Kelusky Wins Les Bartley Head Coach of the Year Award

FORT WORTH, TX – Panther City Lacrosse Club Head Coach Tracey Kelusky has won the Les Bartley Head Coach of the Year Award, the National Lacrosse League announced today. 

The Peterborough, Ontario native led Panther City to more wins than the previous two NLL expansion clubs’ first seasons combined, as Panther City won 7 games in their inaugural season, including a five-game winning streak. He adjusted mid-season to make Panther City one of the NLL’s most potent offenses, especially on the man advantage, as the team finished in the top half in the league on the power play and on the penalty kill. Kelusky’s offense also recorded the highest scoring output in the NLL in 2021-22 as they team recorded 20 goals against the eventual 2021-22 NLL Champions, the Colorado Mammoth, on March 11.

“From all of us at Panther City Lacrosse Club, we’d like to congratulate Tracey Kelusky on this tremendous honor,” Hamley said. “Since the day he was hired his impact on our organization and players has been felt and I know this is just the beginning of great things to come for this team under the leadership of Coach Kelusky. The culture and processes he has established will serve as the foundation for our group and the future in Fort Wort is incredibly bright.”

Kelusky is the first head coach of an expansion team to win Coach of the Year honors in the team’s first season since Derek Keenan won the award for the Portland Lumberjax in 2006.