Leadership & Coaches
Our Directors & Coaches adhere to high standards of professional development bringing our best to players. We pride ourselves on connecting with each player in meaningful ways to enhance their lacrosse.
The Top Caliber Lacrosse coaching staff represents some of the most accomplished high school coaches over the last decade. Our coaches have experience at every level of lacrosse and are committed to developing our players to reach their potential.
Directors
Aaron Solomon - Club Director
Director and Coach Aaron Solomon was born and raised in Northern Virginia bringing passion to his coaching over the last 15 years. Aaron was a decorated three sport student-athlete at Woodson High School (Fairfax) and still remains in the Virginia High School League top 5 in career goals. After working on the lacrosse coaching staff at numerous schools such as Fairfax, South County, Oakton, and Osbourn Park. Coach Solomon became the Varsity Head head coach at Madison High School in 2019. Aaron is an in-demand coach at the showcase and elite all-star game level having coached more than two dozen championship teams at the youth, high school, and travel club level.
Teams Coached - Top Caliber 2027s, Top Caliber 20 , Top Caliber 20
Frank Keel - Club Director
Director and Coach Frank Keel has been involved in Washington D.C.-area lacrosse for over 20 years. Beginning as a Virginia State Championship player and continuing into one of the community’s top youth and high school coaches, Coach Keel’s major focus every time he coaches is to improve a player’s lacrosse IQ as often as possible. Coach Keel was a high school state champion receiving all-district, all-region, and all-met honors who went on to play Division I lacrosse. He was the first player in Robert Morris University (DI) to be named to a Colonial Athletic All-Conference Team. Since 2013, Frank has served as the Varsity Assistant Coach and Offensive Coordinator at his Alma Mater Robinson Secondary School (Fairfax). Coach Keel is regularly called upon for his instructional and coaching expertise at national high school recruiting showcases and camps.
Teams Coached - Top Caliber 2025 Rams, Top Caliber 2028 Titans
Coaches
Coach Pat Mahler
Coach Pat Mahler’s career has taken him from the Wide World of Sports Complex in Disney to Santa Barbara to Canada and all points along the East Coast. He has had success coaching both boys and girls teams at the highest levels. Coach Pat has been the Varsity Girls Head Coach and Boys Defensive Coordinator at his alma mater Woodson High School (Fairfax), where he played on their back-to-back state championship teams. He recently returned to coaching an assistant again at Annandale High School. Pat is a graduate of Lynchburg College where he played on their 2003 Old Dominion Athletic Conference Championship team.
Teams Coached - Top Caliber 20 , Top Caliber 20 , Top Caliber 20
Coach Rod Cornell
Coach Rod Cornell brings over 25 years of Virginia high school coaching experience to Top Caliber. He has served as the Woodson High School head coach since 2022. Coach Cornell’s other coaching tenures include Colgan High School (Manassas), Woodgrove High School (Purcellville), Westfield High School (Chantilly), The Wakefield School (The Plains), and Osbourn Park High School (Manassas). He is a USA Lacrosse High School and nine other categories Coach of the Year recipient.
Teams Coached - Top Caliber 20 , Top Caliber 20 , Top Caliber 20
Coach Brian Simmons
Coach Simmons is entering his 9th season as Varsity head coach at McLean High School. Coach Simmons came to McLean in 2016 with a lifetime of lacrosse experience. In 2015, while coaching Fairfax High School, he was named Liberty District Head Coach of the year. Coach Simmons led Fairfax to its best regular season record, hosted its first play-off game, and secured its first trip to the regional tournament in over a decade. Coach Simmons started his coaching career at Carmel HS in Monterey CA. In his second year of coaching at Carmel HS as the defensive coach, he was selected as the Assistant Coach of the year in the Northern California region.
Coach Simmons resides in Fairfax County with his wife and 3 daughters (Sierra, Keelin and Shaelan). They are often found running in the bleachers while enjoying the games.
Teams Coached - Top Caliber 2025, Top Caliber 2028 Warhawks
Coach Mike Hammer
Coach Mike Hammer grew up in Northern Virginia playing lacrosse from a young age. Mike played at Robinson Secondary School and continued his education playing at Georgetown University. Mike was drafted out of college into Major League Lacrosse where he played for the Long Island Lizards and Baltimore Bayhawks.
Teams Coached - Top Caliber 2030
Coach Will Cogan
Will Cogan is an accomplished player and coach at the high school and collegiate levels. He was named VHSL Assistant Coach of the Year (2023) after helping the Madison High School Warhawks to a consecutive state championship for their third since 2019. Will was a 4-year Varsity starter at Woodson High School receiving numerous honors. His collegiate career includes playing at Jacksonville University (DI) and Christopher Newport University (DIII) as part of their NCAA Sweet Sixteen team. Will remains in the top ten of several defensive team records and has also served on the CNU coaching staff.
Coach David Solomon
Coach David combines an extensive, successful playing career with a devotion to coaching the next generations. A decorated high school player with all-met, all-state, and other honors, Coach David played on the University of Maryland 2012 NCAA National Championship Runner Up team. He has extensive youth coaching experience working with multiple clubs and organizations. David continues to play semi-pro box lacrosse and in various high level adult leagues in the metro area.
Teams Coached - Top Caliber 20 , Top Caliber 20 , Top Caliber 20
Coach Kevin Quinn
Coach Quinn was first introduced to Lacrosse as a Goaltender at Bishop Ireton by the late, great Dennis Stewart. Under Dennis, the Ireton Cardinals won the WCAC in ’87 and were a finalist in Coach’s senior year ’89. Coach Quinn credits a lot of his lacrosse knowledge to Dennis Stewart. Coach Quinn played his collegiate career at Marymount University under Dave Webster (current Dickinson Head Coach).
Teams Coached - Top Caliber 202
Coach Matt Kelly
Coach Kelly is entering his 6th season with the McLean High School Highlanders. This will be his third year as Offensive Coordinator. Before that he spent two seasons as the JV head coach. He is a proponent of an up-tempo, aggressive style of play on both sides of the ball which he developed his from his playing days at the Trinity Pawling School (NY). As a player he captained the lacrosse program, facing some of the best players in the nation while also earning First Team All-New England honors. Coach Kelly began his coaching career working with the Vienna Youth Lacrosse program and serves as an assistant football coach at McLean.
Teams Coached - Top Caliber 2024
Coach Brendan McGrath
Coach McGrath is entering his 4th season with the McLean High School Highlanders. Coach McGrath is an offensive assistant. Coach McGrath focuses on individual skills (stickwork, shooting, stick protection, dodging, footwork and more). He was a 4-year varsity player at Central Bucks South High School in Warrington, PA where he accumulated over 100 goals. He was awarded first team all-conference Junior and Senior years. Coach McGrath continued his playing career at York College PA were his was again a 4-year starter and accumulated 190 career points (Averaged 3 PPG).
Teams Coached - Top Caliber 2025