Men's Lacrosse Coaches

Brooks Singer

Head Men's Lacrosse Coach singerb@cua.edu 202-319-4743

Since his hiring in 1998, Head Coach Brooks Singer continues his quest to establish the Catholic University program as a highly competitive team within the NCAA Division III and the newly formed Landmark Conference. Building on the successes of previous seasons, Singer believes the 2008 squad will continue to take the Cardinals to the next level. The team has won 31 games in the past four seasons, an improvement from just five victories in the first and second seasons combined.  Over the years, he has coached players who were selected to the Capital Athletic All-Conference team.  In addition, Jerry Clifford was selected by Inside Lacrosse/Faceoff Magazine as a preseason All-American. 

Singer's philosophy encompasses a positive balance between academics and athletics to allow for success both on the field and in the classroom. He works hard to encourage his players to succeed as student-athletes.  His players reflect the spectrum of academic fields on campus, from architecture and engineering to business and social science majors. Singer is very proud to have coached multiple academic all-conference players each year, as well as Timothy Lambert, a selection to the Verizon Academic All-American team. The primary goal of Singer and his staff is to prepare each student-athlete for life after college, as well as to recognize the contributions that each individual brings to the team. 

Singer's passion for the game and emphasis on academics stems from a wide variety of playing, coaching and academic experience. Originally from Long Island, N.Y., Singer played at the University of Arizona under Miles Felton. As a captain for the Wildcats, Singer was selected on multiple occasions as a U.S. Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association All-Star and was a Division I North/South All-Star nominee. As a midfielder, Singer ended his college career with one of the top Division I face-off winning percentages. After graduating in 1995, Singer earned joint law and master's degrees from Catholic University. While attending graduate school he founded the CUA club lacrosse team.  In 1998, Singer was named head coach of the first Cardinal varsity men's lacrosse squad. Since then, he has strived to build a program that the university and its students are proud to support.

In addition to his lacrosse responsibilities, Singer is employed as a senior investigator for the U.S. Department of Justice in the Civil Rights Division.  He resides in Washington, D.C., and is engaged to be married to his finace Natalie.

 

Dan Ambrose

Head Assistant Coach ambrosed@cua.edu 202-319-4743

Dan Ambrose enters his fourth year coaching at Catholic University.  He serves as the primary assistant coach and the offensive coordinator, a move from the defensive side of the field where he had coached in previous seasons. Among his many responsibilities, he coordinates practices, takes care of scheduling and handles daily preparations for coaches and players.

Under Ambrose's supervision, the Cardinal defense was highly ranked in the Capital Athletic Conference leading in several categories including save percentage, saves per game, penalty-killing percentage, and goals against average. He looks to bring additional energy and a strong work ethic to the offense this season as the Cardinals enter the newly formed Landmark Conference. 

The 2008 season will mark the 14th year that Ambrose has coached lacrosse at the youth, high school and college levels. Prior to CUA, he was the head coach at South Lakes High School in Reston, Va., and the assistant at Southlake Carroll High School in Southlake, Texas. Ambrose has continued to use his experience and energy to help the Cardinals reach their goals each season. He graduated from Summit High School after playing for the New Jersey State Champion Summit Hilltoppers. He then went on to play at the University of Delaware. Ambrose received his B.S. in biology and Spanish from the University of Nebraska and his M.B.A. from the University of Texas-Dallas. He currently works in sales and lives with his wife Sandy and daughter Alex in Oak Hill, Va.

 

Allan Bernotas

Assistant Coach

Allan Bernotas graduated from Villanova University in 1996 with a degree in English. Bernotas was a four-year starter for the Wildcat lacrosse team and captained the team to a winning season in his senior year. This is Bernotas' second year coaching with the Cardinals. He brings a variety of experiences to the squad and among other duties, he serves as the team's strength and fitness coach.

As a former skeleton downhill slider and championship thoroughbred trainer, Bernotas brings a tremendous amount of knowledge and intensity on the importance of fitness and conditioning. His brother Eric, a World Cup champion and Olympian, is presently training in Salt Lake City, Utah, for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada.

Bernotas works for Oracle and lives with his wife Rebecca and son Quinn in Reston, Va.

 

Dave Becker

Assistant Coach

Dave Becker, originally from Bay Shore, N.Y, enters his second year with the Cardinals. He was a four-year starter at the University of Buffalo and team captain during his senior year. Under coach Mark Greenfield Buffalo was ranked sixth in the National College Lacrosse League in1999. Becker has also served as head coach of an Alexandria, Va., club lacrosse team. He took the team from a 2-10 record in 2000 to an 11-1 record in 2001.

In 2002, Becker became the defensive coordinator at Paul VI Catholic High School in Alexandria. In 2003, Becker coached the JV team at T.C. Williams High School, in Alexandria.  He then worked for three seasons as the defensive coordinator at Fairfax High School in Virginia. Becker serves as a defensive coach along side assistant coach Mike Borsz and as the video coordinator for the Cardinals.

Becker works as an architect for the National Cancer Institute in Rockville, Md., and lives with his wife Ally and son Sam in Washington, D.C.

 

Mike Borsz

Recruiting Coordinator/Men's Lacrosse Assistant Coach borsz@cua.edu 202-319-6007

Mike Borsz joins the athletic department full time with his recent appointment as the athletics recruitment coordinator.  Borsz brings knowledge of both enrollment management and athletics having completed a term most recently in the admissions office at Catholic University and continual involvement with the men's lacrosse team.  He will serve primarily as the liaison between the admissions and athletic offices.

In addition to aiding in the recruiting efforts of all 21 varsity programs for the university, Borsz also serves as the men's lacrosse defensive coordinator and goalkeeper's coach.  This is his second season with the Cardinals and he has coached at the youth, scholastic, collegiate and international levels over his career. 

Borsz is a 2003 graduate of Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, N.Y.  He was a four-year member of the D-I men's lacrosse team and a three-year starter in goal for the Statesmen.  During his time at Hobart, Borsz was nominated twice to the All-Patriot League team, was awarded the team defensive player award three times, served as a team captain and sits in the fourth position for all time career saves for the program the squad won the Patriot League and advanced to the NCAA Tournament twice.  His playing career ended with an appearance in the elite North-South All-Star Classic.

Since graduation Borsz has worked as a youth coach for his alma mater West Genesee High School, coached several UK club teams, aided the Welsh International Men's team and worked as an assistant coach at Colgate University.  He is currently pursing a master's degree in educational administration at CUA.  Borsz currently resides in Washington, D.C.

 

Jimmy Nalls

Assistant Coach

Jimmy Nalls enters his fifth year coaching at CUA. Nalls played for the Cardinals and was the team's first all-conference selection in 2003. Nalls was selected as team captain and MVP in 2003 and team rookie of the year in 1999. He was also the football team's MVP and an All-Old Dominion Conference honoree. Under Nalls' leadership, the team finished the 2006 season ranked among the top squads in the CAC in points per game as well as shooting percentage. Nalls, will serve as an offensive coordinator along side of assistant coach Dave Ambrose.

Nalls, who graduated from CUA with a degree in civil engineering, works as a project manager for Chesapeake Finishing in Maryland, and resides in Silver Spring, Md.