The United Women’s Lacrosse League (UWLX) has announced the appointment of Syracuse women's lacrosse head coach Gary Gait as interim commissioner, while the search is underway for a permanent hire. Gait will participate in key administrative responsibilities for the League, as well as sit as a member of the Search Committee to secure a full time commissioner.
“We are humbled and delighted to work with Gary and have the opportunity to learn from his rich history in the sport of lacrosse, and especially his continued commitment in women's lacrosse,” said Aronda Kirby, UWLX co-founder and COO. “We are confident that the League will benefit from his depth and breadth of experience as we rise to the challenges of our second season.”
A four-time All American for Syracuse University, Gait led the Orange to three NCAA Championship appearances and was named NCAA Player of the Year in both 1988 and 1990. Following the conclusion of his collegiate career, he was selected as the number one overall draft pick in the National Lacrosse League (NLL), going to the Detroit Turbos. He then played in the NLL for 17 seasons, winning Rookie of the Year honors in 1991 and MVP accolades six times, including five consecutive years from 1995-99. He also played in Major League Lacrosse (MLL) from 2001-2005, winning the League title three times and co-MVP honors in 2005.
Gait brings a wealth of coaching experience on the professional, collegiate and international levels in both men’s and women’s lacrosse. He was the player/head coach of the MLL Baltimore Bayhawks from 2002 through 2005, where they won a pair of championships. He was then named head coach of his former NLL team, the Colorado Mammoth, leading them to a championship in his first season at the helm. At the international level, Gait has been head coach of the 2004 and 2008 Canadian U-19 National Teams, and he guided the Canadian Indoor National Team to a gold medal win in 2006.
Gait returned to his alma mater in 2007 and continues as the head coach of the Syracuse women's lacrosse team. Additionally, he also serves as the director of the Canadian Women’s National Teams. He led the U-19 Team to gold in the 2015 World Championship and the senior team will compete this summer in England for the World Championships.
Off the field, Gait brings additional professional experience from the MLL and NLL, where he has worked in buying and selling franchises as well as in management and operations roles for various teams. From 2005 to 2007, he developed and operated NDP lacrosse, a sports event business, for Kroenke Sports. Currently, Gait owns and operates Gary Gait, Inc., a company that specializes in facilitating lacrosse tournaments, camps and clinics.
"I am thrilled to be a part of this startup women's professional sports league, UWLX,” said Gait. “I believe in their mission to provide the opportunity for female athletes to continue to play lacrosse at the elite level after college. I believe female athletes should be provided the same opportunities in sports as men, and I want my daughter to be able to play at a professional level like her male counterparts have had for more than 20 years. I want to support UWLX efforts in any way I can."
"We could not be happier to have Gary on board,” said Digit Murphy, UWLX co-founder and CEO. “His ability to pioneer the men’s lacrosse league in the early days and now helping to pioneer women’s pro lacrosse is a natural fit for our mission. His scope and breadth of knowledge in lacrosse will elevate us to next level."
Gait currently lives in Fayetteville, N.Y. with his wife, son and daughter, who plays on the Syracuse women's lacrosse team.