OUR COACHING STAFF
Black Bear's coaching staff is filled with passionate, enthusiastic, knowledgeable, dedicated, hard working coaches who care deeply about the opportunity they have to directly impact your son's love, desire, and learning of lacrosse. They bring strong communication skills to the field, and make it a priority to build relationships with players and their parents.
Black Bear Directors
Bryan Churchey
Co-Owner/Director of Black Bear Lacrosse.
Current Head Coach of Black Bear’s 2028 and 2030 Teams and is an Associate Coach working with our 2026 & 2027 Teams.
Over 23 years of playing and coaching experience.
Directs Black Bear's High School Program.
Head Varsity Coach at his Alma Mater, Perkiomen Valley High School (2013-present).
Led Perkiomen Valley to their 1st PAC Boys Lacrosse Championship Title in 2021.
Named the Pottstown Mercury Newspaper Coach of the Year in 2018 and 2021.
Earned Honorable Mention for phillylacrosse.com 2021 Coach of the Year.
Started coaching with Black Bear in 2009.
Played at Perkiomen Valley High School'07 2nd-Team All-Area Midfielder for the Vikings Won two PAC Titles and one PVLL Conference Championship in 2005 and 2006.
Played for Division III Powerhouse Cabrini College where he was a 3-year starter as a Defensive Midfielder for the Cavaliers winning 4 CSAC titles and appearing in the NCAA Quarter-Finals in 2008 as well as a 4-year CSAC Men’s Lacrosse All-Academic team and team captain his senior year.
grady wise
Co-Owner/Director of Black Bear Lacrosse.
Current Head Coach Black Bear 2032 Team and Associate Coach to all other Middle School Program Teams.
Over 26 years of playing and coaching experience.
Directs Black Bear's Middle School Program.
Current Varsity Assistant Coach at Spring-Ford High School
Former Head Varsity Coach at Boyertown High School (2017-2024).
Former Assistant at Methacton High School (2016, 2011-2007).
Former Head Varsity Coach at Phoenixville High School (2010-2015).
Played at North Penn High School as defensemen.
Played club lacrosse at MCLA Division 1 Temple University where he was team captain and president for three years.
Black Bear Lacrosse’s Coaching Staff
Ben Carville Cubs Program Director
Coach Carville brings with him over 23+ years of playing and coaching experience along with being a “Founding Father” of the Owen J. Roberts Boy’s Lacrosse Program playing on the club high school team from 1997-99 then being a part of the inaugural 2000 high school sanctioned team his senior season as an attack man earning All-Star recognition. From there Carville played for Widener University from 2000-02 as an attackman for the Pride. Coach Carville began his coaching career in 2006-07 as an Assistant for Upper Merion High School’s 1st season as a varsity club program. After helping establish the now thriving Vikings program Carville headed “back to his roots” taking the Varsity Assistant coaching position at Owen J. Roberts from 2008-11 before being promoted to Head JV Coach from 2012-16 being in charge of developing the daily practice plans, scouting reports, and many other administrative duties for the Wildcats program. He was the head coach at OJR from 2017-2019.
Kevin Mo
2029 Head Coach
Current head Varsity Boys lacrosse coach at Owen J Roberts High school and over 11 years of coaching & playing experience. Played at Perkiomen Valley High School where he was voted Captain his Sophomore-Junior-Senior seasons and was an All-PAC Goalie. In college Kevin has a decorated career so far earning US Lacrosse 2nd Team All American, USILA Honorable Mention All American , USILA 3rd Team All-North Region Team, GMAC 1st Team All Conference Team, GMAC Goalie of the year. He has also volunteered with Perkiomen Valley Youth for four years and is currently a goalie at Division II Seton Hill University.
Pat Jenkins
2029 Offensive Coordinator
After winning 4 straight conference titles at Cabrini University, Jenkins led Orange County, Ca, Aliso Niguel High School to 3 consecutive conference titles as its Head Coach, earning COY 3x. After moving back East, Jenkins was an assistant at Perk Valley and Ursinus College, while also starting with Black Bear in 2017
Justin Wescoat
2026 Assistant Coach
Current midfielder at Bellarmine University and former standout player at Pottsgrove High School.
High School Recruiting Director Coach Kyle Gardner Head Men’s Lacrosse Coach at Division III Neumann University- Click Here for Coach Gardner’s Bio. Coach Gardner joined our staff in fall 2019 to help coach our Black Bear High School Teams as well as to help our families navigate their recruiting process, he brings over 20 years of playing and coaching experience to the club! He Led Neumann University back to the AEC Championship game for the first time in over 20 years and was name the conferences AEC Coach of the Year in 2021!
