New head coach Tewanee Joseph brings an extensive lacrosse and business background to the Nanaimo Timbermen. (Nanaimo Timbermen)

By Dan Marshall

Joseph Takes Over

Tewanee Joseph new head coach for Nanaimo Senior A Timbermen

Feb 1, 2022 | 12:57 PM

NANAIMO — When the Nanaimo Senior A Timbermen play their first game in nearly three years, they’ll have a new face behind the bench.

Tewanee Joseph was officially named the club’s new head coach and vice president of lacrosse operations on Tuesday, Feb. 1.

Joseph is currently a co-founder and coach at the North Vancouver High School Lacrosse Academy and will spend some time going back and forth to the Lower Mainland but he and his family are already well established in the local community.

“My wife is from Snuneymuxw and we have a place in Cedar on the Snuneymuxw reserve on their land.”

Joseph grew up playing lacrosse on the Squamish Nation reserves in North Vancouver.

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He won two national box lacrosse championships in Senior B with the North Shore Indians and two national field lacrosse championships with Vancouver.

Joseph also served as executive vice president of business development for the former Vancouver Stealth NLL franchise.

His coaching resume includes duties as offensive coordinator for team Serbia, and co-coach for the Arena Lacrosse League West “Grizzlies” team.

The new bench boss has a plan in place already for what he expects on the floor.

“My philosophy is building from the goalie to defence to transition to offence. It’s a fast brand of lacrosse where players will be able to play both sides of the floor.”

The last Timbermen game was a playoff contest in August 2019.

Nanaimo’s new coach believes lacrosse can be a vessel to bring people together when the new season begins in May.

“COVID has affected many aspects of lacrosse right across the county. It is a medicine game. We’ve been waiting for the game to come back and we’re ready.”

Joseph brings a strong resume from outside of the lacrosse world working on events including the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, 2015 Toronto Pan American, 2015 Canada Winter Games as well as the Canada Rugby 7’s in Vancouver.

He served as the CEO of the Four Host First Nations for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games and was recently recognized as one of Business in Vancouver’s Top 500 most influential business leaders in the province.

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