Southern Marin Lax Information
About
SO WHO IS HARRIS “COACH HARRIS” HOLZBERG?
My family and I are twenty year residents of Southern Marin, we love living here.
I served SMLC as coach, referee, athletic director, NCJLA Delegate, and in club leadership for ten years including two years as president (2006-2007). Those years included five years on the board of the “league,” The Northern California Junior Lacrosse Association (NCJLA), three of which as president (2003-2005).
At the regional level, I was secretary of the US Lacrosse NORCAL Chapter (2003-2008). For eight years, I served on the Corte Madera Park and Recreation Commission including as Chairman.
Two years ago, in recognition of my club and league organizational and administrative work, I was elected to the US Lacrosse NORCAL Chapter, Hall of Fame (Class of 2016). I am one of only forty-six Hall of Fame members, out of the many thousands who have enjoyed Northern California Lacrosse.
Last October, I was re-elected to the Board of Directors of the NCJLA where I continue to serve.
Chapter Hall of Fame
Since 2005, the NorCal Chapter Hall of Fame has been honoring individuals who have made an impact on NorCal lacrosse in their field.
"Those who by their deeds as players, coaches, officials and/or contributors, and by the example of their lives, personify the great contribution of the sport of lacrosse to our way of life".
Class of 2016 - NorCal Chapter Hall of Fame
Harris Holzberg
Harris first picked up a stick during his freshman year of college at Brandeis University, near Boston (NCAA DIII), and played from 1974 to 1976. It all began when his fall soccer coach asked him to join the spring lacrosse team as there was lots of additional athletic opportunity. Once graduating, with a degree in philosophy, Harris played some club ball and soon entered his Rip Van Winkle phase, his lacrosse life was asleep for some twenty years. Once awake, he learned that while much had changed (like the equipment), much more had remained the same - specifically, the desire of kids to play and compete along with the traditions of the student-athlete. That is: hard work, good sportsmanship, excellence on the field and in the classroom.
Harris has been a part of the NORCAL lacrosse community since the 2001 season, shortly after moving from Miami Beach and settling in Corte Madera. Once there, he was recruited by the Southern Marin Lacrosse Club (SMLC) and soon started to have an impact; the first year as a head coach and the second year as coach, referee, club athletic director, and liaison to the NCJLA Board of Directors. At the end of his second season, Harris was elected President of NCJLA and served for three years.
As NCJLA President, from 2003 to 2005, the league was enduring the difficult time of transitioning from a club high school league to the primarily youth league that it is today. When he first became president there were only a handful of youth teams although the league was rapidly growing. New clubs, new teams, new challenges, all were expertly managed under his leadership. Most of the foundation of today's league was implemented by Harris and his administration, including: the website, decentralized scheduling, all of the youth championships, new divisions such as U11's, maintaining high school boys and keeping alive, from near extinction, the high school girls. Harris feels most gratified by his work to help transition the girl's high school division and to help grow the girl's division of the youth league.
While NCJLA President Harris served as liaison to the Northern California Lacrosse Foundation (US Lacrosse NorCal Chapter), was its secretary from 2006 to 2010 and was a member of the Executive Committee.
Between 2001 and 2010 he was a Board Member of the SMLC and served as its President from 2007 to 2008. During those years, in addition to continuing to manage its rapid growth and development, Harris began the pre-season February Faceoff, hosted a US Lacrosse Level I training at St. Ignatius H.S, and hosted a US Men's National Team clinic at Marin Catholic H.S. In addition, during this time SMLC established the Little Dudes (U9's) and the Bobble Heads (U7's) divisions by hosting the first league wide tournaments at Mt. Tamalpais H.S.
Throughout it all, Harris remains motivated by the traditions of the student-athlete. That is: hard work, good sportsmanship, excellence on the field and in the classroom.
Our son Marcus played SMLC ball for eight years, played at SI, and was recruited to NCAA D3 at Wesleyan University, in New England (the NESCAC). My wife Patti was always one of the loudest voices cheering on our players and teams. She and I enjoy the friendship and company of many of the people we have met in our lacrosse community.
Because of my background at the club level, at the league level, and as a member of the US Lacrosse NORCAL Chapter, Hall of Fame – I feel that it is morally imperative that I speak out about the financial mismanagement and breach of fiduciary duty of the Board of Directors of the Southern Marin lacrosse Club - my home lacrosse club.
Coach Harris