2025 Head Coach Austin Mutter- Current defensive Coordinator at Gwynedd-Mercy University with 18+ years of coaching & playing experience. In 2024 Coach Mutter and the GMU Staff where voted as the AEC Coaching Staff of the year for their work in developing the Gwynedd-Mercy MLAX Program. He has been a Defensive Coordinator with our 2024 squad which won six championships and produced SEVEN All-Coference Defenseman and a 1st Team All-Conference Goalie. Coach Mutter played at Boyertown High School where he was an All-PAC Goalie in 2013-2014. He then played Division III lacrosse at Eastern University.
Black Bear Goalie Coach Wyat Stemler- Wyatt is a class of 2024 Graduate of Methacton High School and has been a Member of Black Bear’s 2024 Squad since 2019 where he has recently named a PAC and Pottstown Mercury Newspaper 1st Team Goalie in 2024 and will be playing at Capital University this fall. Coach Stemler is mature beyond his age having worked with Penn Charter Goalie Coach and Limitless Philly Director Riley White over the years. Wyatt focuses on the Technical and Mental aspects of the position with our players and offers 1-on-1 training outside of practice to our families.
2025 Assistant Coach Blase Cesarone- Blase was hired in 2021 as the Head Men’s Lacrosse Coach at his alma Mater Gwynedd-Mercy University and most recently finished his 5-year stint coaching our 2022s leading them to TWO championships in 2021 Lax Federation Members Cup Champions and the Victory Summer Cup Champions. Blase bring a wealth of experience and knowledge of the game to our club and will be assisting our 2025 team during their high school career.- Click Here for Coach Cesarone’s Bio.
2026 Associate Head Coach Jacob Miller- Over 10 years of coaching & playing experience. Played at Boyertown High School where he was a 1st Team All-PAC Defenseman in 2019. Volunteered with Boyertown Youth Lacrosse for two years and is a former a defenseman at Division III Misericordia University where he was named Captain in 2023 and was a 2x All-MAC Conference Defenseman for the Cougars. Coach Miller was also a member of Black Bears 2019 Squad that won 2 Championships and has gained strong praise from our 2026 players and families for his work ethic and commitment to developing our players on and off the field.
2026 Assistant Coach Jack Scaliti- Current midfielder at Stevenson University and team Captain both in 2023 and 2024. Coach Scaliti brings a wealth of leadership experience as he was also a Captain of Perkiomen Valley’s 2021 PAC Championship Team and named the Pottstown Mercury NewsPaper Player of the Year. He was also named a 2024 USILA NCAA Honorable Mention All-American and 1st team ALL-MAC Conference in 2024. Former standout player at Perkiomen Valley High School.
2027 Head Coach Nick Marren- Current Varsity Defensive coordinator at Perkiomen Valley High School and former defensemen at Lehigh University and Perkiomen Valley High School. Coach Marren brings a wealth of experience and leadership to our 2027 squad which had its most successful Club season in 2023-24 reaching their first Championship game. He has coached EIGHT All-PAC Players in three seasons at Perkiomen Valley.
2027 Assistant Coach Justin Lyle- Current Defensive Coordinator at Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School helping them have their best season in program history in 2024 making the Playoffs for the first time since 2016 with an overall record of 12-6 and league record of 9-1. Coach Lyle played at Pennridge High School from 2016-2019 before going on to play att Gwynedd Mercy University.
2028 Co-Head Coach Mike Orlando- Hired in the summer of 2019 Mike comes to us after a successful tenure as the Head Coach of Springfield-Delco’s 7/8th grade program from 2010-2017, his alma mater, and brings with him over 20+ years of coaching and playing experience. He played Division II club at Millersville University and has also been a coach long ago for Black Bear’s former Delco Program in 2010-2013.
2028 Offensive Coordinator Nick Steele- A 2019 Graduate of Perkiomen Valley High School where he was an 1st-Team All-PAC Midfielder for the Vikings. Nick volunteered with Perkiomen Valley Youth Lacrosse for two years and has been a coach with our Cubs program from 2019-2023 before being moved up to Coach the 2028s who have averaged almost 8 goals per game and won more games in summer 2024 under his guidance then in 2022-23 combined! He just finishe playing at NCAA Division II Post University (CT). Coach Steele plans to coach locally in 2025 at Pope John Paul II High School as their Offensive Coordinator.
