[MEDIA RELEASE]
Jon Cohen enters his twelfth season with the Denver Outlaws and his first season as the Outlaws’ General Manager and Director of Player Personnel. We sat down with Cohen to hear what the Outlaws are looking forward to at the 2019 Collegiate Draft presented by Cascade this year.
How are you preparing for the 2019 MLL Draft?
We are doing our due diligence by talking to college coaches and watching the players in scrimmages and the first few games of the season. Do you have any superstitions around Draft Day?
I wouldn’t say we have any superstitions but coincidentally enough Coach Seaman ate Italian food before a draft 5 years ago and had a pretty good draft. He decided to go to the same place the next year and so now we just always eat Italian food before the draft.
Who from your team staff will be assisting you with the Draft this year?
It will be Head Coach Tony Seaman and myself.
Is there a style of play or a personality you consider when drafting?
We have drafted players from every conference and every region of the country. There isn’t a specific player we try to draft. We look at our needs and boil that down in the selection process to the finest degree of how that player’s game will adapt to the level of play in MLL.
What would someone at the draft expect to hear?
There is a lot of communication throughout the draft, whether it is with Coach Seaman, myself, our D guy Matt Bocklet or John Grant Jr on the offensive side. We run through a lot of analytics and preparation before the draft. As our pick is approaching we usually will have our selection narrowed down to 1 or 2 guys, and 99% of the time we are all in agreement on a specific player before the Outlaws are called.
Which college team do you think has the strongest senior class?
There are a lot of talented players in this year’s senior class and the usual suspects in college lacrosse have very strong classes. I am more excited about some of the dark horses and their seniors. For example, Lehigh and Robert Morris are two programs that are very senior-rich. 
Which college team do you think will win it all this year?
I think it is pretty wide open, like last year. I think anyone that says they know right now who will be in the Final Four, will probably be surprised on Memorial Day Weekend.
Can you give us any of your top draft-prospects?
We have over 120 guys on our board now and I think all of them can play in the league.
What do you think of the MLL Draft taking place at the NASCAR Hall of Fame this year?
I think its a very unique experience. Over the last several years the draft has rotated around, and I’ve been impressed with each setup. I expect the 2019 MLL Draft presented by Cascade at the NASCAR Hall of Fame will be no different.
Where should the 2020 MLL Draft take place?
I really enjoyed the US Lacrosse HQ last year, I thought it was really well done; but I am glad that it’s moving around and I am looking forward to Charlotte this year. 
More About Outlaws General Manager Jon Cohen
Twitter: @CoachCohen24
Instagram: @connan22
Jon Cohen enters his first season as the Outlaws General Manager in 2019. Cohen will be going into his twelfth season with the Outlaws, having worked as a Visiting Team Liaison (2007), Head Equipment Manager (2008-10) and Assistant General Manager (2011-2018).
The longest-tenured member of the team’s player/coach roster, Cohen has worked under four head coaches in his first eight years with the Outlaws. Denver has made the playoffs in all eight seasons that Cohen has been on the club’s staff.
Before moving to Colorado, Cohen was a two-time Nevada high school state champion coach at Bishop Gorman in 2008 and 2009. In 2009 he was recognized by US Lacrosse as the Nevada High School Assistant Coach of the Year. He is currently the defensive coordinator at the University of Colorado .