Jamie Batley – An Intense and Intelligent Leader

As a youngster, Peterborough native Jamie Batley was an all-round athlete, excelling in every sport he played. He participated in football, basketball and lacrosse in high school.  He also played all-star hockey from pee-wee to major midget – good enough to be drafted by the Soo Sault Marie Greyhounds and playing with the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Major Hockey League in the1985-86 season.

However, it is the game of lacrosse where Jamie Batley has been immensely successful as both a player and coach.  He has amassed a substantial record of provincial, national, and international team championships, along with equally impressive individual success.

As with many lacrosse greats, there is a family legacy with involvement in lacrosse.  Jamie Batley’s father Art played with the Peterborough Timbermen Mann Cup teams in the 1950s.   Jamie’s uncle Bob “Rock” Batley was both a Minto and Mann Cup champion in the early 1950’s. who has been inducted into both the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame and the Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame.  And Wayne Batley, Jamie’s older brother also played lacrosse winning two Minto Cups and a Mann Cup in the early 1980’s.

Career as a Player 

Jamie Batley was a skilled goal scorer and playmaker - twice leading the OLA Junior "A:" League in scoring (1986 and 1987).  He also won the Junior “A” League Most Valuable Player in 1987. 

Jamie shared in team success, as he played on two Minto Cup Championship teams as a member of the Peterborough Maulers in 1986 and 1987.  In addition, he was recipient of the Peterborough Junior Athlete of the Year in 1987.

During his college career, Jamie Batley was an All-American award winner at the Division 1, University of Maryland Baltimore County in 1993.

Jamie Batley was a member of the 1990 Canadian Men's National Field Lacrosse Team who played in the World Games as a Silver Medal winning team.   He also played with the Bronze winning 1994 Team Canada.

When Jamie Batley played Major Series Lacrosse, he continued to be a skilled sniper.  He was a member of two Mann Cup Championship teams with the Six Nations Chiefs in 1995 and 1996 and a third Mann Cup with the Peterborough Lakers in 2004.

Jamie Batley also played 30 games over four seasons in the National Lacrosse League from 1995 through 2000 with the Buffalo Bandits (1995 and 1999), Syracuse Smash (1998) and Pittsburgh Crossfire (2000).

Career as a Coach

Jamie Batley’s success as a Coach and General Manager speaks for itself.  He led the Peterborough Lakers from 2002 to 2013 winning 5 Mann Cups, 6 Provincial titles as his teams played in 10 straight Major Series Lacrosse finals.  This tenure as the Head Coach and General Manager of the Peterborough Lakers is one the most successful in the history of Canadian Major Series lacrosse.

For the 2016, 2017 and 2019 lacrosse seasons, Jamie Batley coached the Kahnawake Mohawks of the Quebec Senior “B” League competing in the Presidents Cup winning a Silver Medal in 2016 and a Bronze medal in 2019.

He has also coached in the National Lacrosse League. Jamie Batley has been the Head Coach with the Colorado Mammoth (2003-05), Chicago Shamrox (2006-2008) Toronto Rock (2009) and the Vancouver Warriors (2016-2018).

In addition, Jamie Batley was the Head Coach for Team USA’s bronze medal performance at the 2003 Federation of International Lacrosse World Indoor Lacrosse Championship.

Furthermore, Jamie Batley coached in the Peterborough Minor Lacrosse Association for several years.

Awards Bestowed upon Jamie Batley

• Inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame – Player Category 2020
• Inducted into the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame – Player Category 2017
• Inducted into the Peterborough and District Sports Hall of Fame – Athlete/Builder 2016
• Head Coach – Mann Cup Champion Peterborough Lakers – 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2012
• Mann Cup Championship Team – Player – 1995, 1996 (Six Nations Chiefs); Peterborough Lakers (2004),
• All-American Award Winner at the Division 1, University of Maryland Baltimore County in 1993
• Minto Cup Championship Team – Player – 1986, 1987 (Peterborough Maulers)
• OLA Junior "A" League Top Scorer (1986 and 1987)
• OLA Junior "A" League Most Valuable Player (1987)
• City of Peterborough - Junior Athlete of the Year (1987)

This interview with Jamie Batley took place in July 2020 (Interviewer and author of article - Rad Joseph)

1. Why and when did you take up coaching?

Started coaching in 2000 with the Peterborough Jr ‘A team’. I thought at the time my playing days were getting shorter. I always loved to be able to design offense and defence when I played so I thought I would give coaching a try.

2. Did you ever expect to be coaching at the high level you have?

I never thought about it in the beginning. I just thought that I give it a try. When I started coaching at the senior level in 2002, I planned to give it three years and see what happens.

3. Do you have a philosophy or style of coaching? 

I was negative reinforcer in my early days which seemed to work but the need to transition into a positive reinforcer developed so I switched.

4. Who or what influenced your style of coaching?

My family had an impact when I first started but John Martin, Dan Dunn and Les Wakeling were major influences. Dan and John had a huge impact on me when I was in Junior and Les was a major influence when I played Senior.

5. Who is the coach you most admire? Why?

Les Wakeling had a very calm demeanor on the bench and in the dressing room but, what I admired the most was his ability to take every player"s opinions and thoughts and apply them to the strategies of the game. He treated everyone as equals.

6. What do you feel are the reasons why you have been as successful as you are?

You must be a leader and you have to have the players believe and trust you.

7. Can you share some thoughts about your experiences coaching Major Series Lacrosse versus NLL?

Both leagues are very intense, and it is difficult to enjoy the time you spend there because the expectations are always to win. So, your focus is a constant chess match of developing ways to beat the opponent night in and night out. 

8. Best team you ever coached? Why?

Very difficult question because I’ve coached many great teams and players.