2028 Defensive Coach Cole Kleger- Cole is a class of 2024 Graduate of Methacton High School and has been a Member of Black Bear’s 2024 Squad since 2019 where he has recently named a PAC and Pottstown Mercury Newspaper 2nd Team Defenseman in 2024 and will be playing at St. Mary’s College of Maryland this fall. Coach Kleger was one of the vocal leaders and was a team Captain for the Warriors, he has been instrimental in helping the 2028s this summer hold opponents to under 6 goals in 10 of their 16 games this summer which is a program best. He also offers 1-on-1 training outside of practice to our families.
2029 Assistant Coach Aiden Owens- Current defensemen at Seton Hill University where he started five games in 2024 for the Griffins and was a 1st Team ALL-PAC/All-AREA LSM in 2021 at Perkiomen Valley High School. Coach Owens also played for Black Bear’s famed 2021 squad who won 3 Championships their final summer and earned high praise from college coaches.
2031 Head Coach Sam Romania- Sam graduated from Spring-Ford High School in 2011 helping them win their first PAC Championship over Owen J. Roberts along with playing with Black Bear for three years in high school. He went on to playing college lacrosse at Neumann University for three years as a close defender and LSM. Currently he is Assistant Varsity Coach and JV Head Coach at Perkiomen Valley High School in Collegeville, PA and is one of our Assistant Camp Directors.
2031 Assistant Coach Ryan Candelori- Current assistant coach at Souderton High School where he helped the Red 13-5 Record overall with SIX All-Conference player selections . Coach Candelori has played just about every position during his playing career being named the original “Swiss Army Knife” by his former HS Head Coach at Perkiomen Valley Bryan Churchey for being selfless and putting the team first in everything he did. He played three years at Kings College were he was the Starting Goalie and LSM before finishing his 3+2 Degree program at the University of Notre Dame where he was a standout Goalie for them helping them win an MCLA Championship.
2031 Assistant Coach Drew Donato- Drew is a class of 2024 Graduate of Perkiomen Valley High School and has been a Member of Black Bear’s 2024 Squad since 2017 where he was a Captain in 2024 and was named a PAC and Pottstown Mercury Newspaper 1st Team LSMin 2023 and will be playing at Roanoke College this fall. Coach Donato brings an energy and intensity to the 2031s which he was known for as a player and encourages his players to do more to better themselves and team which has allowed them to have a strong summer in 2024 limiting teams to under 4 goalies per game. He also offers private 1-on-1 training outside of practice to our families.
2030 Assistant Coach Peter Hewitt- Brings over 30 years of coaching and playing experiences and is the former Assistant Coach of our Black Bear 2019 Team. Former Villanova University Defenseman, Conestoga Youth Head Coach, and Current Varsity Assistant for 2024 PIAA State Champion Archbishop Carroll Girls Lacrosse Program.
PJ Hewitt 2030 Assistant Coach
Coach Hewitt Recently finished up a stellar College Career where he was a 2x USILA Honorable Mention All-American as a Short Stick Defensive Midfielder for the Cabrini University Cavaliers and helped them win their 28th straight Conference Championship. He was also Named a Captain in Cabrin’s Final Season in 2024 helping them reach the NCAA 2nd Round. A 2019 Graduate of PIAA Class AAA State Runner-Up Conestoga High School where he was an All-Central League Midfield & Face-Off Specialist for the Pioneers. PJ has been volunteering with Conestoga Youth Lacrosse for two years and will be playing at NCAA Division III 2019 National Champion Cabrini University.
Bob Capozzoli
2030 Defensive Coordinator
Current Varsity defensive coordinator for Upper Darby High School and head coach of the JV team. He previously coached U14 lacrosse for the Stafford Lacrosse Association in Stafford County, Virginia. He is a graduate of West Chester University, and is working on his Masters in Multicultural Education at Kutztown University. He currently teaches Kindergarten and will be teaching 4th grade next year in the Philadelphia School District.
Mike Giandonato
Cub Program Head Assistant Coach
Mike started his coaching career under Coach Ben Carville at Owen J. Roberts high school as the assistant coach for the varsity lacrosse team for two years. As a player Mike attended Owen J. Roberts in high school and was a 2-time captain as well as a 1st team all PAC-10 LSM defender for the Wildcats. Mike later went on to play Lacrosse at Elizabethtown college as a LSM and close defender.
AJ Woytko
2032 Assistant Coach
Coach AJ brings a WEALTH of experience into our Cubs Program having coached for over 20 years and is currently the Varsity Head Coach at Governor Mifflin High School where he’s developed multiple All-Conference players. He is former defensemen at Albright College where he was an ALL-MAC close defense for the Lions and helped them make the MAC Final-4 two of the four seasons he was there.