplundh said on Monday. "It was a no-brainer that I would apply and try to take over and keep going a good thing that he created here.
"I had known there was a chance he wouldn't keep coaching forever. He has a daughter playing [girls lacrosse] who he wants to watch. His son is a superstar distance runner on the track team. They just had a newborn.
"I totally understand the decision."
And Asplundh feels totally prepared to fill Stripp's shoes after a lifetime spent playing and coaching lacrosse.
He grew up playing the game in the Philadelphia suburb of Bryn Athyn, Pa., and played for one year at Dickinson College before transferring to Springfield College when he decided to major in physical education.
He played for the Pride for three years and then coached under longtime Springfield mentor Keith Bugbee while attending graduate school.
Asplundh held one other teaching job for before he arrived at Mount Greylock to teach in the physical education department.
He said that working in the school is an advantage for a varsity coach.
"It's easier because I have the same schedule as [the players]," Asplundh said. "If they need to find me throughout the day, they know where to find me. That's always been the case, but now I'm the head coach."
On Monday, the first day of preseason practice under MIAA rules, he took over a program that went to the Western Massachusetts Division 2 tournament each of its first two seasons, advancing to the sectional semi-finals last spring.
"We definitely suffered some major losses through graduation," Asplundh said. "Fortunately, we return our entire close defense, including both goalies. Despite those senior losses, I have extremely high expectations for this team. I don't think we have to take a major step back."
And Mount Greylock could take a step forward with the state's new realignment for lacrosse, which puts the Mounties in Division 3.
Asplundh said the new setup is a double-edged sword.
"In one way, it's disappointing, because in order to win Western Mass, you want to play the best," he said. "But some of those bigger teams we won't see in Western Mass.
"Winning Western Mass and even a state championship becomes a more realistic goal."