Collier named new lacrosse coach at Judson

Taking the challenge of building yet another men's lacrosse program, Judson University has hired A. J. Colllier II as its new men's lacrosse coach. Collier brings several years of coaching and playing experience to Judson.

For the past eight years, he has been the general manager for the St. Viator High School lacrosse club program. He started the program in 2001 and has built it to the point of having a varsity, JV, and freshman team.

He led the Fremd High School program in 1996-97. Before that, he was the club president and played defense and long stick midfield for the Fox Valley Men's Post Collegiate Club in Huntley for four years.

Collier's lacrosse coaching experience has also taken him to the Lacrosse America Program. He is currently the coach for Lacrosse America in Chicago which is a youth feeder program for players going into high school. He has been a part of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes lacrosse program.

In college, he was a three-year starter for the Northern Illinois Lacrosse Club team from 1992-95. He played on the defense and long stick midfield. He is a 1995 NIU graduate.

Professionally, he has helped both of the professional lacrosse teams in Chicago. From 2006-08 he was the penalty box operator and time out coordinator for the Chicago Shamrox. For the past four years, he has been the time out coordinator and field manager for the Chicago Machine.

He currently works for the Bartlett Park District as its Health and Fitness Manager. He has been there since 2002 and has been named the IPRA (Illinois Parks and Recreation Association) Fitness Manager of the Year (2006) and the IPRA Professional of the Year (2009).