BY JOHN FLANIGAN
Staff Writer
According to a Sacred Heart Athletic Communications press release, men’s lacrosse head coach Jon Basti has announced three changes to his coaching staff for the 2018 season.
Mike Chanenchuk has been named the offensive coordinator and an assistant coach, and Ian Farley has been added as a volunteer assistant coach, and Chace Calkin has been named the Coordinator of Operations.
Calkin has taken on a new role in his third year as a part of the Pioneer coaching staff. Serving as the Coordinator of Operations next season, Calkin will now be working on game scouting and video preparation.
Last season under Calkin’s guidance as an assistant coach, Sacred Heart had two of the top six face-off specialists in the Northeast Conference (NEC). Prior to working at Sacred Heart, Calkin coached on the staff at John Carroll University as a graduate assistant.
In his career as a student-athlete, Calkin attended the University of Denver, at which he was a member of two NCAA Final Four teams.
According to the press release, Basti said that Calkin, “is someone that has brought a lot to our program the last two years. We’re very happy to keep him on staff and help us with his new role.”
Sacred Heart is not the first school where Chanenchuk will serve as offensive coordinator and assistant coach for the 2018 season. He spent the past two years serving in the same roles of assistant coach and offensive coordinator at the New York Institute of Technology.
“It’s an honor to be here, the Pioneers have a great atmosphere with the lacrosse program. We are heading in a great direction, and I’m really excited to add positively to the program,” said Chanenchuk.
Chanenchuk played lacrosse at Princeton and Maryland, where he had a decorated career as a student-athlete. He was selected 11th overall in the 2014 Major League Lacrosse draft, and has been a member of the Charlotte Hounds since. He is a two-time MLL All-Star for the Hounds and was invited to represent Team USA this year.
“Being able to play and be coached by some of the best coaches in the world gives me the ability to have different experiences than other coaches. It gives me more options in regards to different offensive sets, plays, and perspectives being a player and a coach,” said Chanenchuk.
Farley, the new volunteer assistant coach, is a Sacred Heart alum and former player under Basti. After graduating from Sacred Heart in 2015, Farley began his coaching career as a volunteer assistant coach at Vassar College.
Farley moved on to John Carroll University for the 2016 season, where he helped lead the team to an NCAA Tournament berth as an assistant coach. Last season, Farley worked primarily as an assistant coach with the Marist College face-off unit, a team which reached the MAAC title game.
“It’s a privilege. It’s good to see where not only the lacrosse program is going, but also where the school is going. I’m excited for the opportunity, and I’m excited to see where Sacred Heart goes this year,” Farley said.
