Anken to Coach Italian National Team
Warrior Head Coach will be Assistant in Europe

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa.—The Italian Lacrosse Federation has announced that Brian Anken, Lycoming College’s head lacrosse coach, has been named as an assistant coach for the 2010 Italian National Team. Team Italy will compete in the 2008 European Lacrosse Championships in Lahti, Finland and the 2010 World Championship in Manchester, England.

Anken is entering his first season as head coach at Lycoming. Previously, he served as head coach at Mars Hill College in North Carolina from 2003-2006. Anken was recognized as the Deep South Conference Coach of the Year in 2004. In 2006, he became the all-time wins leader at Mars Hill while leading the Lions to their first national ranking.

When asked whether the appointment would effect his collegiate coaching, Anken answered, “The effects would all be very positive. In addition to my responsibilities as the head coach at Lycoming College the opportunity to be an assistant for the Italian National team is a tremendous honor. I look forward to working with such a great staff during the next four years. Coach Peluso has very high expectations and it’s an incredible thrill to be involved with the development of lacrosse in Italy.”

The Italian Lacrosse Federation also announced that Gene Peluso of Rochester Institute of Technology will be Team Italy’s head coach. Anken was the defensive coordinator at R.I.T. before taking his position at Mars Hill.

“We are very excited about the staff we put together,” said Peluso. “After interviewing many people at the U.S. Lacrosse Convention, we wanted to put a staff together that knew each other and shared a common goal for the growth of lacrosse in Italy.”