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YJ Directors

Long Island Yellow Jackets Directors

OUR COACHING STAFF
Understands the game and knows how to coach you. Because we teach our coaches, through clinics, on how to coach you, your team and the game you play will be BETTER! You’ll have a coach that will follow you throughout your YJ LAX career and as many different experiences as we can provide, as you grow through our program. All Teams have Adults as the Head Coach!!

DEPENDABILITY
Two coaches are assigned to each team and remain Consistent every year. We want the girls to be taught, mentored and coached  as they develop in our program. Our talented and dedicated coaches as are a constant, consistent and inspiring presence for our members.

 

MEET OUR DIRECTORS OF PLAYER DEVELOPMENT

Director Al Bertolone

About Mr. Bertolone

Coach Bertolone has been a coach and a director with the LI YellowJackets since 2004. 
The retired Head Coach of Mt Sinai HS, Coach Bert’s teams won 4 New York State Championships and 3 in a row from 2013-2017. 
His Mt Sinai teams were also recognized by the LIMLF as the Founder’s Cup champion’s 4 times (2013,2016,2017 and 2018) 
Over 60 of Coach Bert’s Mt Sinai players went on to play collegiately. 
A retired teacher, Coach Bert is presently a volunteer assistant coach with Northport HS.

 

Recruiting Director and Coach Alexis Curcio

About Recruiting Director/Coach Alexis Curcio

COACHING EXPERIENCE

Current Assistant Head Coach at Northport High School
Assistant Coach - 2017-Current
Assistant Coach  - 2011-2013           
·       Reviewed, compiled and analyzed game film for individual video sessions and team development 
·       Organized and coordinated all events associated team banquet and alumni relations
·       Defensive coordinator and draw specialist 
Sachem North High School Varsity Lacrosse Team                   
Head Coach  - 2013-2017          
·       Coordinated individual meetings to help players achieve and establish individual goals as well as team goals
·       Took team to playoffs all three years which had previously not been done since 2005
·       Directed a program that ranked 18th in league play out of 22 teams and is now a 7th ranked program contending with some of the top programs in Suffolk County
·       Created scouting reports of upcoming opponents and organized scout teams to simulate opponent tendencies
·       Reviewed, compiled and analyzed game film for individual video sessions and team development 
·       Designed, coached and implemented offensive, midfield, defensive and draw schemes 
·       Mentored 16 Division I lacrosse commitments
·       Managed social media aspect of program including Facebook, Twitter, newsletters and websites
·       Recipient of Suffolk County Sportsmanship Award in 2014
 
Long Island Yellow Jackets Lacrosse Club                                                                                               
Head Coach & Director  - 2005-Present
·       Served as recruiting liaison with college coaches managing phone calls, visits and commitment process
·       Created and prepared practice plans, managed field set up and developed new ideas for club needs
·       Directed winter league for 12 teams and over 250 players
·       Managed six teams per practice block while ensuring all coaches present were efficient 
·       In charge of all travel planning and preparation including meals, lodging and miscellaneous travel needs Strategized with coaching staffs to implement efficient practice plans to help prepare teams for competition
                                                                      
Adelphi Women’s Lacrosse - Garden City, NY
First Assistant  - 2009-2011
·       2010 & 2011 Division II National Champions
·       Collaborated with head coach to identify team goals and establish defensive strategies to achieve those goals
·       Determined all equipment needs and oversaw all purchases within the program while staying within budget
·       Served as Recruiting Coordinator to organize Official Visit Recruiting Weekends, Junior Days and unofficial visits for prospects
·       Supervised all recruiting events, unofficial/official visits, and general correspondence with potential recruits
·       Reserved hotels, arranged meals as well as meetings with athletic administrators for all recruits and parents
·       Maintained a log of all countable athletic related activity and submitted weekly reports to the compliance office to ensure adherence to NCAA regulations
 
Delaware Women’s Lacrosse Team - Newark, DE - 2006 – 2009 
·       Honors: 
o   CAA Tournament Participants: 2006-2009           
o   Four-year starter on lacrosse team
o   Sportsmanship Award Recipient
Leadership: Blue Hen mentoring program, Big Brother/Big Sister program

Director and Coach Rebecca Thorn

About Director/Coach Rebecca Thorn

Becky Thorn:

    •    Current head coach at ESM for Lacrosse and      

        Soccer

    •    2x New York State Champion (2015, 2019)

    •    ESM was LIMLF Founders Cup Recipient in

        2019

    •    7x Suffolk County Champion (2012, 2013, 2015, 2016,

        2017, 2018, 2019)

    •    Suffolk County Lacrosse coach of the year (2014, 2019)

    •    Suffolk County Soccer coach of the year 2018

    •    Newsday Long Island coach of the year (2015)

    •    Newsday Tri-State coach of the year (2015)

    •    US Lacrosse National Champion (2011, 2019)

