Coaches

CitySideLax has the premier coaching staff on the West Coast. All of our coaches are high-level players from around the country, but more importantly they are passionate about building the next generation of players in the Pacific Northwest.

Directors & Staff

Drew Snider

Founder & Coach

Drew is from Seattle, WA, and specializes in every aspect of lacrosse. He is the founder of CitySide and a prominent figure in the world of lacrosse, known for his exceptional skills and contributions to the sport.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding CitySide please reach out directly to Drew.

International

Coach - Team USA U18

Coach - Team USA U16

Team USA - Field (2013 - 2018)

  • Gold Medal (2018)

Team USA - Indoor (2013 - 2015)

  • Bronze Medal (2015)

Professional

PLL - Waterdogs Lacrosse Club

  • 2020 Waterdogs LC captain
  • 2019 PLL Champion (Whipsnakes LC)
  • 2019 PLL All-Star
  • 2019 Whipsnakes LC captain

MLL - Denver Outlaws

  • 6x MLL All-Star
  • 2016 MLL #6 Overall Player as voted by players
  • 2015 MLL All-Pro
  • 2015 Denver Outlaws Most Valuable Player
  • 2014, 2016, & 2018 MLL Champion
  • 2013 MLL Most Improved Player
  • Captain (2016 - 2018)

Collegiate

  • Maryland (2008 - 2012)
  • 31 starts, 55 games
  • 2012 Team Captain
  • 2012 William Cole (Most Valuable Midfielder) Award recipient
  • 2012 NCAA Tournament Team
  • 2011 ACC Champion
  • 2010 Dan Snyder (Most Improved) Award recipient

Coaching

  • Team USA U18 (2023 - present)
  • Team USA U16 (2022)
  • Sierra Canyon (2022 - present)
  • O’Dea High School (2014 - 2021)
    - State Champions (2018, 2019, 2021)
  • Nathan Hale High School (2013)
    - State Champions (2013)
  • University of Washington (2015 & 2016)

Chris 'OD' O'Dougherty

Founder & Coach

OD is from Newark, New Jersey, and specializes in defense. He was a four-year starter at Rutgers University and a professional lacrosse player for the Denver Outlaws, where he won an MLL championship.

OD coaches Boys 2025. If you have any questions regarding CitySide, please reach out to OD.

Achievements & Titles

International
  • Team USA Indoor (2015 & 2019)
  • 2015 Bronze Medal
  • 2019 Bronze Medal
National Lacrosse League
  • Vancouver Stealth (2010 - 2020)
  • 2011 NLL Champion
Major League Lacrosse
  • Denver Outlaws (2010 - 2015)
  • 2014 MLL Champion
Western Lacrosse Association
  • Burnaby Lakers (2014 - 2019)
  • Nanaimo Timbermen (2010 - 2013)
NCAA
  • Rutgers (2006-2009)
  • 4-year starter
  • 3-year Captain
  • 2008 Team MVP
  • 3x All-ECAC
Coaching Awards
  • 2013 Washington State Coach of the Year
Hall of Fame
  • 2016 Seton Hall Prep High School – NJ

Other Lacrosse-Related Experience

Head Coach & Program Director
  • O'dea Defensive Coordinator (2019 - Present)
  • Eastlake High School (2013 - 2019)
  • 4A State Champion (2018 & 2019)
Assistant Coach
  • Bellevue High School (2010 - 2012)
  • 2012 Washington State Assistant Coach of the Year
  • 2012 State Champion
  • 2010 State Champion
  • Kinnelon High School (2009) - NJ
  • 2009 State Champion

Will Snider

High School Director & Coach

Will is from Queen Anne, Seattle and specializes in all positions of lacrosse. He graduated from the University of Maryland where he played as a starting mid-fielder for the UMD lacrosse team and in 2017, won a NCAA Division 1 Nat. Championship.

Will Snider is the Boys High School Team Travel Director & a Coach for CitySide. Please reach out to Will if you have any questions regarding high school boy's team travel.

