Coach Tingle: Moving Up, Giving Back, and Herding Cats (Jags)

It’s come to our attention that Coach Bryan Tingle has a new title. Actually, he has several. He is officially the new Head Coach for the Garnet Valley High School Junior Varsity Lacrosse team.

Most people would take a promotion like that and say, "I’m done with the little ones. I’ve served my time in the trenches of 1st and 2nd grade chaos; I’m moving up to the big leagues where the players actually tie their own shoes." But not Tingle. No, he’s still dedicated to stay on as the C-Level Director for the 3rd and 4th grade Jr Jags.

Is he a saint? A glutton for punishment? Or does he just really enjoy the specific acoustics of forty 9-year-olds screaming at once? It’s hard to say. Personally, I find the 4th / 5thrd-grade sideline to be a land of "accidental" stick checks and mysterious equipment failures. It’s a lot of "Where’s my mouthguard?" and "He looked at me funny." It’s a whole thing.

Why This is Great for the Garnet Valley Community

Despite his questionable decision to keep working with kids who still think a "crease" is something you do to a piece of paper, we couldn’t be happier. Here is a quick reminder of why Coach Tingle is the man for the job:

• Pedigree: He’s a University of Delaware alum with a 2003 National Championship in football and All-American honors in rugby.

• Pro Experience: He’s played for the Philadelphia Barrage, Philadelphia Wings, and New York Titans. He knows the game at a level most of us only see on TV (or in our dreams).

• Local Roots: He’s already a staple at Garnet Valley Middle School as a Health and PE teacher.

The Tingle Philosophy

When asked why he loves the game, Tingle points to its history and the "athleticism, speed, and strategy." When asked about his favorite memory, he mentions taking the 2030 class to a tournament on Father’s Day. That’s the kind of guy he is. He loves being on the field with our kids. And for the record, he finds Kindergarten lacrosse "funny and amazing."

Congratulations, Coach! We look forward to seeing you dominate the JV sidelines for the Garnet Valley Jags and continue to herd the cats...I mean, lead the athletes...in the 3rd and 4th grade Jr Jags program.

Go Jags. Go Jr Jags. Go Tingle!