9. Best (most skilled) player(s) you coached? Why?

John Grant Jr., John Tavares, Gary and Paul Gait, Pat O’Toole, Scott Evans.  Why - Self-explanatory!!

10. Toughest player(s) you coached? Why? 

A lot of tough guys do not have too many other skills, so I like the guys who bring value to other parts of the game. I have always said the toughest guy was Scott Evans.  It’s because he could win the scoring title and then go fight the toughest guy on the opposition team and win the fight. Andrew Suitor is right up there too. He always knew when it was time to go and when it was time to stick up for his teammates.

11. What do you think (in general), your players think/feel about you as a coach?

I believe they think that I work hard and that I am there to win. At these levels you must be committed and it’s all about winning.

12.  What do you foresee in your Coaching future?

I am still young (age 53) so I can see myself coaching again, either in the NLL or MSL. I would like to get the chance to coach Team Canada again.

13. Any final thoughts you would like to share?

Lacrosse is the best game that has ever been created. I encourage all parents to get their kids involved at a young age because there are many physical and social benefits to this great game.

Concluding Observations

When you watch Jamie Batley coach – he is involved - he is constantly assessing, evaluating and adjusting.  He always has an intensity about him, even when he is calm.  His success is not the result of good luck.  Jamie Batley’s approach to the game is exceptionally professional. Without question, his success as a stellar player followed up with years of commitment to coaching have made him as knowledgeable as anyone in the game. It is hard to imagine he will not behind the bench sometime in the future.

JAMIE BATLEY – Ontario Lacrosse Association- Player Statistics

                         REGULAR SEASON                        PLAYOFFS

                         --------------                        --------

     YEAR            TEAM           LEAGUE         GP   GO   ASS   PTS   PIM  -  GP  GO  ASS  PTS PIM

    ---- ------------ ------     --  --  ---  ---  ---  -  -- -- --- --- ---

    1983  PETERBOROUGH  JUNIOR B &      6   17     12       29     26  -         DID NOT PLAY

    1983  PETERBOROUGH  JUNIOR A          3    2       1          3      2  -          DID NOT PLAY

    1984  PETERBOROUGH  JUNIOR A        20  22     22      44     48  -      15 11  15  26  33

    1985  PETERBOROUGH  JUNIOR A        21  28     40      68     99  -      10 14  10  24  43

    1985  PETERBOROUGH   MAJOR              1   0       0        0        0  -         DID NOT PLAY

    1986  PETERBOROUGH  JUNIOR A        20  68     66   134      62  -      12 20  39  59  16

    1986  PETERBOROUGH   MAJOR             1   1        0        1      10  -         1  0   0   0   2

    1987  PETERBOROUGH  JUNIOR A        25  55  112    167      82  -       11 23  39  52  24

    1987  PETERBOROUGH  MAJOR              3   1        6        7        2  -         DID NOT PLAY

    1988  PETERBOROUGH  JUNIOR A       24  59     89   148      88  -          8 16  31  47  12

    1988  PETERBOROUGH  MAJOR             1   1        0       1         0  -          DID NOT PLAY

    1989  PETERBOROUGH  MAJOR             4   4        5       9       18  -          7  6  13  19  16

    1990  PETERBOROUGH  MAJOR             9   7      20     27      53  -          9 10  12  22  14

    1991  PETERBOROUGH  MAJOR             7   9       7      16      17  -          4  3   8  11   2

    1994  PETERBOROUGH  MAJOR             7  14    12     26      10  -          4  8   3  11   9

    1995  PET-SIX NATN       MAJOR             7  11    12     23      30  -        14 14  16  30  50

    1996  SIX NATIONS        MAJOR           22  28    34     62      87  -        13  8  12  20  46

    1997  SIX NATIONS       MAJOR            16   9     21     30      95  -          5  2   8  10  34

    1998  AKWESASNE        MAJOR           15  21    38     59     30  -         DID NOT PLAY

    1999  AKWESASNE        MAJOR            17  21   26     47     20  -        16  5  17  22  21

    2004  PETERBOROUGH MAJOR              4   1      1       2       8  -          DID NOT PLAY

    ---- ------------ ---------- -- ---  ---  ---  ---  -  -- -- --- --- ---

      PRO/MAJOR/SENIOR TOTALS   114 128  182  310  380  -  73 56  89 145 194

              JUNIOR A TOTALS   113 234  330  564  371  -  56 84 134 218 128

    ** 1986 AND 1987 - MEMBER OF MINTO CUP WINNING PETERBOROUGH MAULERS TEAM

    ** 1986 - ADVERTISER TROPHY FOR TOP SCORER IN O.L.A. JUNIOR A SERIES

    ** 1987 - ADVERTISER TROPHY FOR TOP SCORER IN O.L.A. JUNIOR A SERIES

    ** 1987 - CO-WINNER OF DENNIS McINTOSH MEMORIAL TROPHY AS MOST VALUABLE PLAYER IN O.L.A. JUNIOR A SERIES

    ** 1988 - 3RD IN SCORING IN O.L.A. JUNIOR A SERIES

    ** 11TH ALL-TIME PLAYMAKER IN O.L.A. JUNIOR A SERIES WITH 330 ASSISTS

    ** 17TH ALL-TIME POINTGETTER IN O.L.A. JUNIOR A SERIES WITH 564 POINTS

    ** 1995 - MEMBER OF MANN CUP CHAMPION SIX NATIONS CHIEFS TEAM

    ** 1996 - MEMBER OF MANN CUP CHAMPION SIX NATIONS CHIEFS TEAM

    ** 1998 - 4TH IN SCORING IN O.L.A. MAJOR SERIES

    ** 2004 - MEMBER OF MANN CUP CHAMPION PETERBOROUGH LAKERS TEAM

Article written by Rad Joseph - Director of Media - Major Series Lacrosse