Achievements & Titles

  • Professional Player, Denver Outlaws (2019-2021)
  • NCAA Division I National Champion (2017)
  • 2x Big 10 Regular Season Champion (2016, 2017)
  • 2x Big 10 Tournament Champion (2016, 2017)
  • 1x 2016 NCAA National Runner Up
  • 1x 2017 NCAA National Champion
  • 3x WHSBLA First Team All Metro
  • 1x 2013 State Champion (Division 2)

Other Lacrosse-Related Experience

  • O’Dea High School Head Boys Varsity Coach (2020-present)

Jason Montoya

Tournament Director & Coach

Jason is from Seattle, WA and specializes in defense and goalie. He graduated from Lafayette College in Easton, PA where he played goalie all 4 years for the D1 lacrosse team.

Jason is the Tournament director. For any questions regarding CitySideLax tournaments (for example the Jet City Classic) please reach out to Jason.

Achievements & Titles

NCAA

  • Lafayette College (2006-2010)

High School

  • Garfield High School (2002-2006)
  • All American (2006)
  • All-State 3 Years

Other Lacrosse RelatedExperience

Coaching

  • Liberty High School, Renton, WA (2018)
  • Assistant/Goalie Coach
  • St Ignatius College Prep, Chicago, IL (2017)
  • Assistant/Goalie Coach
  • Woodlands High School, Houston, TX (2016)
  • Assistant/Goalie Coach
  • Huntington Beach High School, Huntington Beach, CA (2013-2015)
  • Assistant/Goalie Coach

Thomas O'Neil

Youth Boys Travel Team Director & Coach

Thomas is from Hingham, MA and specializes in defense. He graduated from Merrimack College and has been coaching lacrosse for the past 7 years.

For any questions regarding Youth Boys Travel please reach out to Thomas.

Lacrosse Related Experience

  • Seattle Academy Defensive Coordinator (2021-Present)
  • Assistant Varsity Lacrosse Coach/Defensive Coordinator, Catholic Memorial School, West Roxbury, MA. (2020-2021)
  • Head Coach, 3D New England Club Lacrosse, Class of 2025. (2019-2021)
  • Assistant Varsity Lacrosse Coach, St. John's Preparatory High School, Danvers, MA. (2019-2020)
  • Head Freshman Lacrosse Coach, St. John's Preparatory High School (2018-2019)
  • Head Coach, Boston Kings, Class of 2025 (2016-2019)
  • Head Coach, Hingham High School Freshmen Boys Lacrosse (2016-2018)
  • Assistant Coach, Hingham High School Varsity Boys Lacrosse (2016 - 2018)
  • Head Coach, Hingham Youth Lacrosse, Class of 2023 (2016-2018)

Rachel Benzing

Girls Recruiting Director & Coach

Rachel is from Ellicott City, Maryland, and specializes in attack and faceoffs. She attended the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and Lindenwood University where she was awarded UMBC Breakthrough Athlete of the Year and Lindenwood Offensive Player of the Year.

Rachel is the Girls' Recruiting Director and a Coach for CitySide. Please reach out to Rachel if you have any questions regarding Girls' recruitment.

Achievements & Titles

  • IWLCA 1st Team All-American & All-Region (2017)
  • IWLCA Senior All-Star (2017)
  • RMAC Player of the Year (2017)
  • Lindenwood Offensive Player of the Year (2017)
  • RMAC All-Tournament Team (2016 & 2017)
  • RMAC All-Academic Team (2017)
  • UMBC Breakthrough Athlete of the Year (2014)

Other Lacrosse-Related Experience

  • Bellevue Girls Lacrosse Program Director (2023 - present)
  • MWSU Head Coach (2020 - 2022)
  • Lynn University Assistant Coach (2019)
  • Maryville University Assistant Coach (2017 - 2019)
  • St. Louis Samurai Girls Director (2017 - 2019)

Christian Mazzone

Youth Travel Team Director & Coach

Christian is from Stony Brook, New York and specializes in all positions of lacrosse. He graduated from Rutgers University where he was an All-American & All-Big Ten performer his senior season. After college, he played professional lacrosse from 2019-2023.

