Zac Brownlee, fresh off being named The Ledger’s 2026 Boys’ Lacrosse Coach of the Year, isn't slowing down; he’s now the executive director of the Lakeland Lakers, a youth lacrosse program he started in June of 2025. This isn't just another club; Brownlee is bringing a serious vision to Polk County, aiming to build something lasting from the ground up.
Brownlee’s Hotbed Blueprint for Polk County
Anyone watching lacrosse nationally knows the game has exploded, especially in traditional hotbeds like the Syracuse area, Maryland, and parts of Virginia. These places have built strong youth programs that funnel talent straight into high schools and colleges for decades. Brownlee knows this firsthand. He played at Cortland State in Central New York, an experience that showed him exactly how powerful a strong youth lacrosse culture can be. After eight years as the Lakeland boys coach, Brownlee decided it was time to bring that same opportunity home to Polk County. He’s not just hoping for growth, he’s actively creating the conditions for it. As Brownlee puts it, "The goal is to bring all that talent and experience together in one place so we can build something lasting with great coaching. We’re already seeing it start to grow organically. Polk County kids who played college lacrosse are now coaching here and helping reproduce Polk Coun"Building the Foundation with Serious Talent
While those established areas boast deep pipelines and year-round opportunities, Polk County is focused on creating accessible, high-quality programs that can develop local talent from day one. To do that, Brownlee has pulled together a strong group of coaches and directors. Many of them share deep Central New York roots, just like him. You've got Marty Ward, the head coach at Florida Southern, and Chris Burdick, head coach at Webber International, both of whom played collegiate lacrosse in the area. Tim Hunt is on the business side, also with that collegiate lacrosse background. The program also has local products involved, including Alex Ari, head coach at All Saints Academy, and Brycen Ortiz, head coach at Lakeland Christian; both played at Webber under Coach Burdick. Plus, Matt Harris, head coach of Winter Haven High School, hails from Victor, New York, and Florida Southern alumni Isaiah Thomas is on staff. The Lakeland Lakers are clearly more than just a new program; they’re building a lasting legacy for Polk County lacrosse. If Brownlee and his crew keep this up, we’re gonna see a lot of local talent making waves for years to come.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.