Premier Lacrosse League Names Brian Phipps General Manager of the Maryland Whipsnakes

BALTIMORE - Nov. 5, 2026 - The Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) today announced that Brian Phipps has been named General Manager of the Maryland Whipsnakes. Phipps will oversee roster operations for the two-time PLL Champions, including player personnel, scouting, and contract management. Jim Stagnitta - the winningest head coach in professional lacrosse history - will continue as head coach of the team.

Phipps, an Annapolis native, has deep roots in Maryland lacrosse. He was the 2007 ACC Freshman of the Year and an All-American captain at the University of Maryland, making three NCAA Quarterfinal appearances. Phipps went on to play 14 professional seasons, earning three MLL All-Star selections with the Ohio Machine and Chesapeake Bayhawks. He retired in 2023 after three seasons on the Whipsnakes, highlighted by a 2021 postseason run in which he came off the bench to spark a trip to the PLL Championship. Phipps came out of retirement to rejoin the Whipsnakes in 2026, backing up 2026 Oren Lyons Goalie of the Year finalist Emmet Carroll.

Phipps served as the University of Maryland's first full-time Director of Lacrosse Operations in 2010, and later served as an Assistant Coach for Maryland in 2012, before spending two seasons as an assistant coach at Georgetown. He then led Archbishop Spalding High School as head coach for nine seasons, transforming the program into a MIAA conference contender.

"Coach Stagnitta has done a tremendous job building the Whipsnakes into one of the league's most respected programs, with two championships and four title game appearances along the way," said Rachael DeCecco, SVP of Lacrosse for the PLL. "Brian knows this organization inside and out, and we're excited to welcome him into the front office. Investing in strong support around our teams is a priority for the PLL."

"The Whipsnakes organization has meant a lot to me, and I'm excited to stay part of this organization in a new role," said Brian Phipps, General Manager of the Maryland Whipsnakes. "I've spent my whole career learning this game from every angle, as a player, a coach, and a teammate. I'm ready to put all of it to work for the Maryland Whipsnakes."

"Brian is the right person to help shape where this team goes next," said Jim Stagnitta, Head Coach of the Maryland Whipsnakes. "He knows our culture from the inside, and he brings 14 years of pro experience to every decision. That combination sets the Whipsnakes up for success well beyond the 2027 season."

The Maryland Whipsnakes finished the 2026 PLL season with a 5-7 record, earning a playoff spot for a record eighth-consecutive season. Maryland currently holds four picks in the 2027 College Draft, including the 3rd overall pick. To learn more, visit premierlacrosseleague.com/draft.

The Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) and Women's Lacrosse League (WLL), in co-promotion with the National Lacrosse League (NLL) will host the inaugural Lexus Global Lacrosse Games this Dec. 8-13, 2026 featuring the United States, Canada, Australia and the Haudenosaunee Nationals competing under international Olympic Sixes rules at The St. James outside Washington, D.C., with games across ESPN.

Tickets for the Lexus Global Lacrosse Games are available for purchase at globallacrossegames.com/tickets.

For more information on the Lexus Global Lacrosse Games, visit globallacrossegames.com.

About the Premier Lacrosse League
The Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) is a men's professional lacrosse league in North America, composed of eight teams rostered by the best players in the world. Co-founded by lacrosse superstar, philanthropist, and investor Paul Rabil and his brother, serial entrepreneur and investor, Mike Rabil, the PLL is backed by an investment group composed of Joe Tsai Sports, The Chernin Group, Arctos, Brett Jefferson Holdings, The Raine Group, Creative Artists Agency (CAA), The Kraft Group, Bolt Capital and other top investors in sports and media. The PLL is distributed through an exclusive media rights agreement with ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN+. The PLL was named 2023 Best Place to Work in Sports, and 2020 Sports Breakthrough by the Sports Business Journal, and recognized as a 2021 Best Employer in Sports by Front Office Sports. For more on the league, visit www.premierlacrosseleague.com and follow on social media: Instagram (@PLL), Twitter (@PremierLacrosse), Facebook (@PremierLacrosseLeague), YouTube (YouTube.com/PLL) and TikTok (@pll).