Thursday September 6, 2001

When former men's club lacrosse head coach Mickey-Miles Felton retired this summer, the Laxcats lost a local and national lacrosse figurehead and a coach with 26 years of experience.

New head coach Adam Hopkins - who served as an assistant on Felton's staff last season - knows all too well how valuable his predecessor was to the program.

"(Felton) basically brought this program to prominence," Hopkins said. "He made it into what it is now."

Senior goalie Gregory Parkington agreed.

"(Felton) is a great coach and an inspirational leader," Parkington said. "(Hopkins) has some hard shoes to fill."

Hopkins said he is not trying to be the next Felton, but he is confident in his own coaching ability.

"I'm not trying to replace (Felton) - he'll still be around to help out with any problems I might have," Hopkins said. "But once I'm on the field, I'm not really worried."

Hopkins' confidence is well founded - he brings experience of his own to his new position. Hopkins first took up lacrosse in the fourth grade when it became popular in his hometown of Long Island, N.Y. In four years of varsity lacrosse competition at Division II New York Institute of Technology, he twice garnered All-American honors. Hopkins also had all of last year to pick Felton's brain.

Hopkins' players said they share his confidence.

"(Hopkins) brings obviously not as much experience (as Felton), but experience and youth, and he's really energetic," Parkington said. "(The team) is eagerly awaiting the season - really looking to start fresh. It should be a fun season."

Hopkins said he appreciates Felton's efforts in organizing the program and expects the transition to be smooth.

"I come from a DII varsity program (New York Institute of Technology) and this is a club program. This program is as organized, if not more organized, than any I've been (involved) with before," Hopkins said.

However, Hopkins isn't hesitant to bring change. He said he plans to implement a new offense for this season, and he also said he wants to continue to foster intensity among his players.

"I want to make sure the team is more intense than it has been and focus on what I focused on as a player - strong work ethic and tenacity," he said.

The personnel Hopkins inherits is another reason for optimism. Hopkins said he has between 75 percent and 80 percent of his starting lineup returning for this season.

"We lost our 'Mr. Everything,' (former defenseman) Jeff Cady, as well as (former defenseman) Tom Christian," Hopkins said. "They were two of our main leaders and were strong influences."

Hopkins looks to a returning cadre of talent to lead the team. Junior attacker Charlie Mink will anchor the offense while junior defenseman Jeff Kinsella and Parkington will bolster a defense Hopkins describes as "young." Brian Moore, a sophomore midfielder, is also expected to contribute.

Hopkins declined to speculate on the upcoming season, but Parkington did not share his reticence.

"We're shooting for a national championship," Parkington said.