The NLL and Teams | Georgia Swarm Pro Lacrosse Team

Brett Frood became Commissioner of the National Lacrosse League in September 2022. He is just the fifth Commissioner in NLL history since its relaunch in 1997. Frood joined the NLL from Stewart-Haas Racing, where he served as President of the NASCAR team since its inception in 2008, leading all business initiatives for the championship-winning organization co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart and industrialist Gene Haas.

Frood joined Stewart, the championship-winning INDYCAR and NASCAR driver, after graduating from Harvard Business School to manage and expand all of Stewart’s business interests, including, but not limited to, Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, Tony Stewart Racing, The Tony Stewart Foundation, the introduction of Tony Stewart’s Original food line, the All-Star Circuit of Champions, and the 2021 launch of Superstar Racing Experience, a primetime racing series airing on CBS.

As President of Stewart-Haas Racing, Frood managed all aspects of the racing and commercial operations of the $100M+ enterprise that won two NASCAR Cup Series championships (2011 and 2014) and a NASCAR Xfinity Series title (2018) while totaling more than 90 victories. During his tenure at Stewart-Haas Racing, Frood led an organization with 350 employees and negotiated over $600 million in corporate partnerships. He also represented Stewart-Haas Racing on the Race Team Alliance, an organization consisting of all NASCAR Cup Series teams with the goal of promoting, marketing and expanding commercial opportunities of the teams and drivers as well as working with NASCAR in the collective growth of the industry.

Prior to business school, Frood worked in equity capital markets on Wall Street and pursued entrepreneurial interests in Europe before enrolling at Harvard Business School. During his time at business school, he was the Co-President of the Business of Sports Club and a marketing intern for the New York City Olympic Organizing Committee, which attempted to bring the 2012 Summer Olympic Games to New York, in 2003.

A native of Elbridge, N.Y., Frood played lacrosse at his undergraduate alma mater, Brown University, where he was a multi-year starter, team captain, Final Four member, and two-time Ivy League Champion at Attack/Midfield for the Bears. He also led the team in scoring his senior season.

Brett has continued his involvement in lacrosse, where he has been a youth lacrosse coach since 2010, while also coaching the Cannon School Varsity team, the 2022 NCISAA Division I State Champion in North Carolina. He is also the Head Coach and College Recruiting Director for the Carolina Miner’s 2024 Boys Elite Team.

Frood was a 2012 Forty Under 40 honoree by The Sports Business Journal, and currently lives in Davidson, N.C., with his wife Robin, and their children, Cole, Quinn and Charlotte.

The Teams

Albany FireWolves

The Albany FireWolves were founded in 2021. Playing out of Times Union Center in Albany, New York, the FireWolves are owned by a group headed by Oliver Marti and featuring Mike French, Brad Brewster, and Ted Goldthorpe. The FireWolves are part of the eight-team East Division.

The FireWolves franchise were the New England Black Wolves from 2014-2020. The franchise originally operated as the Philadelphia Wings – one of the original EPBLL franchises – from 1986-2014. The franchise retained all of its records from its Wings days.

As the Philadelphia Wings, the franchise won the NLL Championship six times (1989, 1990, 1994, 1995, 1998, 2001).

The Swarm have yet to play the FireWolves since their move. Following the completion of the 2019-20 season, the Black Wolves and Georgia Swarm met 15 times. The Swarm are 9-6 in those contests and have a +16 goal differential against the East Division team.

General Manager: Glenn Clark

Head Coach: Glenn Clark

Buffalo Bandits

The Buffalo Bandits were founded in 1991. Playing out of KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York, the Bandits are owned by Pegula Sports and Entertainment, which also owns the Buffalo Sabres, Buffalo Bills, and Rochester Knighthawks as of 2019. The Bandits are part of the eight-team East Division.

The Bandits are the longest tenured franchise, having spent 30 years in one location. They have won the NLL Championship four times (1992, 1993, 1996, 2008) – including their first year of operation – and are the only team to ever have a perfect season.

Following the completion of the 2019-20 season, the Bandits and Georgia Swarm have met 11 times. The Swarm are 6-5 in those contests and have a -5 goal differential against the North Division team.

General Manager: Steve Dietrich

Head Coach: John Tavares

Calgary Roughnecks

The Calgary Roughnecks were founded in 2001. Playing out of Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, the Roughnecks are owned by principal owner Brad Banister. The Roughnecks are part of the five-team West Division.

