John Middleton is the founder of Team Central.  He attended Western New England College (D3) and graduated in 1987. While at WNEC, he played Lacrosse and Hockey. Head coach Algonquin High School 2000-2002. 2003 National Senior All Star Game Coach, North Team and won Championship. Head coach 2003 & 2004 Bay State games Central Region Team, took the Silver Medal in 2004. Area Chairman for U.S. Lacrosse Central MA. 2001 Metro-West Coach of the Year. Coached in New Jersey for 7 years prior to relocation to MA. He is also Certified with US Lacrosse Coaches Education Program through Level 1 and 2 along with having a Double-Goal Coach Certifcation with the Positive Coaching Alliance.

 

TOM BAKER - Assistant Coach
Tom Baker is new to the area but not new to the game of lacrosse. A native of Long Island, NY, Tom played lacrosse and football for two years at Baltimore Junior College. While playing for Baltimore from 1971 to 1973 he was awarded first team All American (for lacrosse, defense), All-JUCO, All-Region and was selected captain of the NJCAA 1973 South All-Star Team. In 1973 he received a full scholarship for football to the University of Pittsburgh. Tom was the head coach at Eden Prairie High School, Minnesota(reaching the State Semi Finals in his first year 13-1) and named 2002 US Lacrosse "Man of the Year" in Minnesota.

 

Since moving to Massachusetts Tom has been the head coach at Shrewsbury High School from 2003-2004 and is currently an assistant coach at St. John's High School in Shrewsbury. Tom was named 2004 US Lacrosse "Man of the Year" for Central Massachusetts. He currently plays with the Minneapolis Lacrosse Club (6 years). 

A 4 year standout at Holy Cross (D1) as a Defenseman and LSM, Rich is presently the assistant boys lacrosse at the Brooks School. He attended Pomfret School and PG'd at Northfield Mount Herman where he played football and lacrosse. He also works in the Admissions Office at Brooks in addition to being a Dorm Parent.

The head coach and founder of the Northbridge High School Lacrosse Team, Steve has been influential in the growth of lacrosse in Central Massachusetts.  In 2006 he was named the Central Mass Chapter of US Lacrosse "Man of the Year."  Involved with Team Central since 2004, Steve is also a football coach at Northbridge.  Previously he coached in the Walpole, MA youth lacrosse program.  A Political Science major, Falconer graduated in 1997 from D-III Salem State College where he played defense and long stick middie. He is also certified thru the Positive Coaching Alliance as a Double-Goal Coach.

 

Graduated from Newton North in 1995. Three year starting face off midfielder. Junior year was Boston Globe and Boston Herald all-scholastic. Senior year was High School All American and Boston Globe co-player of the year. He was also first team Bay State league all star as quarterback in football where he threw for over 1000 yards during his senior year. Mike attended Phillips Academy Andover for a pg year where he  played and started for the football and lacrosse teams. Football team was 9-0 and won the New England Prep Championship. 

Attended Trinity College (D3) (CT) and graduated with an english lit degree in 2000. Started for four years and still hold all time faceoff percentage records at Trinity.

Was an assistant on the varsity at St. Johns Shrewsbury and ran the frosh team there in 2005.

Was offered the head coaching job at Marian high in 2006 leading them to more wins in his first two years than all previous years combned just missing the State Playoffs in 2008  He also holds a Masters Degree in Guidance Counseling from UMASS. 

 

Mike is now a full-time guidance counselor at Everett High School.