After a commendable third-place finish in the 2023 season, the Millard West boys lacrosse team found themselves in a predicament without a head coach. As summer waned and the new school year loomed, anxiety grew in the absence of news about a new leader.
On Aug 8, relief swept through multiple social media platforms with the much-awaited announcement. Nick Brown was officially named head coach of the same lacrosse team he played for in his prep years. A graduate in the Class of 2016, Brown left an indelible mark on Millard West’s sports scene, excelling in both hockey and lacrosse while earning a plethora of accolades. A former state champion on both the hockey and lacrosse team, Brown was a two-time, first-team all-state captain before his collegiate career with NCAA Division II Adams State in Alamosa, Colorado.
Since his collegiate days, Brown returned to Nebraska playing for the Omaha Rebels of the Box Lacrosse League; A men’s Senior A league operating within the United States with 11 teams. Following a knee injury from last year that sidelined Brown to the bench, he would soon gain word of an opportunity he couldn’t refuse.
“Since then, I’ve been coaching the Omaha Rebels team and after one of our practices I overheard how the position at Millard West was going to be opening up,” Brown said. “I’ve coached all age groups over the years, but there’s nothing like coaching at the high school level. Having the chance to impact these players and give them the tools to succeed not only on the lacrosse field but in their everyday lives is my favorite part.”
In the past four seasons, the team has had a new coach each season. Labeled as, “four coaches in four years,” few seniors are a part of the remaining group who have dealt with this revolving door, but the few that do remain see something special within this addition.
“He has really risen to the occasion,” senior Reece Straley said. “What I really like about Coach Brown is the attitude he brings to the team. He is always positive, smiling, giving fist bumps and hyping people up. I think it’s given the team a new type of energy that we didn’t have before.”
As the Millard West boys lacrosse team has embarked on this new chapter under Coach Brown’s guidance, his impact became tangible from the onset. His dedication and expertise breathed new life into the team, forging an impressive 6-1 record as of April 17.
“As an alumni, he understands the winning history of the program,” assistant coach Joe Figura said. “He wants the current players to have the same great experience that he and so many others had during his time playing for Millard West. Coach Nick cares deeply about the success of the players on and off the field. He does a great job of cultivating the experience of playing Millard West Lacrosse to each individual player.”
With the ever-revolving door of players and coaches, coach Brown looks to add stability for not only this year but beyond and take the Wildcats back to the promised land of a run at the state title.