Also known by the moniker “Riggers,” the Roughnecks have won the NLL Championship three times (2004, 2009, 2019).

Following the completion of the 2019-20 season, the Roughnecks and Georgia Swarm have met 7 times. The Swarm are 2-5 in those contests and have a -2 goal differential against the West Division team.

General Manager: Mike Board

Head Coach: Curt Malawsky

Colorado Mammoth

The Colorado Mammoth were founded in 2003. Playing out of Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado, the Mammoth are owned by Stan Kroenke, who also owns the Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, and Colorado Rapids. The Mammoth are part of the six-team West Division.

The Mammoth franchise originally operated as the Baltimore Thunder – one of the original EPBLL franchises – from 1987-99. They then became the Pittsburgh CrosseFire in 2000, then the Washington Power from 2001-02. In 2003, the team moved one last time to Denver and became the Colorado Mammoth.

The Mammoth have won the NLL Championship once in franchise history (2006).

Following the completion of the 2019-20 season, the Mammoth and Georgia Swarm have met 8 times. The Swarm are 2-6 in those contests and have a +2 goal differential against the West Division team.

General Manager: Brad Self

Head Coach: Pat Coyle

Georgia Swarm

The Georgia Swarm were founded in 2016. Playing out of Gas South Arena in Duluth, Georgia, the Swarm are owned by John and Andy Arlotta. The Swarm are part of the eight-team East Division.

The Swarm franchise originally operated in St. Paul, Minnesota as the Minnesota Swarm from 2004-15. Created by the Minnesota Wild, the Arlottas purchased the Swarm in 2008 and moved the franchise to Georgia following the completion of the 2015 NLL season.

The Swarm have won the NLL Championship once in franchise history (2017).

From 2016-20, the Swarm have played in 84 games. The team sports a 51-33 record and a +105 goal differential.

General Manager: John Arlotta

Head Coach: Ed Comeau

Halifax Thunderbirds

The Halifax Thunderbirds were founded in 2019, and their inaugural season will be the 2019-20 NLL season. Playing out of Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the Thunderbirds are owned by Curt Styres. They are part of the eight-team East Division.

The Thunderbirds originally operated as the Rochester Knighthawks from 1995-2019. Styres moved the Knighthawks’ roster to Halifax following the conclusion of the 2018-19 NLL season. The franchise will also retain all of its records from its Knighthawks days.

As the Rochester Knighthawks, the franchise won the NLL Championship five times (1997, 2007, 2012, 2013, 2014).

Following the completion of the 2018-19 season, the Knighthawks and Georgia Swarm met 12 times. The Swarm are 8-4 in those contests and have a +15 goal differential against the original Knighthawks franchise.

General Manager: Curt Styres

Head Coach: Mike Accursi

New York Riptide

The New York Riptide were founded in 2019, and their inaugural season will be the 2019-20 NLL season. Playing out of Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York, the Riptide are owned by GF Sports. They are part of the eight-team East Division.

The Riptide are the third New York-based team in NLL history, following the New York Saints (1989-2003) and New York Titans (2006-09).

Following the completion of the 2019-20 season, the Riptide and Georgia Swarm have met 3 times. The Swarm are 2-1 in those contests and have a +8 goal differential against the East Division team.

General Manager: Jim Veltman

Head Coach: Dan Ladouceur

Panther City Lacrosse Club

Panther City Lacrosse Club was founded in 2020, and their inaugural season will be the 2021-22 NLL season. Playing out of Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, PCLC is owned by Bill Cameron. PCLC is the first NLL team in Texas. Panther City is part of the six-team West Division.

General Manager: Bob Hamley

Head Coach: Tracey Kelusky

Philadelphia Wings

The Philadelphia Wings were founded in 2017. Playing out of Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the Wings are owned by Comcast Spectacor. The Wings are part of the eight-team East Division.

The Philadelphia Wings were one of the original EPBLL teams. They operated for 28 years in Philadelphia before moving to Connecticut and becoming the New England Black Wolves. The Black Wolves retained all records from those 28 years as the Wings.

Following the completion of the 2019-20 season, the Wings and Georgia Swarm have met 5 times. The Swarm are 3-2 in those contests and have a +3 goal differential against the East Division team.

