DII Lacrosse Coaching Changes of 2022 (Part 2)

SPEAKER_01 0:10

Welcome, welcome, welcome to another episode of In the Crease with Danny and Kevin, a coast-to-coast discussion of D2 Men's lacrosse. I'm your co-host, Kevin Stenstrom, and I bring, as always, the silky smooth analysis of my co-host, Danny Moran. Hey, Danny.

SPEAKER_02 0:30

Oh, Kevin, I'm humbled. That was the smoothest intro ever.

SPEAKER_01 0:34

I try to sound silky smooth, but it's you, man. It's all you.

SPEAKER_02 0:39

You're getting good at these intros. I'm impressed. Kevin Stenstrom, I'm doing great here on Long Island. How are you doing in Northern Virginia this evening?

SPEAKER_01 0:48

I'm I'm good, Danny. I'm good. I'm ready for another episode about coaching changes, which is going to be exciting. I just want to remind our listeners, a lot of these interviews we've had we've stacked early. So by the time this podcast comes out, you're going to hear us talking about fallball a lot, and you know, these podcasts are going to episodes are going to come out more in November when Fallball's wrapping up. So just take that in stride. Listen to what the coaches have to say. But let's start off, Danny, with a couple coaches that were the assistant coaches and who are now taking over the program. The first is with Lynn, the Fighting Knights. Their interim coach now is their assistant, Mark Miller, because Brian Kingsbury resigned just recently. It was it was in September. Um and he built that program from its inception. He's been hired as the assistant coach at Mercer University, a D1 program. And the head coach there, Ryan Danahe, said that was one of the first decisions he wanted to make. So Lynn's losing the guy that started the program. But the good thing is Miller has been the assistant since 2019. So there's some continuity there. Um and he's coached at some other good schools in D3, Bowden and Washington, Lee. Watching Lee a really good D3 program. Very good program. So Lynn's coming off the 5'10 record, which is a bit unexpected. They had several one-goal losses. So, you know, hopefully Mark Miller can just keep that, keep that ball rolling with them and bring it back to where they were in the Sunshine State Conference.

SPEAKER_02 2:33

Yeah, Lynn is a better team than their record indicated. Like you said, a couple of one-goal losses. You know, Lynn has always been a very good team in that Sunshine State conference and a scrappy team. It'll be interesting to see. Like, you know, Coach Miller's been there, so the players are used to him, they know him. I think it's a a good, a good hire, seamless transition for those guys. And let's see what the Fighting Knights do this year.

SPEAKER_01 2:59

Yeah, exactly. And just to point out, there was no press release from Lynn on this change, and there really wasn't a press release in Mercer saying that Brian is the the new assistant head coach.

SPEAKER_02 3:12

So that crack research team of ours really dug down pretty good since there was no press release. How did we get this information? It's it's total luck, I think.

SPEAKER_01 3:25

We actually got a a DM from a listener that said that he thought that was happening. So I kept my my eyes peeled to the website, and finally I saw that saw Coach Miller as the interim. So we wish him the best of luck. I don't know if they're even doing a search if he's gonna be the interim this year, and they look for someone next year, and he may be the hire. I I don't know how that's gonna work, but I'll tell you what, I think he at least, like we talked about, he brings the continuity, we'll keep it keep a steady boat for Lynn, and I'm sure Lynn will be fighting at the for the top of the Sunshine State Conference this year. Yeah, and we'll be keeping an eye on Lynn to see where they're going as well. Exactly. So the next one is actually Colorado Mesa, the Mavericks. And and their new coach is their assistant, was their assistant, Troy Moyer. So he takes over for Coach Smith, who resigned in July to pursue other opportunities outside of lacrosse. He was there for eight seasons at the helm and and had amassed a 95 and 26 record.

SPEAKER_02 4:29

Yeah, Colorado Mace is the deal out in the R, Matt, man. They are they are the team. Coach Smith has got them, you know, playing at a high level. And uh the coach is is walking into a nice nice program. He's you know, there's not going to be much to do there, Fran.

SPEAKER_01 4:46

Well, and it's although interesting was he was first uh tabbed only as the interim. But on after only two months, they named him the head coach by how uh strong they felt he just took over the reins and kept that that program going. He's been the assistant just like Coach Miller at Lynn since 2019. And he's coached at Muhlenberg and Sacred Heart, so he's got some other great programs that he was a part of. So, like you said, he's he takes over a strong program, and we'll see where they go. I have a feeling we'll have Colorado Mesa will be at the top there uh this year as well. Yeah, I I agree. I was able to communicate with with Coach Moyer, and he can't come on right now, but we hope to have him on a later episode. Maybe the conference preview. If not, we'll catch him uh in the spring. Like I said, these coaches, it's like a whirlwind. Yeah. So uh we appreciate those that can come on and totally understand those that can't make it this time because they're in the midst of just starting. Totally.

SPEAKER_02 5:55

You know, some of these some of these late hires, man, they get to campus and they gotta have their foot on the accelerator right out of the gate. Uh they're wearing dirty hats. So if they can't come on, we understand. We'll get them on as another time.

