May 18, 2007
OTTAWA, ONTARIO -
The Canadian Lacrosse Association, the women's national team program and head coach Lisa Miller recently announced that George Mason women's lacrosse head coach Amy Bokker will be one of two assistants on Miller's coaching staff for Canada's team that will compete at the International Federation of Women's Lacrosse Associations (IFWLA) World Cup in Prague, Czech Republic in July of 2009.
"I am so excited for the opportunity to be involved with the Canadian National Team," Bokker said. "I look forward to working under and learning from Coach Miller and I am eager to work with world-class athletes at the international level. The Canadian National Program is on the rise, and I hope I can bring a passion and spark that will bring success at the 2009 World Cup."
Bokker brings a wealth of experience to the Canadian National Team, having led the Patriots to five top-20 national finishes in 10 seasons at George Mason. Bokker is the winningest coach in the program's history, owning a 74-89 record at Mason. She is 82-97 overall in 11 years as a head coach.
Before her arrival at George Mason, Bokker served as the women's lacrosse head coach at former CAA conference member American University, and was named the 1997 CAA Coach of the Year in her one and only season as a head coach at the school.
Bokker graduated from William and Mary in 1995 with a degree in kinesiology and a minor in biology, earning letters in both lacrosse and field hockey. During the four years she played lacrosse, her squad was ranked in the top-10 nationally, and she helped guide the Tribe to two NCAA Tournament appearances. Bokker was selected to numerous postseason all-star teams, garnered First-Team All-South Region honors as a junior and senior, and was named First-Team All-CAA both years. She was also named a BRINE/IWLCA All-American her senior season.
A team captain during her final campaign, Bokker led the team in scoring as a junior (28 goals, 6 assists) and was second on the team as a senior (26 goals, nine assists). She finished her career with 97 points (74 goals, 23 assists). In field hockey, Bokker was a team captain her senior season and a two-time All-CAA selection.
In the summer and on weekends during the winter, Bokker runs the highly successful "Change Your Level Lacrosse Camps" at George Mason. She is a certified high school official and serves on numerous IWLCA committees, including the Regional All-America Committee, where she has been chair since the 2004 campaign.
Miller has previous experience with the Canadian National Team, serving as an assistant coach for Canada's 2001 World Cup team. She is currently the women's lacrosse head coach at Syracuse University. Also joining Miller's staff as an assistant is Patty Kloidt, the women's lacrosse head coach at Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y. The appointments of all three coaches begin immediately and will run through to the end of the 2009 IFWLA World Cup.
The IFWLA was formed in 1972 to promote and develop the game of women's lacrosse throughout the world. Inaugural members were Australia, England, Scotland, Wales and the United States. Currently, 12 member nations participate in World Cup competitions, which have been held every fourth year since 1982 in a different host country. Canada placed fourth at the 2005 IFWLA World Cup, held in Annapolis, Md. Australia finished first, defeating the United States 14-7 in the championship game. England finished in third place. Both Brooke McKenzie, now an assistant coach at George Mason, and Alana Chan, who will play for the Patriots next season, were members of Canada's 2005 World Cup team.