General Manager: Paul Day

Head Coach: Paul Day

Rochester Knighthawks

The Rochester Knighthawks are an expansion team formed in 2019. Playing out of Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, New York, the Knighthawks are owned by Pegula Sports and Entertainment, which also owns the Buffalo Sabres, Buffalo Bills, and Buffalo Bandits. They are part of the eight-team East Division.

Pegula Sports and Entertainment purchased the franchise in 2019 from Curt Styres, who moved his Knighthawks team to Halifax to become the Halifax Thunderbirds. The Knighthawks remained in Rochester and will be treated as an expansion team, playing their first season in 2019-20.

Following the completion of the 2019-20 season, the Knighthawks and Georgia Swarm have met once. The Swarm won this lone contest 14-4 against the North Division team.

General Manager: Dan Carey

Head Coach: Mike Hasen

San Diego Seals

The San Diego Seals were founded in 2017. Playing out of Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California, the Seals are owned by Joseph Tsai, co-founder of Alibaba Group. The Seals are part of the six-team West Division.

Following the completion of the 2019-20 season, the Seals and Georgia Swarm have met once. The Swarm won that home game 17-10 against the West Division team.

General Manager: Patrick Merrill

Head Coach: Patrick Merrill

Saskatchewan Rush

The Saskatchewan Rush were founded in 2015. Playing out of SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, the Rush are owned by Priestner Sports Corporation, which also owns the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League. The Rush are part of the six-team West Division.

The Rush franchise originally operated as the Edmonton Rush from 2006-2015.

The Rush have won the NLL Championship three times in franchise history (2015, 2016, 2018).

Following the completion of the 2019-20 season, the Rush and Georgia Swarm have met 5 times. The Swarm are 3-2 in those contests and have a +7 goal differential against the West Division team.

General Manager: Derek Keenan

Head Coach: Jeff McComb

Toronto Rock

The Toronto Rock were founded in 1998. Playing out of FirstOntario Centre in Hamilton, Ontario, the Rock are owned by Jamie Dawick. The Rock are part of the eight-team East Division.

The Rock originally were founded ahead of the 1998 season as the Ontario Raiders, playing at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario. They moved to then-Maple Leaf Gardens after their inaugural season and rebranded as the Toronto Rock.

The Rock have won the NLL Championship six times (1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2011).

Following the completion of the 2019-20 season, the Rock and Georgia Swarm have met 10 times. The Swarm are 8-2 in those contests and have a +20 goal differential against the North Division team.

General Manager: Jamie Dawick

Head Coach: Matt Sawyer

Vancouver Warriors

The Vancouver Warriors were founded in 2018. Playing out of Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Warriors are owned by Canucks Sports & Entertainment, which also owns the Vancouver Canucks and Utica Comets. The Warriors are part of the six-team West Division.

The Warriors franchise originally operated as the Albany Attack from 2000-03. Adopting the Stealth moniker, the franchise moved to San Jose to become the San Jose Stealth in 2004. After staying in the southwest from 2004-09, the franchise moved again and operated as the Washington Stealth from 2010-2013. Following the 2013 NLL season, the franchise crossed the border and became the Vancouver Stealth. After five years at Langley Events Centre, the franchise was sold to Canucks Sports & Entertainment, re-branded as the Warriors, and began playing out of Rogers Arena in 2019.

The franchise won the NLL Championship once (2010 as the Washington Stealth).

Following the completion of the 2019-20 season, the Warriors and Georgia Swarm have met twice. The Swarm are 2-0 in those contests and have a +9 goal differential against the West Division team. When the franchise still operated as the Stealth, the Stealth and Georgia Swarm met four times. The Swarm won all of those meetings and had a +15 goal differential.

General Manager: Dan Richardson

Head Coach: Chris Gill

Las Vegas Desert Dogs

NLL Las Vegas Lacrosse 2022-23

The new Las Vegas expansion franchise (as yet un-named) will be co-owned by Wayne Gretzky, Dustin Johnson, Steve Nash, and Joe Tsai. Mark Fine has been named the Las Vegas team’s Chief Executive Officer.

The team will play at MGM Resorts International’s Michelob ULTRA Arena – located inside the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino – beginning in the 2022-23 season. The arena is also home to the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces and has hosted high-profile events including various Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) events, the Latin GRAMMYs, the NHL Awards, the Latin Billboard Awards, the International Swimming League’s World Finals, and the Miss USA pageant.

Las Vegas will join the West Division as its seventh team.