DUCKS NAME ANDREW CLOUGH & JOHN WRIGHT CO-HEAD COACHES

For Immediate Release
Thursday, June 12, 2008
www.oregonlacrosse.org

DUCKS NAME ANDREW CLOUGH & JOHN WRIGHT CO-HEAD COACHES

Eugene, Or. - Andrew Clough and John Wright have been named co-head coaches of the University of Oregon men's lacrosse team, it was announced today by team officials. After taking the reins as interim coaches for the remainder of the 2008 regular season and post-season, the duo interviewed with administrators and returning players and were offered the position shortly afterward. After getting a taste this spring of what to expect, the team is confident in the positive energy and knowledge of the game that Clough and Wright will bring to the table. There is no doubt that they are fully capable of maintaining and improving the quality of the program at large in the coming years.

Clough, a native of McLean, Virginia, was a former midfielder for the University of Oregon, and has served as an assistant for the team during the fall 2007 season. Clough was a starter for the Ducks for two full seasons and was among the team leaders in goals and assists until his senior season was cut short by a knee injury. All three of the seasons that Coach Clough was a member of the Ducks were capped by PNCLL championships and national tournament invitations.

"It was my good fortune to have outstanding teammates and great coaching during my career at Oregon, and I will do everything I can to keep things moving in a positive direction for the program," said Clough.

John Wright comes to the University of Oregon from a defensive coordinator position at Churchill High School in the Eugene area. He graduated from the U of O in 2006 with degrees in psychology and political science. In 2007, he helped Churchill to its first final four playoff appearance, and was an assistant to Oregon coach of the year Jack Stoddart. Prior to moving to Oregon, John was the founder and head coach of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, where he led his team to a conference championship in its first year, 2002.

"I'm honored that my alma mater has taken note of my accomplishments after leaving the team as a player, and I am excited about the opportunity to help lead these men to glory," said Coach Wright of the opportunity to lead the Ducks in the coming years.

In addition to naming Clough and Wright to the head coaching positions, the Ducks announced that senior Jon Matusiefsky will be named head club coordinator for the 2008-2009 season, taking over for graduating senior Jeff Brunelle.