TORONTO, ON (October 3, 2026) — The Toronto Beaches today announced three new moves to their coaching staff as the team prepares for the 2027 season.
Damon Edwards has been elevated to the position of Head Coach, while Stephen Keogh and Brandon Turner have both joined the staff. Keogh will serve as an Offensive Coach, while Turner will be a Defensive Coach.
“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to step into this role with the club. I’ve been a Beach Boy my whole life. The Beach is where I grew up, learned the game, and made some of my favourite memories. To now take on a larger role in a community that has given me so much makes this opportunity especially meaningful,” Edwards said. “A huge thank you to Reilly (O’Connor) for everything he has done for me and for this club. I’m grateful for his support, leadership, and the time we’ve spent building this program together. The impact he’s had on the players and the club will carry forward.
“I’m ready to build on that foundation, bring my passion and experience, and lead this group forward. I know what this group is capable of, and I’m excited to see where we can take it.”
Assistant Coaches Mike McKay and Jackson Nishimura will return to the Beaches in 2027 in their respective roles.
Edwards has spent nine years as a member of the Beaches coaching staff, helping the defence to some of their best overall seasons during his tenure. A lifelong resident of the Beaches,
Keogh recently announced his retirement from the National Lacrosse League after 13 seasons as a pro. The Beaches native spent five years with the Junior A team and has become the most accomplished graduate in the program’s history since his graduation.
Along with winning a Minto Cup in 2008, he’s a three-time NLL Champion (2012-2014), a two-time Division I National Champion with Syracuse (2008, 2009), a three-time Mann Cup Champion (2012, 2014, 2016), and a Presidents Cup Champion (2025).
He spent time with the Rochester Knighthawks, Colorado Mammoth, Halifax Thunderbirds, Toronto Rock, and New York Riptide during his NLL career, having most recently helped the Thunderbirds to their first NLL Finals appearance last season.
Keogh also served as a member of the Beaches coaching staff during the Futures Tournament in the 2021 OJLL Bubble, and was more recently a Special Advisor to the President of the Beaches in previous summers.
“I’m excited to join such a great group with the Beaches staff and to be able to coach such a talented group. I am thankful for the opportunity, and as a person who played beaches growing up, I am looking forward to helping bring a Minto Cup to the Beaches,” Keogh said.
Turner is also a former Beaches Junior A player, spending his junior career with the organization before going on to play in Senior lacrosse, where he won an Ontario championship with the Brooklin Merchants.
Most recently, Turner has served as a Defensive Coach for the Beaches’ Junior B affiliate, the Pickering Ironheads, and Upper Canada College.
“I’m extremely grateful and excited to be joining this staff. This is a talented group with so much upside; it’s going to be a lot of fun to see how far we can go with them,” Turner said. “It’s extra special to be on the bench with former teammates. We’ve never had four former Beachers on the bench, which adds extra motivation for us.”
The announcement of the coaching staff is the first step for the team in building towards the 2027 season, where the team will look to return to the postseason while continuing to strive to capture the Minto Cup.