As Boys Varsity Head Coach since 2021, Coach Bucchino leverages many years of experience as an educator, coach and high school and college lacrosse athlete, himself.   

 

He began his career as an elementary school teacher in addition to running numerous youth lacrosse programs and club teams. He then began coaching at Cedar Grove High School in Cedar Grove, NJ where he built the first lacrosse program and was head varsity coach for 7 years.  At Cedar Grove, his team won a conference championship and David was named NJ Kirst Coach of the Year for the 2017 and 2018 seasons.

 

Coach Bucchino started his lacrosse career as a goaltender playing for Bow High School in Bow, NH where he won two state championships, a two time all state goaltender, and a two time New Hampshire Player of the year selection. He was named a First Team All-American in 2009.

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After moving through the ranks, David was recruited to play at Elmira College in Elmira, NY.  During his first season at Elmira, he was named Rookie of the Year. David was an eight time Empire 8 goalie of the week selection, two time M.V.P. selection, and was the Leadership and Dedication recipient two years in a row.  During his junior and senior season, David was ranked ninth in the country and was named First Team All-American and an Empire 8 All-Conference player. He finished his college lacrosse career with 578 saves, which makes him the current record holder at Elmira College.

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In addition to coaching at Pali High, David is the lacrosse program director at Paul Revere Charter Middle School, which is a feeder program to the high school. Outside of lacrosse, David works as an educational consultant.  

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Coach Cohn began playing lacrosse the summer before his 9th grade year at West Orange High in Winter Garden, FL. 

 

He quickly found a love for lacrosse in the position of Defense, going on to become a 3 year varsity letterman, including honors as Orlando All-Conference Player, team captain, and WOHS ground balls in a season record holder in the 2015 Season.

 

Coach Cohn returned to his home state for college in 2015 at the University of Washington. While attending UW Seattle, Coach Cohn stayed involved with the game working nights and weekends as a lacrosse official for the Washington Lacrosse Officials Association and Seattle Public Schools. Matthew graduated the University of Washington in 2020 with dean’s list honors, earning bachelors degrees in Cinema and Media and Entrepreneurship.

 

After moving to Los Angeles for the Entertainment industry, Matthew continued to referee HS lacrosse. Through this in the 2022 season, Cohn developed a strong bond with HC David Bucchino and began coaching with Palisades Lacrosse Club in June 2022.

Coach O'Connell played goalie on the first CIF-sanctioned Pali Lacrosse team in 2006 (!) and began coaching at Mt. Carmel High School in Chicago in 2011. 

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He switched over to the women's game as a referee in Charleston, SC, and officiated the South Carolina Girls' State Final in 2018. He coached the Chico State Women's Club for the 2019-2020 season before the pandemic brought him back to Los Angeles, where he started coaching at Pali High in 2021.

 

Outside of lacrosse, Coach Dexter is the Senior Manager of Youth Policy and Advocacy at Safe Place for Youth. He enjoys reading (mostly sci-fi and history), cooking, and spending time with his family and friends.