(TORONTO, ONTARIO) Kevin Dugan, a longtime Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) development clinician, was presented with a 2015 FIL Development Award on September 27th, 2015, for his contributions to the growth of the sport worldwide. Making the presentation during halftime of the 2015 World Indoor Lacrosse Championship was FIL President, Stan Cockerton, and FIL’s Director of Development, Tom Hayes.
“It’s time Kevin receives the recognition he deserves for the work he’s done over the past decade to grow the game.”
—Tom Hayes, FIL Director of Development
Dugan has been involved with lacrosse development since 2007, working to grow the game of lacrosse and improve the lives of thousands of men, women and children on numerous continents.
“Kevin has been doing this for a long time,” explains Tom Hayes. “His passion and commitment to lacrosse development has resulted in the launch of lacrosse programs in Jamaica, Kenya, and Uganda … Kevin also foundedAthletes Volunteer Corps website” target=”_blank”>Fields of Growth, a non-profit organization that works to harness the passion of the lacrosse community to provide positive social impact through global leadership development and service.” Hayes concluded, “It’s time Kevin receives the recognition he deserves for the work he’s done over the past decade to grow the game.”
Dugan founded Fields of Growth in 2009. His vision for the organization was shaped while coaching at the University of Scranton. His experiences as a leader in their international service program led him to El Salvador, Ecuador, Jamaica, and Uganda.
Dugan explains, “I was leading a student trip in El Salvador in the summer of 2007… We were building a health clinic… But the most powerful human-to-human interactions and moments of personal growth took place on the soccer field with the Salvadoran children… That soccer field, both literally and figuratively, was a field of growth for all of us… and that is where the vision for Fields of Growth was born.”
Shortly after returning from El Salvador, Dugan was asked to serve as a clinician for the FIL and was being sent around the world to assist in the development of the FIL’s newest member nations. In addition to his work in El Salvador, Ecuador, Jamaica, and Uganda, Dugan conducted clinics in Colombia, France, and Mexico. Dugan’s work in international service and his travels with the FIL led to the powerful intersection of passions – education, service and youth sports, which are the three core commitments Fields of Growth came to be founded upon.
Dugan is a 2001 graduate of the University of Notre Dame and a former member of the Fighting Irish men’s lacrosse team. After graduation, Dugan went on to get an MBA at Wheeling Jesuit University. Dugan, a former finance major, had a brief stint at Merrill Lynch, before going on to coach college lacrosse full-time. He made stops at Wheeling Jesuit, Gordon, Yale and Scranton before serving as the Director of Operations for the Notre Dame men’s lacrosse program and ultimately moving on to run Fields of Growth full-time.
Dugan, an Avon-by-the-Sea, New Jersey native, also serves on the Development Committee at the Federation of International Lacrosse, where he helps advance their goal of seeing lacrosse added to the summer Olympics.
For more information contact:
Tom Hayes, FIL Director of Development, at t.hayes@worldlacrosse.sport
You can contact Kevin Dugan through Fields of Growth:
Email: kevin.dugan@fieldsofgrowth.org
Phone: +1 (888) 318 8541
About the FIL
The Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) is the international governing body for men’s and women’s lacrosse. The FIL currently has 52 member nations and holds five World Championships (women’s and men’s field, women’s and men’s U19 field and men’s indoor.) The FIL is responsible for the governance and integrity of all forms of lacrosse and provides responsive and effective leadership to support the sports’ development throughout the world.