Staff

Ethan oversees all boys and girls programming at Legacy Lacrosse Center, including the age-specific curriculum that runs from a player’s first clinic through MPH Apex. He designed the MPH system itself, and the position-specific progression that spans fundamentals to the top level. He is widely regarded as one of the top positional coaches in the country, and has dedicated his professional career to helping players become high performers in lacrosse, and all aspects of life.

CEO and Founder of Synergy Sports Operations and Director of Team 91 Northside, he’s spent more than a decade developing boys and girls lacrosse players from youth through college. A two-time MCLA National Champion at Colorado State and All-State midfielder at Monarch High School, with 10+ years of high school coaching experience, seven as a head coach.

His approach centers on building the 360° athlete — technically, tactically, physically, and emotionally. Positional skill and lacrosse IQ, athletic performance, confidence, and leadership. The goal is complete players, prepared for the next level on and off the field.

Christian Backes brings more than 10 years of experience in sports performance and athletic development, working with athletes from the youth level through high school, college, and the professional ranks.

Throughout his career, Christian has helped develop athletes who have gone on to compete at programs including Yale, Boston College, Oregon, Villanova, Gonzaga, Colorado State, Jacksonville, Bucknell, Vermont, and many others across the country.

At Legacy, Christian leads the sports performance program with a focus on developing speed, strength, explosiveness, movement quality, and long-term athletic development — helping athletes build the physical foundation to perform at their highest level.

Stopper School Director, Former Colorado State University Goalie Coach, Former Nazareth University and Colorado State University Goalie, Venom & Northside 2031 Coach, All Conference Collegiate Honors.

Coach Whitmore is at the forefront of goalie training, and has built a curriculum that helps all goalies develop and maximize their style and athleticism to become a complete goalie. He works with both boys and girls goalies and helps them develop in all facets of their game.

Brian Roach is an MCLA All-American faceoff specialist and Two-time collegiate lacrosse national champion at Colorado State University. He obtained a BS in exercise science and masters in sports management, and has been a Certified Sports Performance Coach (CSCS) for 10 years, Specializing in Youth and Military performance. Brian is also a U.S. Army Veteran, achieving a rank of Captain during his time in the armed forces.

Girls Director of Team 91 Colorado and a former standout at the University of North Carolina, Mason Paradine brings championship-level playing experience and a passion for developing the next generation of female lacrosse players.

Mason was a member of UNC’s 2022 NCAA National Championship team after earning U.S. Lacrosse All-American honors in high school. Her coaching focuses on positional development, lacrosse IQ, confidence, competitiveness, and preparing players for success at the next level.

At Legacy, Mason leads girls player development with an emphasis on building complete athletes and competitors — on and off the field.

Malik Sparrow

• Director · MPH Defense
• Professional lacrosse player — PLL, Redwoods and Waterdogs
• Played at the University of Denver
• All-BIG EAST Second Team (2022, 2023)
• USILA National Team of the Week (February 2021)
• NCBS First Team (2021)
• Co-directs MPH Defense at Legacy Lacrosse Center with Ethan LaHoda

Malik builds complete defenders. Footwork, approach technique, physicality, off-ball positioning, and communication — not one skill at a time, but all of it together, the way the position is actually played. He brings what he’s learned at the professional level into every session