SC lacrosse academy
"THE SC EXPERIENCE"
PROGRAM DIRECTOR - BRENDAN FINNERTY
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As the Head Coach of San Clemente Lacrosse High School, Coach Brendan Finnerty understands the dynamics of team collaboration and how to motivate players to take their game to the next
level. His knowledge and experience of the sport
will give players the opportunity to improve their
lacrosse skills and ultimately give them the ability
to compete at the high school and collegiate level.
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Brendan Finnerty 'Finn' received his Bachelor’s
Degree in Business Accounting from
Fairfield University. During his years at
Fairfield University, Coach Finn was a 2008
team captain and appeared in the 2005 NCAA Tournament. Coach Finn was also honored as a two-time HS All-American Lacrosse player from his hometown in Long Island, NY.
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Coach Finn started coaching in the Orange County area in 2010. He has coached for local high schools: Aliso Niguel (assistant coach), Trabuco Hills (head coach), Beckman (head coach), and currently San Clemente High School. Finn coached for the SoCal Lacrosse Youth program, he started one of the first local club teams in 2012, Wild Horse Lacrosse. He then created Saddleback Starz, SC Sharks, and now SC Lacrosse.
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"Instead of wanting to win, expect to win. There's a lifetime between wanting something and expecting something. When you expect something, it means you've prepared, done the work, and EXPECT TO WIN!!!" - Red McCombs
JOHN KAUO 7th and 8th Grade
Coach John Kauo played lacrosse for Trabuco Hills High School, graduating in 2016. While at Trabuco Hills, he was recognized as both a 2x All-League and 2x All-County middie. As a team captain, he led his team to back-to-back South Coast League championships.
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John attended Northern Arizona University to pursue a degree in Psychology. He started his own business designing and building furniture and worked as a finish carpenter for a manufacturing company in Phoenix, Arizona. Coach Kauo has relocated back to southern California to expand the business he owns with his brother, Jason.
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Coach Kauo started playing lacrosse in 7th grade with Coach Finn as his coach. He is looking forward to giving back to the sport he loves and mentoring young men in the same way Coach Finn was his mentor.
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John also coaches the JV team at San Clemente High School.
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
KAREN KAUO
Karen Kauo has been Coach
Finn's "Team Mom" since 2011.
Karen's sons, John and Jason,
played and coached lacrosse
for Finn's teams over a span
of 12 years. They both started
lacrosse in elementary school,
playing for the SoCal Lacrosse
Youth League, multiple local
club teams, and national club
teams. They were both All County lacrosse athletes at Trabuco Hills High School and eventually went on to play in college. John at Northern Arizona University and Jason at Colorado Mesa University.
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Karen enjoys being a part of the lacrosse community and helping to grow the sport that created life long memories with her family.
YOUTH COACHES
JASON KAUO - Coach 7th and 8th Grade
Coach Jason Kauo started playing lacrosse in 3rd grade (with Coach Finn as his favorite youth coach!) Jason played lacrosse for Trabuco Hills High School graduating in 2018. He played Varsity Attack all 4 years earning All South Coast League and All County honors 2 times along with 2 South Coast League Championships and 2 years as Team Captain.
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Jason continued his lacrosse career playing attack for Colorado Mesa University. He earned NCAA honors as player of the week and leading scorer. Jason graduated from CMU in 2022 with his degree in Construction Management. He works as an assistant superintendent for a local home builder and owns a company with his brother, John.
Jason also coaches the JV team at San Clemente High School.
COACH ERIK MOELLER - "Evan's Dad"
Coach 2nd-4th Grade
Coach Moeller grew up playing in Northern Virginia at
WT Woodson High School. He was recruited to play at the US Naval Academy and played Defense and Long Stick MF from 1999-2002. After graduation in 2002, he was selected to go to flight school and earned his wings flying SH-60B Seahawks out of Coronado, CA. He left the Military in 2007 and began working for Mitsubishi Electric US in the Elevator/Escalator Division. He continues to work for Mitsubishi and oversees US Operations.
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COACH LUKE LEMUS - 2nd-4th Grade
Coach Luke played attack at San
Clemente HS graduating in 2022.
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COACH AL BODINO - 5th and 6th Grade
Coach Al picked up the sport of
lacrosse as a freshman at San Clemente HS.
He played his first year on JV, his next
year as a swing player, then played his
last two years on varsity. Coach Al has
always helped with the Sharks program even
when he was in high school. He is now working
on his degree to become an Electrical
Engineer.
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