RRLC Coaching Staff
Rippin’ Rope Lacrosse Club coaches are committed to each player and to the game of lacrosse. As current high school and college head coaches, assisted by current/former NCAA lacrosse players, RRLC coaches have the experience and knowledge to ensure athletes in our program will grow as a player and as a person. Through years of relationship building in the tight-knit lacrosse community, RRLC coaches strive to help players acquire those tools needed to be a good high school lacrosse player, perhaps one day becoming a marketable, college program-ready lacrosse player. Because the game of lacrosse has treated RRLC coaches so well, our staff has the unique ability to make a difference in our players' lives.
Staff
Director
RRLC Boys Director - email Pete Duncan Founder and CEO of lacrosse education company Rippin’ Rope Lacrosse, LLC. Rippin' Rope Lacrosse has grown from a one-week camp for 22 boys in 2003, to a program that, in 2011, served over 350 coed players through four one-week camp venues, fall clinics, and summer travel teams for levels U11 through high school. Current head coach at Caravel Academy. Head coach at Tatnall School from 2004 through 2011 where teams compiled an 86-50 record. Has coached 11 US Lacrosse High School All-Americans and five Academic All-Americans. 25 former players have gone on to play NCAA lacrosse. Guided teams to DISC championships 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 and the Delaware State championship game in 2006. Served as assistant coach at Tower Hill School in 2002 and 2003 when team advanced to state championship game. Former letter winner at University of Delaware, notching 6 career points. Made the NCAA tournament quarterfinals 1999 losing to eventual champion UVA. Selected to coach Delaware Senior All-Star Game in 2008 and 2010. Raised in Mountain Lakes, New Jersey where he was an All-American and starter on state championship teams in 1995 and 1996. Played in high school for Tim Flynn, current head coach of the 2012 USA Mens' U-19 Team. B.A. in English from University of Delaware and currently pursuing M.A.T. from Wilmington University. Elected to Delaware Interscholastic Boys Lacrosse Coaches Association executive committee 2010 and 2011. Chosen as tryouts selector for the 2012 U.S. Men’s National Under-19 Team. Pete resides in Wilmington with wife Kristin, his daughter Emelia, and sons, Drew and Quin.
Girls Staff
Jackie Trainer (RRLC Girls Director) Coach Trainer directs Rippin' Rope Lacrosse Camps girls program and has coached RRLC's U15 team in 2010 and 2011. She is currently the head coach at Division II Wilmington University; this after a standout playing career at Division I Monmouth University in New Jersey where she graduated with a BA in Political Science and History. She spent one year as a volunteer assistant at Monmouth. Jackie is still an active player and was invited in 2010 to travel with a team from the USA to compete in Melbourne, Australia at the Down Under Cup. Coach Trainer has worked numerous summer camps over the years and started her coaching career at St. James Elementary School in Red Bank, NJ.
Amy Hood (Girls) Amy just completed her first year as the head varsity girls lacrosse coach at Dover High School, guiding the Senators to an 8-7 record. Coach Hood was co-coach of the RRLC U-15 team in 2010 and 2011. She is formerly a 4 year starter at center for Division II Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). During her career at IUP, she was a three time, 2nd team All-Conference selection. Amy also holds IUP’s record for career goals with 136. In addition to lacrosse, Amy played on IUP’s field hockey team as she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Sport Administration and went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Education with a concentration in Health and Physical Education. She is currently in her third year as a Health and Physical Education teacher at Dover High School.
Boys Staff
Bob Healy - (Boys) Bob is currently the head coach at Salesianum School and has led the Sals to the last five state championship games ('07, '09, '11 champs). Prior to Salesianum he was head coach at Dover High School. Coach Healy was named Boys Lacrosse Coach of the Year in 2007 and is one of the most passionate coaches around. Bob is a native of Long Island, New York and played football and lacrosse at Division III power Wesley College in Dover where he was a standout in both sports. He currently is also an assistant football coach responsible for coaching tight ends at Wesley. Bob is a physical education teacher at Dover High School. He and his wife Sheri reside in Dover with their daughters Olivia and McKenna.
Chris Smeader - (Boys)
Coach Smeader has been coaching for 20 years. After playing three years of defensive midfield at Sweet Home High School in Amherst, NY, he graduated from Michigan State University in 1988. He coached as an intern at Sweet Home High School in Amherst, New York in 1992. He took a teaching and coaching position at Edgewood High School where he coached for three years, following this with positions at Harford Community College coaching goalies and defense in 1996 and at Aberdeen High School as a varsity assistant and junior varsity head coach from 1997-1999. This is his twelfth year at Brandywine High School as a varsity assistant and Head Coach. He has coached two players who have achieved high school All-American status, numerous all-state players, and over 20 players who have played at the Division I, II, and III levels in college including Army, Haverford, and Goucher.
Tony Marconi - (Boys) Coach Marconi has been the head coach at Charter School of Wilmington since 2008. Before that, he was an assistant coach at CSW since 2003. In his second year coaching he helped the team reach the state tournament and the Force have made the tournament each year since, including final four appearances in 2007 and 2008. Tony is a native of Delaware, having played for Delcastle Technical High School where as a two-year captain helped lead the team to its only winning season in school history in 1997. Still active as a player in the Philadelphia Box Lacrosse Association as well as for a Philadelphia area team that traveled to Prague to participate in the Hrebesky Box Lacrosse Tournament from 2003-05.
Andrew Unthank - (Boys) Andrew was a standout at Concord High School and played attack at the University of Delaware from 2007 through 2010 and registered nine career points. He was a member of the Blue Hens team that advanced to the Final Four in 2007. Coach Unthank is entering his second season as a varsity assistant at Tower Hill and is still an active player and camp coach during his free time.
Mark Cyron - (Boys) Currently attends Division II Merrimack College. 3-year starter at Salesianum, 2-time state champion, 2-time first-team Delaware All-State, 2 time US Lacrosse HS All American. Played summer lacrosse for AllState Lacrosse and Headstrong. Has worked as an assistant coach for the Quakers Pee Wee AA travel ice hockey team and at the Salesianum lacrosse camp.