Lacrosse coach steps down

With February right around the corner, The University of Memphis lacrosse team prepares another campaign. This season, however, the lacrosse team will be missing a key figure on the sideline.

Ryan Pavlicek, the program founder who has also served as the club's coach, stepped down from his duties voluntarily for reasons that he deemed as "only positive."

"There are absolutely no negative reasons for my departure," Pavlicek said. "I'm getting married this spring and I want to put my focus into my marriage. There are going to be times where I wish I hadn't made that decision, but at the end of the day it is for my family, and that is what's most important."

Pavlicek has watched the club grow over the years and was adamant that he was not leaving the program altogether.

"I'm still going to be in contact with Bob (Winn, associate athletic director for external affairs) and CRIS (Campus Recreation and Intramural Services)," Pavlicek said. "I'll help the guys with things they aren't accustomed to, but I won't have any say on how the team is ran."

Senior Ben Jenkins, captain of the lacrosse team, said he was optimistic about the team's future despite Pavlicek stepping down from his coaching duties.

"I know he doesn't want to leave because this team is his baby, but he is getting married and moving on to better things in his life," Jenkins said. "Since I've been here, the team has improved every year. It's moving forward and easing into a more player-involved atmosphere."

Graduate student Alfonso Giscombe will be taking over as coach. Giscombe has deep lacrosse roots as a former player for Damatha High School in the Baltimore area. He expressed his excitement for the upcoming season and the challenges ahead.

"I'm a really energetic guy and want to run this team with input from all the players," he said. "I really see myself as a shoe-in to help this team get where it needs to be and outline what we need to do."

Pavlicek said Giscombe will be a good fit for the team and said that he will do a great job in leading them.

"Al comes from a great lacrosse background," he said. "He knows when to be intense, but he also can have that calming effect. This is a junior-and-senior-laden team and we have assistants still in place, so the ingredients for success are all there."

Jenkins, a former teammate of Giscombe, said that it was a great move for the program.

"Based on having played with him last year, I think he will be a great fit," Jenkins said. "There is going to be a higher level of player involvement, but as long as everyone steps up to the plate I think everything will be alright."

With lights now installed at Memorial Field on the University's campus, the team will have to compete less for practice time to prepare for the season.

The team is set to open the season Feb. 18 against Rhodes College. However, that date is subject to change.