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.
Contact Jeremy Schocken
Program Director
Jeremy Schocken
PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Lacrosse is a lifelong passion of Jeremy's. To start his nearly 20-year career, he began playing for Westerville Warcats in the 6th grade and never looked back. After High School at Westerville North, he played for the Club Team at Bellarmine University, where he earned is B.A. in Exercise Science ('16). While at Bellarmine, Jeremy began his coaching career by helping launch the 3rd/4th grade program in South Oldham, KY, with his mentor and friend, Joe Richie. In addition to his love of lacrosse, Jeremy has always had a heart for service. Growing up, he spent summers at REACH mission camps, learning the value of service in the community. In college he attended alternate spring break and worked with Habitat for Humanity in New Orleans, LA. If you see Jeremy out on a hike with his dog Rico, be sure to say hello!
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Tyree Pollard - President
Director of Talent Acquisition Columbus City Schools
Garon Tate - Vice President
Assistant Principal New Albany
Mark Sell, CPA - Treasurer
Retained Search Group
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Michael Caravana - Board Member
Former Head Coach Dennison University
Jonathan Granson, CPA, CGMA - Secretary
Vice President of Tax Services Crawford Hoying
Jason Williams - Board Member
Charter Properties
Ryan Chenault - Past President
Columbus Blue Jackets
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.
Robert Earl Bartley III, M.D.
R. EARL BARTLEY III, M.D. was born Friday, September 29, 1961, in Lynchburg, Virginia, to Robert Earl II and Olis Bartley. “Earl,” as he was called by family and friends, was a graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (1979-1983). In 1987, Earl earned his Doctorate of Medicine from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. This Veteran served as a Major in the United States Army Reserve (1990-2001).
In 1992, Earl completed his Orthopedic Surgery Residency at Northwestern University. A year later, he completed his Fellowship in Joint Replacement at Emory University. For over 20 years, Earl practiced Orthopedic Surgery and since 2016, worked with OhioHealth Orthopedic Surgeons in Columbus, Ohio. Named one of Columbus Monthly’s Top Doctors in Columbus and Central Ohio, Earl specialized in hip and knee replacements and total joint and arthritis surgery.
A sports enthusiast since high school, Earl played varsity soccer and lacrosse at Harrisburg Academy and excelled in lacrosse at MIT. His love of athletics inspired him to establish the New Albany Youth Lacrosse Association. Recently, in 2019, he helped to found the Urban Lacrosse Academy to support youth in Central Ohio. Earl was an avid Pittsburgh Steelers fan and also embraced and followed international soccer. Everyone that loved him knew that Earl’s mood was dictated by whether his teams won or lost.
Earl made connections and friends from all walks of life. All that knew him recognized his brilliance, down to earth nature, and zest for life. He is remembered for his generosity; offering his ear, his time, and financial support for close friends and family to achieve their dreams. A lover of travel, his family’s vacation history started with annual trips to Hilton Head and apexed with the engagement of his son, Christopher, in Bordeaux, France. Earl shared his appreciation for “living the good life,” collecting fabulous art, and refining his love of food and wine by sponsoring friend and family trips to Cabo, Europe, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. Accompanying him on these and all life’s journeys was his beautiful, best friend, and wife, Trudy Preston Bartley.