Mul, who served as assistant coach for the division rival Philadelphia Barrage last year, replaces Vinnie Sombrotto, who stepped down following the 2004 season.
Mul (pronounced mewl-AYE) joins the Lizards after four successful years with the Barrage organization, two as a player and two as an assistant coach. Mul helped lead the Barrage to the team's first Major League Lacrosse title in 2004.
I am very grateful for the opportunity the Lizards organization has afforded me, Mul said. I look forward to bringing the MLL championship back to Long Island where it belongs.
Selected in the second round, 12th overall, of the 2001 MLL Inaugural Draft, Mul was the Barrage-s starting goalie for much of the 2001 and 2002 seasons. After his retirement following the 2002 campaign, he joined former Lizard Sal LoCascio behind the Barrage bench in 2003. He was a vital contributor to the team-s improvement from perennial last-place finishers to MLL champions in 2004.
Mul, 36, was also a member of the U.S. national team that defeated Canada two games to none to win the 1999 World Cup of Lacrosse. A 1990 graduate of St. John's University, he currently resides in Dix Hills with his wife Jamie and two children.
We are extremely excited to have Jimmy be the new captain to steer the Lizards- ship, said Ray Suris, a member of the Lizards- local operating group. He brings the respect of having played and being a championship lacrosse coach to our franchise.
Mul joins Baltimore Bayhawks player-coach Gary Gait as the only current MLL head coaches who also have Major League Lacrosse playing experience.
Two of the last three head coaches to win league titlesLoCascio (Philadelphia, 2004) and Gait (Baltimore, 2002)boasted MLL playing experience prior to winning a championship.
Stepping away from head coaching duties and into player personnel and development is Sombrotto, who spent one season as head coach.
Sombrotto was the oldest player in Major League Lacrosse before retiring to the sidelines two years ago, at age 43. In two seasons as a midfielder, Sombrotto scored 7 goals and 14 assists, and scooped 23 ground balls.
After graduating Hofstra as a two-time All-American in 1981, the Port Washington native dominated the club lacrosse scene alongside his brother, Steve, for well over 15 years before the inaugural Major League Lacrosse season in 2001.
Sombrotto also played indoors for the New York Saints for six seasons (1993-1999). In 51 games, Vinnie recorded 34 goals and 102 assists, as well as 242 loose balls.
The Major League Lacrosse season runs from May to August. The Lizards play their home games at nearby Mitchel Field.