Christian attended Ward Melville HS where he played both soccer and lacrosse. He then attended Rutgers University where he graduated in 2018. He moved out to Seattle in 2019 and coached at Glacier Peak HS previously before transitioning to his current role at Eastside Catholic. Christian is from Stony Brook, New York and currently plays professionally with the Archers Lacrosse Club of the PLL and the Vancouver Warriors of the NLL. He is also currently the Head Coach & Program Director at Eastside Catholic.

Achievements & Titles

  • 4-year starter at Rutgers University
  • Honorable Mention All-American
  • 2nd Team All-Bug Ten
  • All-American Scholar
  • 3-year starter at Ward Melville HS

Other Lacrosse-Related Experience

  • Head Coach & Program Director at Eastside Catholic (current)
  • PLL Player (Archers)
  • NLL Player (Vancouver Warriors)
  • Coach at Glacier Peak HS

Girls Coaches

Rachel Benzing

Girls Recruiting Director & Coach

Rachel is from Ellicott City, Maryland, and specializes in attack and faceoffs. She attended the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and Lindenwood University where she was awarded UMBC Breakthrough Athlete of the Year and Lindenwood Offensive Player of the Year.

Sophia Cero

Coach

Sophia is from Mercer Island, WA and specializes in defense. She graduated from Santa Clara where she played on the lacrosse team then later helped coach the team.

Anne-Marie Dion

Coach

Anne-Marie is from LaGrange, NY and specializes in midfield, defense, and goalie. She attended Northeastern University and has been coaching travel sports since 2013.

Sydney Grassi

Coach

Sydney is from the Sammamish area and is currently playing at Iona University (D1).

Devin Hursey

Coach

Devin is from Baltimore, Maryland and specializes in midfield. She graduated from York College of PA where she played lacrosse and was named IWLCA All-American x2.

Julia James

Coach

Julia is from Portland, OR and specializes in midfield. She attended Seattle University where she became the president and coach of the Women's Lacrosse Club team.

Megan Lucchesi

Coach

Megan is from Seattle, WA and specializes in midfield and attack. She graduated from the University of Tampa and played for the Washington State All-Star team as well as other notable Washington teams. Currently she coaches at Seattle Academy

Jason Montoya

Tournament Director & Coach

Jason is from Seattle, WA and specializes in defense and goalie. He graduated from Lafayette College in Easton, PA where he played goalie all 4 years for the D1 lacrosse team.

Rachel Moody

Coach

Rachel is from Virginia and specializes in attack. She graduated from Cornell University where she played on the D1 lacrosse team all 4 years.

Hilary O'Dougherty

Coach

Hilary is from Rochester, NY and specializes in all aspects of lacrosse. A Northwestern University graduate, she won 4 National Championships, recorded a 77-3 record, and tallied 299 points. She coached at Mount St. Mary's University and USC, played for the US Team, and competed in the first women's professional league.

Leanna Reuss

Coach

Leanna is from the northwest and specializes in coaching youth. She graduated from Western Washing University where she also played on the lacrosse team.

Kaia Salverda

Coach

Kaia is from Seattle, WA and played for SAAS in High School, and is currently playing at Cal Poly University.

Sydney Spadinger

Coach

Sydney is from Connecticut and specializes in all aspects of lacrosse. She played lacrosse at Vassar College in New York.

Boys Coaches

Peter Blue

Coach

Peter is from Shoreline, WA and specializes in attack and defense. He attended the Ohio Wesleyan University where he and his team played in the NCAA tournament all four years.

Dain Cottington

Coach

Dain is from Seattle, WA and specializes in midfield.

Cole Daninger

Coach

Cole grew up in Lake Tapps, WA and specializes in midfield. He currently attends Rutgers University where he plays lacrosse.

Kyle Decker

Coach

Native to the Seattle area. Grew up in Issaquah Washington playing Lacrosse, Basketball, and Kickboxing.

Greg Ehrhardt

Coach

Greg is from Seattle, WA, and specializes in attack. He attended the York College of Pennsylvania and currently coaches with Seattle Wolfpack, a non-profit lacrosse club for youth boys & girls along with coaching for CitySide.

Jason Fridge

Coach

Jason is from Lynnwood, WA and specializes in attack and midfield. He is a previous CitySide player currently attending Cabrini University in Pennsylvania where he plays on the college lacrosse team.

