Brad Thomson-Director
Coach Thomson grew up in Long Island, NY where he earned All-County honors his Junior and Senior years at WC Mepham High School under former Johns Hopkins All-American and 4-Time World Games defenseman John Detomasso. Coach Thomson played under US Team coach Richie Meade for DI US Naval Academy in Annapolis. After his sophomore year he transferred to DII St. Andrews where he earned pre-season All American honors.
Coach Thomson has been instrumental for lacrosse growth in the Sandhills as a coach for the past 10+ years. He began his coaching leading basic skills clinics for 5-9 year olds with Pinehurst Parks and Recreation for 10 years. Coach Thomson was also one of the original coaches to start a lacrosse program at Pinecrest High School, where he worked for 3 years as the Defensive Coach. Coach Thomson left Pinecrest to begin Sandhills Lacrosse, where he served as Director, and was the catalyst to its growth to surrounding counties. He founded Elite Performance Lacrosse in order to raise the level of coaching in the area.
He holds a Masters Degree in Education and has enjoyed watching this great sport grow in the Sandhills.
Pat Howell
Currently still serving in the Army after 23 years, Coach Pat has six years experience playing lacrosse and two coaching. He started playing in Northern Virginia in 1983 where he played as a midfielder from 8th grade to the end of high school. Until injuring his shoulder after one year, he played for one year at the United States Military Academy in 1988-1989. With four kids, Coach Pat has been coaching and assistant coaching boys and girls teams of various ages and sports (basketball, soccer and baseball) for several years-- although 5 & under soccer was more about managing chaos and herding cats than the finer arts of the game! He was able to come back to his favorite sport of lacrosse as an Assistant Coach in Spring 2015 when his oldest son began playing. Coach Pat has 2 sons playing with the Reapers.
Jim Lawson
Coach Jim Lawson grew up in Long Island, NY and after watching his first lacrosse game, he was hooked on the sport. While attending Connetquot High School Coach Lawson played JV as a freshman and helped establish their varsity program. As an upperclassman, under the direction of Coach Richard Haggarty, Jim was a three year varsity starter at Attack. This was back in the day before they were required to wear shoulder pads! Coach Jim fondly remembers driving Coach John Lawson (his younger brother) to practice. After graduation Coach Lawson went on to play some lacrosse at USMMA, Kings Point, and then some intramural ball at Geneseo, NY. Coach Lawson holds a degree in Economics.
Coach Lawson has been coaching youth sports going on 9 years, focusing his talents primarily on hockey and now lacrosse. He coached Youth Roller Hockey with Pinehurst Parks and Rec from 2007-2014, Youth Ice Hockey from 2010 – 2014 with the Chiefs, Jr Fire Antz, and Cape Fear Warriors, and spent 4 years with the Sandhills Hawks.
Coach Lawson most recently survived.. I mean played in that Crazy Summer Adult Chumash Division on Team Old School. Coach Lawson expects his players to be gentleman both on and off
