Chris King is the new Rising Sun boys lacrosse coach. King served as an assistant coach in the program the last two seasons under varsity coach Jim Tucker. When Tucker decided to step down, King was immediately interested in the top spot. "I was definitely excited about it but I would've liked to have worked directly with Coach Tucker for a year," King said after practice last week. "When the opportunity presented itself it wasn't something I could turn down. "Coaching a varsity lacrosse team is something I've wanted to do." King grew up in the lacrosse hotbed of Long Island, New York, and played for one of the nation's top teams in high school. Although he wasn't formally involved in the sport, he stayed involved and followed the careers of two nephews. "I've been around lacrosse for 30 years in one shape, form or another," King said. He joined the Rising Sun program after a chance meeting with Tucker at an Elkton fitness center. Now, King has the task of trying to capitalize on the momentum the program generated last season. "Expectations are high for sure," King said. "Coach Tucker has taken the program a step further every year and we want to take it another step." King will be assisted by two experienced coaches – Kevin Greene, who has worked with the United States Lacrosse Association and Terry Burkhardt, who has also coached on the youth level. Tucker spent six seasons coaching in Rising Sun, the last four as head coach. "I'm going to miss it really bad," said Tucker. Tucker says he stepped down in part so he will be able to watch more of his son's games this season. Evan Tucker, a former star for the Tigers, is an attackman at Castleton State College, a Division III school in Vermont. "This is his senior season and I need to be there," Jim Tucker said. He says he will miss being on the sidelines this season. "I really will miss the kids," Tucker said. "It's always been about the kids. "I'll miss them tremendously. I wish the kids the best. With luck, I'll be back coaching in 2016 [in some capacity], possibly in Delaware or Harford County." Rising Sun is coming off easily its most significant season. After downing heated rival North East in the regular season, the Tigers opened the playoffs with a 3-2 overtime triumph over C. Milton Wright, the first time a county school had defeated a upper-echelon Harford County foe. The Tigers routed Patapsco in the second round before being eliminated by North Harford in the region semifinals. The victory over C. Milton Wright was particularly emotional for Tucker. He specifically remembers receiving a congratulatory hug from one of his captains, Kyle Lammey. Lammey hugged Tucker immediately after the game-winning goal before he went to join his teammates' dogpile. "It was a really cool thing," Tucker said. "That's special. I could cry just thinking about it." NOTE: The Rising Sun boys lacrosse team opens its season Friday, March 27. A preview will appear in the March 24 issue of The Herald. Comments are closed.
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