Rubel earns his Wings
Ian Rubel is taking on a new challenge behind the bench.
The St. Catharines native, who already has an impressive coaching and playing resume, is moving from defensive co-ordinator to head coach of the Philadelphia Wings after agreeing to a two-year deal with the National Lacrosse League team.
Rubel joined the Wings coaching staff as defensive co-ordinator prior to the team’s inaugural season in 2018 and has consistently fielded one of the league’s top defensive units during his tenure.
Rubel, who is also an assistant coach with the St. Catharines WMKL Junior A Athletics, is thrilled with the appointment.
“I am humbled by the opportunity to serve as head coach of a team I am already so passionate about,” Rubel said. “Since the start of my time with the Wings, I’ve seen firsthand the dedication and potential within our roster. I am excited to build upon the foundation we’ve established and lead the team to success.”
Rubel, who is a Niagara Regional Police officer, made sure he could fit the new position into his work schedule and also cleared it with wife Julie and sons Gavin and Ryan before accepting the offer.
“It is a big commitment so I had to take some time to think about it and make sure I had the support of my family and from work to do it,” he said. “Once I kind of got all that aligned, it became a bit of a no-brainer.
“You don’t get many options to coach at the highest level of any sport, so I’m just excited to get going.”
Rubel is prepared to make the transition from assistant to head coach.
“I find that as an assistant coach, you do a lot of X’s and O’s types of stuff and as a head coach you kind of oversee everything,” he said. “You’re doing it, but you’re doing a bit everything. You do have to have a hand in what’s happening in the X’s and O’s side of it, but you’re also the one that’s building the culture in your locker room.”
Rubel began his lacrosse career at the junior B level with the St. Catharines Spartans before moving up to the Athletics. in 2000, he signed with the Victoria Shamrocks, a senior A team in the Western Lacrosse Association, where he played for three seasons. His time with the Shamrocks led to a career with the NLL where he played for the Columbus Landsharks, Toronto Rock, Minnesota Swarm and Rochester Knighthawks. With the Toronto Rock, Rubel played on three championship teams; 2002, 2003, and 2005. Along the way he also represented Canada in a Heritage Cup game.
Coaching helps quench his competitive thirst.
“I kind of live through the guys now, but I love being a part of a team. I love competing at the highest level and this is my outlet to do it now,” he said. “I’m a very competitive person, so I like staying involved that way, but it’s about the connections that you make too”
He also loves giving back to the game.
“I hope that I can be a mentor to some of these guys. My goal always with the junior A team was to get guys to play at the next level. I coach quite a few guys that play at the next of the level or had played at the NLL level and now I’m coaching at that level. Hopefully I’m rubbing off on some guys and get them to get their feet wet in the coaching world.”
Wings general manager Paul Day, who is stepping aside from coaching to concentrate on the front office, is happy to have Rubel on board.
“Ian is a tremendous leader and teacher, and you would be hard-pressed to find a coach that does a better job connecting and communicating with his players,” Day said on the team’s website. “He’s been the leader of our strong defensive units since 2018 and understands the expectations here in Philadelphia. His active involvement in Junior A lacrosse in Ontario brings a progressive perspective to concepts, strategies, and player development that, combined with his championship experience as a player and overall lacrosse acumen, will propel this franchise forward.”
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