The youth organization was supposed to be for boys only. But Allison asked her dad if she could play too. Thinking her interest would fade, he told her to go to school and find a dozen girls who would take the leap into learning lacrosse with her. Knowing middle school is the time when girls drop out of sports in record numbers, he didn’t expect to ever hear about it again.

But in a single day, Allison came home with a list of 30 girls.

So with little support and zero experience, Todd launched the Avon Girls Youth Lacrosse Program for Allison and her friends to try the sport—and Todd, recognizing there was a serious shortage of girls lacrosse coaches and not finding anyone to lead—had to learn the sport, too. He was reluctant to dive in at first and searched desperately for qualified coaches to take the job. They simply didn’t exist. After two seasons. Todd realized that he could learn X’s and O’s, and his coaching philosophies could transfer. He also discovered that girls—no offense to the boys—were a joy to coach.

Todd led the girls youth program until Allison was in 10th grade, when he took the head coach position for the newly recognized Avon High School varsity team, a role he still holds today.

During high school, Allison joined a local travel team where Todd also began to coach. Again, he recognized a need for a stronger program in Northeast Ohio with clear parent communication, better athlete empowerment, a fiercely passionate coaching staff, and a supportive and nurturing team-focused culture. And so he launched Burning River Girls Lacrosse.

In August 2022, Burning River Girls Lacrosse changed their name to MAXIM Lacrosse. Same coaching staff. Different logo.

Ask Todd what the mantra is for his program and he’ll tell you:

Today, Todd runs the MAXIM Lacrosse program year round while still working full-time. Allison graduated high school in 2019 and plays D1 lacrosse at Kent State University. She spends her summers coaching with her dad and, as a fashion merchandising major, designs all the team uniforms. Todd’s son John graduated in 2021 from Avon High School as a four-year varsity player and plays D2 men’s lacrosse at Walsh University. John has joined the MAXIM coaching staff as well and is the “chief stick stringer.” Fun fact: MAXIM is John’s middle name.

Welcome to the MAXIM Lacrosse family.