URBAN LACROSSE ACADEMY
GET TO KNOW US AT URBAN LACROSSE ACADEMY
OUR STORY
The Urban Lacrosse Academy was seeded from the fruits of the Ohio Machine, a professional lacrosse team and their philanthropic arm, the Ohio Machine Foundation. Their goal was to get a stick into the hand of every child in the Central Ohio area and worked with organizations such as the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department to host clinics and camps to achieve this mission. When the Ohio Machine ceased operations as an organization in the spring of 2019, the Ohio Machine Foundation board made the decision to move forward to continue this mission, but in a concerted effort. In August 2019, Urban Lacrosse Academy (ULA) was founded as a stand-alone 501c3 nonprofit with Bear Davis, the former Ohio Machine head coach and general manager, named ULA’s Executive Director. Currently, ULA is focused on creating partnerships within the various neighborhoods of Columbus with the intent of providing boys and girls within these communities exposure to the game of lacrosse.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Tyree Pollard
Director of Attendance Columbus City Schools
Garon Tate
Assistant Principal New Albany
Mark Sell, CPA
Retained Search Group
Ryan Chenault
Columbus Blue Jackets
Jonathan Granson, CPA, CGMA
Casto Realty Group
Cmdr. Dave Hughes
Columbus Police Department
Jason Williams
Charter Properties
Bear Davis
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
As a lacrosse coach for almost 30 years, Bear Davis has coached at every level of lacrosse from youth to college and even the professional and international levels. It was during his time as the head coach and general manager of the Ohio Machine that he was able to act upon his passion for growing the game in underserved communities of Columbus. Through his efforts, the Ohio Machine was able to partner with Columbus Recreation and Parks on a series of clinics and camps that earned state-wide recognition. Upon the ceasing of operation with the Ohio Machine, Davis refocused his efforts in to making the growth of lacrosse in these communities his primary focus and thus, the Urban Lacrosse Academy was born. Davis is a graduate of Wilmington College and received his secondary education history teaching license from Wright State University. He currently lives in Hilliard, Ohio with his wife Marissa and three children Matthew, Sadie and Kaiden and dog Howie.
