Oakville Beaver

Sports Conditions Apply. Expires 05/29/2009 36 SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email [email protected] • FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2009 Competitive fire still burns inside Cordingley ■ By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF

hen he played, Troy Cordingley wore the number 40, representing W the age to which he intended to play. So, by his own estimation, he would now have been retired for two years. Things don’t always go according to plan, though. Cordingley was just 30 years old and playing for the National League’s when he took two simultane- ous hits from opponents, one from the side and one from behind. As the rest of his body hurtled toward the floor, his foot caught in the turf and remained planted. He felt a pop. He played two more games, but some- thing was obviously wrong. “I had no control of my foot,” Cordingley said. “I couldn’t make cuts. I couldn’t play the way I knew I (once) could.” Cordingley went to see the doctor and got the news he dreaded. He had snapped the tendons in his ankle. His career was over. At least that’s what the doctor said. Cordingley went on to play four more sea- sons, averaging well over three points a CORY SHANNON / SPECIAL TO THE OAKVILLE BEAVER game. But eventually, in his second season Troy Cordingley, pictured giving instructions behind the bench, was named the ’s coach of the year recent- with the , the day he had been ly. Calgary went a league-best 12-4 during the regular season and will host the New York Titans tomorrow in the Champions Cup NLL final. dreading finally arrived. “I couldn’t do it anymore. I was in too “He gave so much to the game that it’s an Association’s Major League. Soon after his come back after a bad weekend and see those much pain,” Cordingley said. “I told (coach honour for me to win an award with his retirement, his former NLL team, the Buffalo little faces smiling at you and it helps ease Bob McMahon) I was hanging it up.” name attached to it,” he said. “But it is a Bandits, offered him a job as an assistant the pain of a bad weekend.” So valued was Cordingley’s leadership team award.” coach. There he learned from , Shooting for second title of season that McMahon asked him to stay with the The team-first attitude is something and when Bandits’ GM Kurt Silcott moved team to give them a veteran presence. Over Cordingley looks for in his players. A talent- on to Calgary, he offered Cordingley his first Cordingley hopes he won’t need that the following months, Cordingley would ed offensive play- NLL head coaching job. comfort Monday morning. The Roughnecks shadow McMahon and see what went into “Troy’s competitive er, Cordingley’s The Oakville native hesitated about taking host the New York Titans for the Champion’s preparing a team for a game. nature is contagious Roughnecks a job 3,400 kilometres away, especially hav- Cup tonight (Friday). A victory would cap a teams have ing four young children. However, remarkable season that also saw Cordingley Named NLL’s top coach in the dressing become known Cordingley’s wife Darla convinced him to guide the Brampton Excelsiors to a Mann room. He hates to Had it not been for his injury, it’s quite for their defensive take it. Cup in September. possible that Cordingley would still be scor- lose and you can’t prowess, leading “There are only 10 or 11 of these jobs in star Dan Dawson knows ing goals, fighting for loose balls and wearing teach that.” the league in the world,” she told him. firsthand what Cordingley brings to a team. number 40-something. goals against. So now Cordingley teaches his Grade 1 Cordingley was Dawson’s coach in midget Instead, Cordingley finds himself behind ■ Calgary Roughnecks That was a big fac- class at Forest Avenue Public School in with the Oakville Hawks and again years later the bench of the NLL’s Calgary Roughnecks GM Brad Banister tor in Calgary’s Mississauga, returns home and, when his with the Excelsiors. and just one victory away from the improvement own kids go to bed, he turns his attention to “He’s got so much passion and drive for Champion’s Cup. And according to his peers, from 7-9 in his first season as the team’s next week’s opponent for the next two or the game, maybe because it was taken away Cordingley is a big reason why. coach. three hours. Fridays after work, he flies to from him early,” said Dawson. “His blood The Oakville native led the Roughnecks to “He’s the ultimate player’s coach and his Calgary, holds a practice, coaches a game gets flowing and you know he wants to be out a 12-4 mark, the best record in the NLL. For passion for the game is second to none,” said Saturday, and flies home Sunday. there in the battle.” that, the league’s coaches and general man- Roughnecks defenceman Bruce Codd. On the bench, Cordingley is known for his And that might be the only aspect of agers named him this year’s recipient of the “Certainly it goes back to last year and the intensity. coaching Cordingley still struggles with. Les Bartley Award as the top coach in the systems he originally put in place. Guys had “Troy’s competitive nature is contagious “I find it more difficult as a coach,” said NLL. a better understanding of those systems and in the dressing room,” said current Calgary the two-time NLL champion as a player. “You Cordingley says it is an award that should the direction he wanted everyone to head.” general manager Brad Banister. “He hates to have no control. I can tweak and make be shared with assistants Terry Sanderson lose and you can’t teach that.” adjustments, but it’s the players that decide Teaches children, then players and Dave Pym. Still, winning an award But it is teaching that offers Cordingley a the game. That’s the hardest thing. Big named for a man who coached him for five Cordingley’s coaching career started with nice balance in his life. games like this, you want to be out on the years holds a special meaning. Brooklin of the Ontario Lacrosse “I’ve got two jobs I love,” he said. “You floor and compete.”