Aime Caines joined the Golden Bear lacrosse program for the 2016-17 inaugural season as an assistant coach and offensive coordinator.
Caines brings extensive experience serving the professional, collegiate club, high school and youth ranks in lacrosse. He spent five years as an assistant coach for the Minnesota Swarm (2009-13), also serving as the organization’s league director of the Minnesota Swarm Youth Box League. He’s been offensive coordinator for the University of Minnesota Lacrosse Club since 2008 and head coach at East Ridge High School since 2009. Following the Swarm’s move to Atlanta, he became co-founder and owner of Play Like a Pro Lacrosse in Woodbury, Minnesota.
Caines was has professional playing experience, competing in the National Lacrosse League (NLL) for six seasons, playing with the Columbus Landsharks (2000-01), Montreal Express (2001-02) and Buffalo Bandits (2002-06) where he helped the franchise to a 2004 NLL Eastern Championship.
As a pro, Caines tallied 110 points (52g, 58a), 82 PIM and 206 loose balls in his career as a forward. His playing career began in Windsor, Ontario where he played minor lacrosse. He later played five years in the junior “A” league with the Sarnia Pacers and also spent time in the Western Lacrosse Association (WLA) and in the Major Series Lacrosse (MSL).
Outside of his playing and coaching career, Caines has been an advocate in growing the game, directing youth lacrosse camps on the Fond du Lac and Prairie Island reservations in an effort to help restore the tradition of lacrosse amongst Minnesota’s native population, an initiative that has been recognized by the White House.
He’s been recognized with the Jefferson Awards for Public Service for his outstanding community service, is a three-time Ontario Champion, a 2002 Mann Cup Champion and game 4 MVP, served as assistant coach to the 2012 NLL Coach of the Year and was a 2015 MSHSL Section Coach of the Year.
Caines and his wife, Brooke have two sons, Carter and Declan and reside in Woodbury, Minnesota.