Eli Gobrecht

Coach

Eli hails from the traditional lacrosse hotbed of upstate New York, where he started playing lacrosse at the age of 6. He splits his time between Seattle in the summer and San Diego in the winter.

Eric Haehl

Coach

Eric is from Bellevue, Washington and specialized in midfield. Eric graduated from the University of Richmond where he played lacrosse and a team captain and SoCon Conference Champion.

Connor Hall

Coach

Connor is from Orting, WA, and specializes in defense. He attended Boise State University in Idaho and is a past CitySide player. Most notably, Connor is recognized for creating the lacrosse program during his sophomore year at his high school, Orting High School in WA.

Jonathan Higuchi

Coach

Jonathan, also known as Gooch, is from Seattle, WA, and specializes in goalie. He's played on numerous club lacrosse teams including The University of Washington's.

Zach Hogan

Coach

Zach is from Massachusetts and specializes in defense.

Henry Johnson

Coach

Henry is a Seattle native who plays Midfield at the Division 3 school Stevens Institute of Technology located in New Jersey.

Christian Mazzone

Youth Travel Team Director & Coach

Christian is from Stony Brook, New York and specializes in all positions of lacrosse. He graduated from Rutgers University where he was an All-American & All-Big Ten performer his senior season. After college, he played professional lacrosse from 2019-2023.

Chris 'OD' O'Dougherty

Founder & Coach

OD is from Newark, New Jersey, and specializes in defense. He was a four-year starter at Rutgers University and a professional lacrosse player for the Denver Outlaws, where he won an MLL championship.

Thomas O'Neil

Youth Boys Travel Team Director & Coach

Thomas is from Hingham, MA and specializes in defense. He graduated from Merrimack College and has been coaching lacrosse for the past 7 years.

Jackson Paul

Coach

Jackson is from Colorado Springs, CO and specializes in attack. He attened the University of Washington.

Evan Perry

Coach

Evan is from Lake Tapps, WA and specializes in midfield. He is a CitySide Alum currently attending Quinnipiac University where he plays as an offensive midfielder.

Carter Randall

Coach

Carter is from Sammamish, WA and specializes in goalie. He attended Western New England University where he played goalie for the lacrosse team, and won 2 state championship.

Aidan Rubio

Coach

Aidan is from Seattle, WA and specializes in attack. He's a CitySide alum currently attending Swarthmore College in Philadelphia, PA where he plays on the college lacrosse team.

Blake Samuel

Coach

Blake is from Seattle, WA, and specializes in attack. He graduated from the University of South Carolina Beaufort where he was a 4 year starter and team captain for 2 years.

Ryan Sheldon

Coach

Ryan is a Tacoma native where he played hockey and lacrosse while attending Curtis Senior High School.

Drew Snider

Founder & Coach

Drew is from Seattle, WA, and specializes in every aspect of lacrosse. He is the founder of CitySide and a prominent figure in the world of lacrosse, known for his exceptional skills and contributions to the sport.

Kris Snider

Coach

Kris Snider has been contributing to the growth of lacrosse in the Northwest as a coach, administrator, and developer for the past 35 years. He was inducted into the Nat. Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2022 for his skills and contributions.

Will Snider

High School Director & Coach

Will is from Queen Anne, Seattle and specializes in all positions of lacrosse. He graduated from the University of Maryland where he played as a starting mid-fielder for the UMD lacrosse team and in 2017, won a NCAA Division 1 Nat. Championship.

Craig Snyder

Coach

Craig is from New Jersey and specializes in defense. He attended the United States Naval Academy where he played baseball for all 4 years. Craig has been a part of the CitySide family as a youth coach for over 8 years.

Dylan Vita

Coach

Dylan is from Seattle, Washington and specializes in Midfield. He attended the University of Washington (UW) where he was the 2x team caption for the UW Men's Club Lacrosse team.

Cooper Woolston

Coach

Cooper is from Seattle, WA and specializes in attack. He attended Swarthmore College in Philadelphia, PA, where he and his team where 2x Centennial Conference semi-finalist.