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Hylan Helping Morgan Boys’ Lacrosse as Head Coach

Brendan Hylan has had a huge hand in helping to develop lacrosse in Clinton. Now, he’s in the middle of a solid first season at the helm of one of the town’s high-school teams.

After playing lacrosse at Morgan and Mount Ida College in Massachusetts, Brendan returned home and became an integral part of the sport’s youth movement in town. Brendan, now an Ivoryton resident, served as a coach for the Dog Days Youth Lacrosse camp, before spending five years as an assistant coach and defensive coordinator for the Morgan boys’ lacrosse squad. This spring, Brendan was promoted to the head coach’s role with the Huskies, who are 8-6 and recently clinched a Class S State Tournament berth.

“It’s really a full-circle type of thing for me. The fact that I have gotten the chance to take on the head-coaching position here is great,” says Brendan. “It’s helpful for me to be a part of this and continue to grow a foundation that started when I was here. I always tell the team that we are all in this circle together.”

Brendan wants his athletes to make their studies their top priority. He also believes that the time they spend on the turf will help them learn how to be responsible and hold themselves accountable for when they enter the professional field.

“I like to hammer home that they are students first and athletes second. You must have time to do your school work,” Brendan says. “I also have high standards for practice. This team is a commitment, so you must give it your all. We are a band of brothers, so we need every person there at practice.”

While coaching at various levels of the Clinton lacrosse community, Brendan enjoyed seeing the personal progress of his players. It gives Brendan great satisfaction when his athletes put the pieces together to score a goal or win a game.

“I love seeing that constant growth from individuals and at different skill levels. Based on how coachable they are, they can grow in the sport,” Brendan says. “To be able to get a win, whether in a game over an opponent or in a smaller aspect like scoring a goal, is eye-opening.”

Brendan says that much of Morgan’s success thus far has stemmed from holding down the fort on defense. He also feels that there are plenty of mainstays on the club who are helping the Huskies bond.

“Our success has come from the defensive side of the ball. We’ve always had a strong defense through the years. Our defensive coordinator, Dennis Forbes, has done a great job and has taken this defense and ran with it,” Brendan says. “We also have very strong senior and sophomore classes that hold the pieces together. Veteran players have helped move us forward.”

Morgan Athletic Director Kevin Rayel is excited to have a familiar face at the helm of Huskies’ boys’ lacrosse. He believes that Brendan’s experience and love for the sport will serve the high-school team well.

“Brendan brings a wealth of experience as a coach and player, a passion for the game, and a deep level of commitment to developing our students as athletes and members of our community,” says Rayel. “We are thrilled to welcome him as our head coach and excited for the future of the program.”

Brendan says the Huskies are hungry to become Shoreline Conference and state title contenders in the coming seasons. However, he also wants his athletes to display the utmost class toward both the sport and their opponents, while they travel the road toward those goals.

“I let everyone know when I got the job that my goals are to create a positive atmosphere around Morgan lacrosse. It’s a special sport, so we want to present ourselves with sportsmanship and respect towards the game,” says Brendan. “We haven’t found the next step of going deeper in the playoffs, but we hope to get there.”