Australian Box Lacrosse is delighted to welcome Coach Dano Underwood

Australian Box Lacrosse is delighted to welcome Coach Dano Underwood to the 2025 team competing at the IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championship in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

Dano Underwood has been a respected leader in the lacrosse community for over twenty years, known for his unwavering commitment to promoting Indigenous representation and cultural education within the sport. As the cultural leader for Pacific Northwest Native Lacrosse (PNWNL), Underwood emphasizes the spiritual and communal dimensions of lacrosse, often called the "Medicine Game." He eloquently expresses its significance by stating, “When you pass the ball amongst each other, you pass the ball among Nations,” highlighting how the game serves as a vital bridge connecting diverse Indigenous communities.

In 2024, Underwood co-coached the Australian Junior team at the IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championship in Erie, Pennsylvania, showcasing his dedication to advancing the sport on the international stage. Continuing his impactful leadership in 2025, he coached and mentored Queensland Box Lacrosse teams at the Australian Senior Box Nationals held in Melbourne, Victoria. He further demonstrated his commitment to the sport by coaching the Australian Junior team at the 2025 IIJL Commonwealth Cup, reinforcing his vital role in the growth of lacrosse nationally and globally.

His ongoing involvement underscores his influence and unwavering dedication to the worldwide lacrosse community.

Deeply invested in preserving and sharing Indigenous cultures through lacrosse, Underwood coaches both Indigenous and non-Indigenous players on WSANEC territory on Vancouver Island. He fosters meaningful connections among youth from various tribal nations and strengthens familial ties across Vancouver Island, the mainland, and into the United States. He often shares his guiding principle: "Our communities never defined our people, culture, or nations by an imaginary border; we are all family. Lacrosse creates a sense of unity, cultural pride, and working together as one," a conviction he instils in every player he mentors.

Residing in Victoria, British Columbia, Underwood is also a filmmaker and actor. He leverages his passion for storytelling and the arts to amplify Indigenous voices and narratives through diverse media platforms, creating impactful spaces for cultural expression and awareness.