Your Coaches

JACK RUNKEL Founder

Jack Runkel is a Fairfield, CT native who started playing goalie in the 4th grade. After a successful career at Loyola University Maryland, where he won a National Championship in 2012 and still currently holds the record for Least Goals Against in an NCAA Division 1 National Championship Game (3), he started his career in coaching Division 1 college lacrosse. During his 7 years of coaching, Coach Runkel has spent time as a member of the coaching staff at Georgetown University, Yale University, Manhattan College, and Long Island University. He has been lucky enough to work with elite Division 1 goalies including Nick Marrocco (Cannons LC, 2019 MLL Champion), Will Mark (USILA All American, #1 in the country in Saves Per Game, NEC Defensive player of the year), Brendan Krebs (2022 MAAC Champion, First-Team All MAAC, MAAC Defensive Player of the Year) and Hoyt Crance (2019 National Champion).

After 7 years in college coaching, Coach Runkel stepped away from the college game and created The Goalie Workshop. He founded it around the idea that the goalie position is the most under-coached and therefore undervalued in the sport. Coach Runkel saw a need for comprehensive goalie coaching through multiple dynamic and holistic training program offerings. By utilizing these different methods and mental training that helped his college goalies, Coach Runkel provides the best goalie training in the New Jersey, Connecticut and New York regions. 

Playing Experience

  • Loyola Class of 2014

  • 2012 National Champion

  • 2012 NCAA All-Tournament Team

  • USILA All-American

  • ECAC Champion

  • First Team All-Patriot League

  • Patriot League Champion

  • Patriot League Tournament MVP

  • Patriot League Goalie of the Year

  • Holds Current record for Fewest Goals Allowed in the NCAA Division 1 National Championship Game (3)

College Coaching Resume:

  • Georgetown University: 1 Year - Coached Nick Marrocco: Starting Goalie for the Cannons Lacrosse Club in the PLL, 2019 MLL Champion, 2019 Dave Huntley Man of the Year, First Team USILA All-American, First Team All-Big East, Big East Champion

  • Yale University: 2 Years - Coached Hoyt Crance: 2 Time Ivy-League Rookie of the week, 2019 National Champion, 2017 and 2018 Ivy League Champion

  • Manhattan College: 2 Years - Coached Brendan Krebs: Current PLL Archers Goalie, 2022 MAAC Champion, MAAC Co-Defensive Player of the year, 2 time First Team All-MAAC, Ranked 9th in the Country in Goals Against Average (9.36 GAA) , Ranked 12th in the Country in Save Percentage (56.5%) and in Saves Per Game (12.6 SvPG). Lead Manhattan College to first MAAC Championship game since 2002.

  • Long Island University: 2 Years - Coached Will Mark: Current All American Goalie at Syracuse University, Inside Lacrosse Media All-America, First Team All-NEC, NEC Defensive Player of the Year, Lead Division 1 Lacrosse in Saves per game (17.45 SvPG ), 7th in the Country in Save Percentage (57.7%)

Brian Kavanagh Director

Brian Kavanagh is a Deer Park, NY native who started playing goalie in the 3rd grade. After his tenure as a goalie at Princeton University, he started his career in coaching Division 1 college lacrosse. Brian spent 7 years (2016 - 2022) as an assistant coach at the University of Vermont. During that time, UVM won 2 America East Championships and made 2 NCAA Tournament appearances. Brian coached some elite Division 1 goalies including Nick Washuta (former PLL Chrome/ current PLL Archers goalie) and Ryan Cornell (2022 America East Defensive Player of the year)

Brian began coaching professional lacrosse in 2018 with the Archers Lacrosse Club in the PLL.  He has coached multiple All-American, professional and international caliber goalies. The Goalie Workshop is excited to have Coach Kavanagh on board to provide elite training opportunities to goalies on Long Island! 

Playing Experience

  • Princeton Class of 2014

  • 2012 NCAA Tournament Appearance

  • 2014 John T. Schroeder Award, given annually to an individual who, through the embodiment of character and selfless devotion to the team, has had the greatest impact on the success of Princeton Men’s Lacrosse

Coaching Experience

  • University of Vermont: 7 Years - 2x America East Champion, 2x NCAA tournament appearance, Coached Nick Washuta (USILA & Inside Lacrosse All American and current PLL Archers Goalie) and Ryan Cornell (America East Defensive Player of the Year).

  • Utah Archers (PLL) - 6 Years -

    • PLL Champions in 2023.

    • Coached Drew Adams (Team USA, 3x MLL Goalie of the Year, 5x All-Star), Adam Ghitelman (3x All Star, NCAA Champion at UVA), Brett Dobson (Team Canada, 2023 PLL All-Star, 2023 PLL Champion), Nick Washuta (2023 PLL Champion) and Brendan Krebs (Current Goalie for the Maryland Whipsnakes in the PLL)

James Amandola - Girls Coach

Playing Experience

Manhattan College class of 2002

  • 2002 MAAC Champions

  • 2002 MAAC Regular Season Champions

  • MAAC Defensive Player of the Year

  • 2nd in NCAA D1 History in Saves (1,043)

  • 5th in NCAA D1 History in Saves per Game (17.38)

  • Holds the record for most saves in an NCAA Tournament Game (24)

Coaching Experience

  • Former Head Coach at Tappan Zee High School

  • 2x Rockland County Coach of the Year

  • Former Assistant Coach at Manhattan College

Brendan Krebs - Coach

Playing Experience

Manhattan College class of 2022

  • 2022 MAAC Champions

  • Career 56.15% Save%

  • 2021 MAAC Regular Season Champions

  • First Team All MAAC (2x)

  • MAAC Defensive Player of the Year

  • MAAC All Academic Team

  • Played with the Archers in the PLL 2023 Championship Series

Current Maryland Whipsnakes Goalie in the PLL