Smith returns as Junior Thunder head coach for 2024

By Gary Ahuja

Adam Smith is back behind the bench for another season with the Langley Junior Thunder ahead of the BC Junior A Lacrosse League season.

In 2022, Smith and his staff were honoured by the league with the Doug Hazelwood Memorial Trophy as the BCJALL’s Coach of the Year. The 2022 campaign saw Langley post a franchise-best .714 winning percentage.

This is Smith’s 10th season in the Thunder organization – he began working at the Intermediate level – and he has been head coach of the Junior A program since the 2021 season. Altogether, Smith has more than 25 years of coaching various age groups – including internationally with Team Australia at the senior men’s level and has won six different Coach of the Year awards.

After first serving as an assistant coach, Smith has been Langley’s head coach since 2021. Smith also coaches in the Arena Lacrosse League with the Shooting Eagles and has coached with the Australian national team.

Joining Smith’s Thunder staff are Coady Adamson, Garrett Lewis, Keiffer Widen and Will Howard. Widen returns in his role as strength and conditioning coach while Adamson will serve as offensive coordinator and Lewis is the defensive coordinator. Howard is the team’s equipment manager.

“They are all students of the game and great communicators and provide us with a great combination of knowledge and experience as we enter the season,” Smith said of his revamped staff.

The team kicks off their 18-game BCJALL campaign with a road game in Victoria on May 11 before playing their home opener at Langley Events Centre on May 19.