Coaches

Coach O'Neil is in his 17th year on the sidelines and enters his first season as Head Coach at Arizona State. He spent the previous 9 seasons as an Asst. Coach at Torrey Pines High School in San Diego, CA where the team captured the 7 consecutive CIF Open Div. Championships.  During his tenure at Torrey Pines, the team was ranked in the US Lacrosse National Top 25 in 6 seasons, finishing as the #1 ranked program in the West in 5 of those years. 

O'Neil has been heavily involved with the West Coast Starz program for the last 11 years as a Head Coach for the 2020, 2024, 2027 and now the 2029 class. In the summer of 2025, his 2027 team captured the NLF National Championship, the first for WCS since 2018, and finished the year ranked as the #1 club team in the country.

O'Neil has also served as a Head Coach for the Pacific Southwest Team in the Nike National All-Star Games in Baltimore, MD for the past 5 years, coaching the 2024, 2027 and now 2029 team. In 2021, his '24 team won the National Championship at the event.  His '27 team captured another National Championship at the event in 2024.

Locally, Coach O'Neil helps Coach and Co-Direct Team 48 Lacrosse with ASU Defensive Coordinator Gunner Garn. 

Coach O'Neil grew up in Franklin, MA and attended Franklin High School where he was an All League and All Eastern Massachusetts selection at Attack. He is 2009 alumnus of Arizona State where he helped ASU earn its first MCLA tournament appearance in 2007, making it to the Quarterfinals along with an MCLA Tournament Semi-Final appearance in 2008. 

Coach Garn joins ASU for his first year this season as the team's Defensive Coordinator.  Garn most recently served as Defensive Coordinator at Notre Dame Prep (AZ) for the last 3 seasons.  Prior to NDP, Coach Garn also had stints as a Defensive Assistant at Tesoro High School (CA), Lane Tech High School (IL), and De La Salle (CA).  Locally, Garn coaches and is the High School Director of Team 48 Lacrosse.   

Garn hails from Southern California and attended Tesoro High School where he was a 2x all CIF and All American selection.  Garn went on to become Tesoro's first D1 lacrosse product (Class of ‘15), playing at the University of Michigan from 2015–2019 — starting numerous games throughout his career.

Coach Kirk joins ASU in his first year this season, assisting with the team's offense.

A Long Island native and standout at Division Avenue High School, Kirk played attack, where he was a 3x All-Conference, 1x All-County, and 1x All-County Honorable Mention selection in Nassau County. He posted back-to-back 50-goal seasons as a junior and senior, finishing as one of Long Island’s top goal scorers between 2012–2015.

Kirk went on to play midfield at Nassau Community College, where he earned All-Region honors before beginning his coaching career with the Lions. From 2019–2021, he served as an offensive assistant at Nassau, where the team went undefeated over two seasons and won the 2021 NJCAA National Championship. During his time on staff, the Lions’ offense averaged over 18 goals per game, making it one of the most explosive units in the country.

After helping coach a national championship team, Kirk made the transition back to playing college lacrosse, this time as a midfielder for Arizona State. He was a 2x captain for the Sun Devils and earned All-Conference Honorable Mention honors in the SLC Conference, bringing leadership and consistency on and off the field.

Coach Neff joins the ASU staff in his first year this season as the team's Face Off coach. Neff is the director of FaceOff Academy Arizona, where he works with athletes and a myriad of high school and youth programs across the state developing technique and a deeper understanding of the game.

Neff played four years of NCAA Division III lacrosse at Manhattanville College in Purchase, New York, starting for three seasons as a Face Off specialist. After finishing his collegiate career, he returned to Arizona to pursue his PhD in Chemistry at Arizona State University, when he also began coaching and staying actively involved in the local lacrosse community.

Since then, Neff has joined the Arizona Lacrosse League High School Governing Commission and was honored in 2025 with the Billy Lloyd Memorial Award, recognizing his dedication and service to the growth of lacrosse in Arizona.

Coach Richters joins ASU's staff for his first season this year as the team's Goalies Coach.  Richters is a 2025 graduate of Detroit Mercy where he was a 2 year starter for the Titans.  He graduated as #1 in school history in saves per game (13.62/game), #4 in saves (354), and made NEC All-Tournament Team in 2025.  

Richters is also still plays internationally and is the current starting goalie for team Latvia. 

Coach Catt joins ASU for his first year as the team's Strength and Conditioning Director.  A Michigan native and former Division 1 hockey player at the University of Michigan, Catt brings a wealth of playing and training experience to ASU.  

His Junior hockey career included winning a national title in 2009 and playing three years in the NAHL.  While at Michigan, Catt's teams captured the Big Ten Championship in 2016 and made an appearance in the Final Four in 2018. 

Catt is also a certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (NSCA) and a Precision Nutrition Level 1 Coach, and is currently pursuing his doctorate in physical therapy.