The 2017 NLL World Champion Georgia Swarm is proud to be nominated in two award categories for the prestigious Atlanta Sports Awards on June 7 in Downtown Atlanta. The Swarm has been nominated for Team of the Year presented by PrimeSport, and head coach Ed Comeau has been nominated for Coach of the Year presented by The Home Depot.
Hosted by the Atlanta Sports Council, the awards recognize personnel in the Atlanta sports community in 2017 for outstanding achievements distinguishing them from among the five million Atlanta citizens.
The Swarm became NLL World Champions in 2017 after achieving a league-best overall record of 17-5 and went undefeated in the postseason (4-0). Georgia’s first-ever title simultaneously brought Atlanta its first professional world championship since 1995. Atlanta United FC and University of Georgia Football are also finalists for Team of the Year.
In just his second season as the Swarm’s head coach, Comeau directed the league’s youngest roster to an NLL World Championship, and in the process, dethroned the two-time defending champion Saskatchewan Rush. Under his command, the Swarm also became the highest ranked offense in NLL history after registering a league-record 266 goals. Atlanta United FC head coach Gerardo Martino and University of Georgia Football head coach Kirby Smart are also finalists for Coach of the Year.
Photo by Josh Schaefer/GetMyPhoto.ca
“It’s certainly humbling to be named with the group of people that are nominated,” Comeau said. “Our team did something really special. We know how hard it is to bring a championship to a team and to a community. We were fortunate enough to be able to do that in only our second year in Georgia. We had a lot of support from the community and support from the other teams as well on our quest to win the Swarm’s first-ever NLL World Championship.”
“It truly is an honor to be recognized by our Atlanta peers for our accomplishments in 2017,” Swarm Co-Owner and President Andy Arlotta said. “Our team is comprised of high character individuals who put in an incredible amount of hard work and effort into that season. Their achievements represent some of the best qualities of the Atlanta sports community.”
The Atlanta Sports Council will also present former Atlanta Braves general manager and National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee John Schuerholz with the Atlanta Sports Council’s Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Coca-Cola.
Winners will be announced at the Atlanta Sports Awards ceremony on June 7 at The Fairmont in West Midtown. The gala-style event will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a private reception and silent auction followed by the awards show and post-event party. Tickets can be purchased at www.AtlantaSportsAwards.com.
Atlanta Sports Awards
Created in 2006 by the Atlanta Sports Council, the Atlanta Sports Awards has become a way to rally the Atlanta sports community to recognize athletic excellence on a yearly basis. The Atlanta Sports Awards honors those who distinguish themselves from among the five million people living in Atlanta. That includes all professional sports teams, universities, junior colleges and more than 250 public and private high schools in Atlanta. For more information and tickets, visit www.AtlantaSportsAwards.com.
Atlanta Sports Council
The Atlanta Sports Council (ASC), a division of the Metro Atlanta Chamber, facilitates the growth and development of sports in metro Atlanta by serving as a recruiter for major regional, national and international sports events. The organization plays an important role in improving the quality of life for residents in the region through sports, working to drive economic growth and visibility and acting as an advocate for the area teams and annual sports events. For more information, visit www.AtlantaSportsCouncil.com.
