THE FRONT ROW WITH JASON ELLIOTT: April 9, 2014

Adam Marfice loves the X's and O's of lacrosse.

He enjoys breaking down tape and wants to become an offensive or defensive coordinator someday.

Now appears to be that time.

MARFICE, WHO played three years at Westminster College in Salt Lake City after graduating from Lake City High in Coeur d'Alene in 2011, has been named the new lacrosse coach at Lake City, replacing Dwight Emmons, who resigned March 28 due to work conflicts.

Marfice was going to be an assistant coach this year, as he's in town waiting to go to medical school at the University of Utah next spring.

Now, he's in charge.

"The writing was on the wall and I knew he was looking to retire," Marfice said. "But I didn't think it be in two months."

"It was hard to leave the program," said Emmons, the driving force behind bringing lacrosse to the Coeur d'Alene area more than a decade ago He founded the North Idaho Lacrosse League in 2001.

"But I've found it is always hard to do the right thing. I saw a great leader in Adam, who had the energy, drive and knowledge that I had 12 years ago. Adam played four years for me and was a captain for two. He played three years at Westminster and is back in town waiting to go to med school. One day I'm standing there, and it dawned on me, 'this is stupid, I'm just standing in the way of Adam and his ability to be a great coach and give back to the team.' That combined with new work responsibilities have made it difficult to find the time and energy to give the program the attention it needs, with preparing new plays and drills. Lake City, and Coeur d'Alene for that matter, had a good run. I had the time and energy back then, and fortunately Adam and (Coeur d'Alene coach) Jamison (Mortensen) have come along to carry the torch."

Lake City opens its season at Sandpoint next Tuesday.

"I was looking to retire at the end of the season," said Emmons, 51. "This revelation just hastened the event. I have always put better talent before me in my work and personal life. This is really not a big sacrifice to me. It's a win-win if I've ever seen one."

MARFICE PLAYED on the attack as a freshman and as a goalie as a sophomore and junior for Westminster, which finished as runner-up in the Division II championship game last year.

"I never thought I'd get into coaching," Marfice said. "I've always been into the X's and O's of the game, watching tape and breaking down plays. I was looking for a coordinator job, but now I've got the whole shebang."

Marfice has spent the past two years coaching youth lacrosse in Coeur d'Alene.

"Some of the kids on this team know what I've accomplished at Westminster," Marfice said. "I've tried to implement the same system and the kids kind of know what's coming because I was putting bits and pieces in. I'm looking forward to seeing my team take this system and really grasp it. They've done well in practice, but applying it to a game is a little different. If I see them putting it together during a game, I'll be happy."

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d'Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at JEPressSports.