    •    Inside Lacrosse Indoor National Champions ESM 2019

    •    New York State Regional 2022 Champion

    •    Under Armour Underclass coach

        (2018,2019,2020)

    •    Under Armour senior game North coach (2021)

    •    All American at Hofstra University (2005, 2007)

    •    CAA Most Outstanding Player 2007

    •    Hofstra University MVP 2007

    •    Captain 2007

    •    Sachem High School Hall of Fame class of 2021

Director and Coach Lindsay Rella

About Director/Coach Lindsay Rella

Lindsay Rella:

• Former head coach of Riverhead HS

• Coached/Produced Riverheads first ever Dellacave award recipient, Jackie Pitts award recipient, All-American HM and US Lacrosse All-Academic recipient

• Created/Former head coach of Bayside HS

• Coach of the year 2017

• Former assistant Maritime College

• Former assistant Allegheny College and produced their first ever All-American

• Played Club lacrosse at Syracuse University 2003-2007)

• Captain 2006, 2007

• US Lacrosse National Champion 2019

• New York State Regional 2022 Champion

Director of Player Development K-2 Coach Raquel Piraino

Director of Player Development/Coach Raquel Piraino

Teaching Career: Physical Education Teacher Weber Middle School, Port Washinton (1997-Present)

Coaching :

  • Juniors Open Coach 2022
  • American Select Head Coach Team Long Island 2021, 2022
  • US Lacrosse Club National Champions 2018 U12 and 2019 U13
  • Long Island Yellow Jackets 2024 Wiener Asst. Coach 2017-present
  • Team 91 Girl’s Coach 2011-2017 KeiraSTRONG Team
  • Half Hollow Hills PAL Girl’s Coach 2011-2014
  • Port Washington Head Varsity Lacrosse Coach 2006-2014 (Conference Champions 2010)
  • Port Washington Varsity Asst. Coach 2002-2003
  • Port Washington Weber Middle School Girl’s lacrosse Coach 2000-2001-2005
  • St. Anthony’s Varsity Girl’s Lacrosse Asst. Coach 1997-1998 (Catholic HS Champions)
  • Weber Middle School Soccer (1997-2003)

College:

  • Hofstra Lacrosse Class of 1996 Midfield/Attack
  • 1996 America East Conference Champions
  • All-Tournament Team Selection, America East Academic/Athlete Award 1996
  • Hofstra Coaches Award 1995

High School:

Director of Player Development K-2 Coach Mary Romano Cetta

Director of Player Development K-2 and Coach Mary Romano Cetta

Teaching Career:  Physical Education teacher Weber Middle School, Port Washington (2006-present)

Coaching:

  • Garden City Girls Pal Lacrosse (K,1 Grade Coordinator 2021,2022)
  • Garden City Girls Pal Lacrosse Director (2021-2022)
  • Varsity Girl’s Lacrosse Coach Schreiber High School, Port Washington. (Assistant 2008-2013) (Conference championship 2010, Back-to-back Nassau County Playoff appearances in 2010, 2011)
  • Coordinated Headstrong Fundraiser Girls Lacrosse Tournament.
  • Assistant Coach Under Armor All-American Girls Lacrosse Game in Baltimore 2007
  • Garden City Girls Junior Varsity Lacrosse Coach (Assistant 2006, Head 2007).
  • Girls Varsity Soccer Schreiber High School, Port Washington (Head, Assistant)
  • Girls JV Soccer Schreiber High School, Port Washington (Head)
  • Girls Varsity Volleyball Schreiber High School, Port Washington (Assistant)
  • Girls’ 7th Grade Volleyball Coach Weber Middle School, Port Washington
  • Girls 7/8 Cross Country Coach Weber Middle School, Port Washington
  • Girls 7 Soccer Coach Weber Middle School, Port Washington
  • Head Coach Yellow Jackets Girls Lacrosse club program from 2004-2007

College:

  • Hofstra Women’s Lacrosse 2005 Colonial Athletic Association Regular Season Champions.  (2004-2005) (CAA Commissioners Academic Award)
  • Academic All American 2005
  • Sacred Heart University (2002-2003) (Ranked #3 in NCAA in ground balls per game, ranked #9 in NCAA in caused turnovers per game)

High School:

  • Baldwin Senior High School Hall of Distinguished Athletes
  • New York State Girls Lacrosse Empire Team Champions
  • Long Island School Girls Lacrosse Team
  • Marion Mickey Waldman Award Varsity Outstanding Female Athlete (2001)
  • Newsday All Long Island Lacrosse (2001)
  • All County Lacrosse (2000 & 2001), (Team MVP, Team Captain 2000,2001)
  • Un-Sung Hero Girls Lacrosse (1999)
  • All-Conference Lacrosse (1999)
  • All County Indoor Track 4 x 100 (2001)
  • All Classification Soccer (2000 & 2001) (Team Captain 2001)