National Lacrosse League

The Edmonton Rush announced today that General Manager and Head Coach Derek Keenan signed a one year deal. Keenan enters his fourth year as General Manager and Head Coach for the team and with the last season being the most successful with a run to the 2012 NLL Championships.

“Coach Keenan’s dedication, work ethic and preparation to the team is the staple for the structure we need in order to return to the championship in 2013,” states Owner Bruce Urban.

Despite the slow start to last season with a 2-7 record at the mid mark in the season, Keenan was instrumental in taking the team to a great playoff run and to the 2012 NLL Championship.

“There is really no other place I want to be. Edmonton is a top notch sports city and I think we are on the verge of augmenting the 'City of Champions' moniker," states Keenan. “The ownership is solid and together we have built a talented and athletic young core group of players. There is still a lot of work to be done but I really look forward to that challenge.”

A historical mark for the team this season is having the first time franchise first draft pick for the 2012 NLL Entry Draft. The date and location for the 2012 NLL Entry Draft has yet to be announced but is tentatively scheduled for this September.

Derek Keenan was recently announced as one of the eight new members to be inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame upcoming in November. In addition, he also was a member of the 1993 Buffalo Bandit’s team currently in nomination for the NLL Hall of Fame for 2012.