Lacrosse Canada announces coaching staff for U20 Men in 2025.

Ottawa ON- Lacrosse Canada is pleased to announce their coaching staff for the 2025 U20 World Championship. There is still no set location or dates for the tournament. Host cities are still being considered for the event, and more information is soon to come.

However, Canada has released a star studded coaching staff that they believe will lead them to the gold medal. The staff includes Gary Gait as the head coach, along with John Grant Jr, Mark Miyashita, Shawn Wilkins, and John Gallant serving as assistant coaches. This group brings along with them years of playing experience along with many years of pro and NCAA coaching success. Coach bios can be seen below.

Gary Gait- Widely considered to be the greatest player in lacrosse history, Gary Gait is the Head Men's Lacrosse Coach at Syracuse. In his career, Gait is a 10-time NCAA Champion, including seven titles as an assistant coach with the Maryland women's lacrosse program (1995-01) and his three championships as a player. Gait took over as Syracuse's head women's lacrosse coach in 2007 and has turned the team into a national powerhouse, reaching three national title games, including in the 2021 season. At the professional level as a player, Gait has won three NLL titles (1991, 1994, 1995), three MLL titles, (2001, 2002, 2005), three Mann Cups (1991, 1997, 1999), the Heritage Cup (2004) and the ILF World Championship (2006).

John Grant Jr- John Grant Jr. was named to the Hall of Fame for the Professional Lacrosse League, National Lacrosse League, and the University of Delaware. He is most notably the only player to be awarded the MVP in Major League Lacrosse and NLL in the same year. He has six MLL Championships, one NLL title, five Mann Cup crowns and four World Championship titles with Team Canada as a player and two more as an assistant coach. Prior to his collegiate coaching at John’s Hopkins and the Air Force Academy, Coach Grant Jr spent time at Valor Christian High School in Highlands Ranch, Colorado where they advanced to three 4A State Championships, winning back-to-back titles in 2016 and 2017. As an educator, coach, and former player, John is excited to build a one of a kind lacrosse program that will produce the best players and more importantly quality young men that will succeed at the next level and in life.

Mark Miyashita- During his time at Canisius, Miyashita has guided Canisius to three appearances in the MAAC Men’s Lacrosse Championship, highlighted by the 2018 title in his first season at the helm. The Golden Griffins claimed their third MAAC championship after recording a pair of thrilling overtime victories against top seeds Quinnipiac and Detroit Mercy on their way to the title.In addition to his duties with the Griffs, Miyashita has gained valuable coaching experience on the international stage, serving as an assistant coach for Team Canada on multiple occasions.  A member of the Canisius Hall of Fame class of 2013, Miyashita appeared in 42 games during his four seasons with the Blue and Gold, finishing his career ranked among the program’s career leaders in points (145/7th), assists (74/8th) and goals (71/15th). A three-time captain, Miyashita led the Griffs in points in both 2000 and 2003, two seasons where he also earned All-MAAC First Team honors. The school’s all-time leader in career faceoff percentage (.593) and ground balls (329), he led the nation in ground balls per game in 2000 with 10.69, a number that still ranks second-best in NCAA history to this day. He ended his career with 7.83 ground balls per game, a number that currently ranks eighth all-time in NCAA men’s lacrosse history.

Shawn Wilkins- Shawn was named 2021, 2013 IMLCA Division III Assistant Coach of the Year, RIT athletics Hall of fame inductee begins his 14th season as an assistant coach for the RIT men's lacrosse program in 2022-23, serving as RIT’s offensive coordinator. Wilkins helped lead the Tigers to a 22-1 record and the program’s second straight NCAA Division III national championship in 2022. Wilkins represented Team Canada as an assistant coach helping lead the team to a Silver Medal finish at the 2022 U-21 World Championships. Wilkins played professionally for the Rochester Rattlers of Major League Lacrosse and the Rochester Knighthawks of the National Lacrosse League. Wilkins was part of the 2007 NLL champions Rochester Knighthawks and 2008 MLL Rochester Rattler teams. He also played for the Italian National team in 2006 and was a member of the Canadian Jr. National team in 1996 the competed in Tokyo, Japan. 

John Gallant- John Gallant has been the Assistant Coach at the University of Denver since 2019 coaching alongside Bill Tierney and Matt Brown. In 2023 Denver's defense ranked eighth in the country and first in the BIG EAST in scoring defense en-route to a 10-5 season. The Pioneers allowed just over 8 goals per game in its four wins over top-15 programs. Prior to coaching at DU, Gallant played professional lacrosse for the Colorado Mammoth (NLL) from 2000-2015. During his career he was voted to the 2007 NLL All-Star Team, won the NLL Championship in 2006 under coach Gary Gait, and named Team Captain in 2010. A member of the Mammoth’s All-Decade Team in 2012, Gallant moved with the franchise from Washington D.C. to Colorado in 2002, completing his career with a single franchise. Retiring as the team’s all-time leader in games played and ground balls. In 2007 Gallant represented Team Canada at the 2007 World Indoor Lacrosse Championships in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He helped Canada secure the Gold Medal vs Haudenosaunee Nationals in overtime.

Date and Location of the tournament will be posted upon release from World Lacrosse

About Lacrosse Canada

Founded in 1867, Lacrosse Canada is the governing body responsible for all aspects of lacrosse in Canada. Our organization is comprised of 11 Member Associations representing nearly 85,000 individual participants, including coaches, officials, and athletes of all ages and abilities. Lacrosse Canada’s mission is to honour the sport of lacrosse and its unique nation-building heritage, by engaging our members, leading our partners, and providing opportunities for all Canadians to participate. Lacrosse Canada oversees the delivery of numerous national championships and the participation of Team Canada at all international events sanctioned by World Lacrosse. Lacrosse Canada is proud to be affiliated with partners that share the same vision and values, including our corporate partners - Nike, and CoachThem - as well as our funding partners the Government of Canada, the Coaching Association of Canada, and the Canadian Lacrosse Foundation.

For more information, please contact:

Kealan Pilon
Communications and Marketing Coordinator
Lacrosse Canada
Email: kealan@lacrosse.ca