The Saskatchewan Rush have awarded General Manager Derek Keenan, Head Coach Jeff McComb, and Assistant Coaches Jimmy Quinlan and Jeremy Tallevi with contract extensions. Keenan is signed through the 2023-2024 NLL season, while the rest of the staff have been signed to two-year deals.
Below is the media release from the Saskatchewan Rush…
The Saskatchewan Rush are pleased to announce contract extensions with General Manager Derek Keenan, Head Coach Jeff McComb, and Assistant Coaches Jimmy Quinlan and Jeremy Tallevi.
McComb, Quinlan, and Tallevi have signed two-year deals while Keenan has been extended through the 2023-2024 National Lacrosse League (NLL) season.
“Derek has proven over the last several decades that he is the standard bearer for General Managers in the sport of lacrosse”, says Colin Priestner, President and Governor of the Rush. “We couldn’t be more excited to have him and his staff committed to us long term, bringing championship-level lacrosse to Saskatchewan.”
The signings solidify a staff whose head positions in Keenan and McComb have seen a great deal of success together, winning three NLL Championships (2015, 2016, 2018) and making the NLL Championship Series five times since 2012.
“The Rush organization has always prided itself in stability”, says Keenan. “Whether it’s player procurement, management, or the coaching staff, we like to stay consistent with strategies and messaging. I’ve got 100% confidence that with Jeff, Jimmy, and Jeremy on our bench, stability and consistency will continue.”
McComb was named Head Coach of the Rush in August, 2020, prior to the cancelled 2020-21 NLL season. After 8 seasons with the team as an Assistant Coach, McComb takes over bench duties from Keenan, a three-time NLL GM of the Year (2006, 2010, 2014) who has balanced GM and head coaching duties since joining the Rush in 2009.
“I’m really excited to be able to keep the continuity of having Jimmy Quinlan and Jeremy Tallevi as part of the coaching staff”, added McComb. “Jimmy brings a teacher’s mentality to the game and I’m excited to see what wrinkles he brings to our offense, after previously coaching the Rush defense. And Jeremy stepped into Jimmy’s old role 3 years ago and has done a fantastic job. He’ll continue to lead one of the top defensive groups in the game.”
The Rush begin training camp on November 5th in Saskatoon before heading to Oakville, ON to train at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre on November 12th. Saskatchewan’s final weekend of preparation will return to Saskatoon on November 26th before opening up the 2021-22 regular season on the road against the Halifax Thunderbirds on December 4th. The 2021 home opener will take place the following weekend on December 11th at SaskTel Centre against the visiting Calgary Roughnecks.
