Sports

East's O'Connell to Coach at Molloy

Sachem alum, varsity assistant taking his coaching game to the next level.

Sachem East varsity lacrosse assistant coach Justin O'Connell is stepping down to take the offensive coordinator coaching position at Molloy College in Rockville Centre.

“I'm obviously very excited about the opportunity given to me by head coach Eric Petrullo and the Molloy College administration,” said O’Connell, a Sachem alum. “I look forward to the challenge of coaching in the toughest conference in Division II lacrosse.”

O’Connell was a Ray Enners Award winner as Suffolk County’s top lacrosse player in 1997 and is one of only a few defensemen to win the honor.

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An Academic All-American as a senior, he played college lacrosse at the University of Pennsylvania. He teaches at Sequoya Middle School.

“Leaving Sachem East was one of the most difficult decisions I've ever had to make,” he said. “I would like to thank Rob Murphy for providing me the opportunity to be a varsity coach in the same district where I played. It has been an honor.”

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Molloy competes in the East Coast Conference and finished 5-10 overall last season. Sachem North's has committed to play there next season.

O'Connell joins a long list of Sachem alums to coach college lacrosse, which includes (HC Lafayette), Brian Brecht (HC Siena), Brendan Chamberlain (HC Suffolk), (HC Marquette), (HC Herkimer) and (AC Lafayette).


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