SPEAKER_01 6:09

100%. So let's shift. Let's talk about the changes that are happening in the peach belt. Let's start with Shorter, the Hawks. Their new coach is Jonathan Vance. He played defense at Reinhardt from 2016 to 2018, where he won three AAC championships and two national championships in the NAIA. And before coming to Shorter, he was the recruiting assistant at William Penn University and the D coordinator. So he replaces Sam Buchanan, who was the head coach there from only 2019 to 2022. And then previous to that was Jeff Levanji for a couple years. So this shorter, once again, is a program that's fairly new in D2, and he's got some players coming back. All his top scores are coming back. So he's got something to build upon, I think. And and I think with that pedigree of playing for a national champion caliber team like Reinhardt, he may be the right man to turn short around and really may have him compete in the peach belt.

SPEAKER_02 7:19

I think, you know, in order to teach to win, you have to know how to win. And getting getting a coach with that kind of pedigree or you know, at least played on winning teams, I think is important. Because you know what it's like to get to that championship. You know the the effort and the the the the what you get all the stakes that are involved in getting that team to a championship or just to play champ, you know, high high caliber lacrosse. So shorter is in that peach belt. Well, you and I love the peach belt. We think that's the most parody from top to bottom. Yep. Um those coaches love each other down there because they know they're building something special. And and shorter is one of those teams that's right in the middle of it.

SPEAKER_01 8:07

Exactly. Exactly. So, but instead of us flapping our jaws, let's bring on Coach Vance. Let's bring on Coach Vance. Hey Coach, how you doing? Hey, I'm doing well. How are y'all doing?

SPEAKER_02 8:22

All right, Coach Vance, Shorter from the Peach Bell. Thank you so much for thank you so much for coming on the uh in the crease podcast with the two knuckleheads uh tonight. We really, really appreciate you taking the time. How's it going so far since you got to Shorter?

SPEAKER_00 8:38

Yeah, it's going well. I'm really enjoying it, really getting

Coach Vance of Shorter

SPEAKER_00 8:41

to make it my home and looking forward to a great future there.

SPEAKER_01 8:45

That's awesome. I I'll tell you what, Danny and I love the Peach Belt because it being such a new conference, and we think it's got such great parody. I know last year Shorter was uh I you know didn't do as well, but what do you think of the Peach Belt and the competition and what you're what you're trying to build there with that in that conference?

SPEAKER_00 9:06

Yeah, I actually think it's a very underrated conference, is probably the word I would use for it. I'd say there's definitely quite a few talented teams in there. I think you kind of have the three that are a little bit more established in Lander, Montevallo, and uh UAH, and then you kind of have the up-and-comers and flagler, us, and young Harris. So that's kind of how I view it so far.

SPEAKER_01 9:27

Yeah, I I I totally agree with your assessment right there. Obviously, especially with Montevallo and UAH being the championship the last two years, lander right behind, but then there is not much of a step down when he's talking about the other teams and what they can bring against the competition uh with those guys. So what are you looking for in your team as you get into your first season to try to compete against all of those teams in the Peach Belt?

SPEAKER_00 9:58

Yeah, so I would say the biggest thing this year is kind of laying that foundation to rebuild the culture and just kind of trying to be more competitive in those games.

unknown 10:07

Right.

SPEAKER_00 10:08

Um I would just say one of the things we focused on this fall is team building and just kind of stick skills as a whole. We have a very young team this year. So we have 24 guys on the roster currently, 11 of which are true freshmen. So we're gonna be a very young team.

SPEAKER_01 10:23

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 10:25

Well, you guys were feeling it's good. I like when the freshmen have come. I think it's good because by the time they're seniors, they're gonna be really like seasoned vets, you know.

SPEAKER_00 10:34

Right, absolutely. And that's the way I'm looking for this year, kind of an experienced builder and then getting the guys' quality reps and kind of learning how to be college athletes.

unknown 10:43

Right.

SPEAKER_01 10:44

Yeah, you can't you can't turn something around in in one season, especially if you look at where shorter was last year. You had a small roster last year. It was pretty young then. I think there was only one senior. So do you are some of those players that you had last year, especially some of the scores, did they are they coming back? And do you have some of those that um presence from last year that you can at least have some experience on the team? Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_00 11:09

So we have five out of our six leading scorers back, uh, two starting defensemen, and then our starting goal as well. So we didn't lose too much at all.

SPEAKER_02 11:17

No, that's good. That's excellent. So yeah, so yeah, good base, a good base to start off with. And then you bring the freshmen in. And uh how have the how have they how have they acclimated themselves the freshmen so far?

SPEAKER_00 11:30

Yeah, I think they acclimated themselves uh pretty well, honestly. A lot of them come from some pretty big uh programs down here in the south. So they were ready to go right away, I'd say a lot of them.

SPEAKER_01 11:42

That's great. So, coach, you played at Reinhardt, so you know what it's like to win and how to win national championships, at least from the players' perspective. How does that experience help you as you try now to transfer that to your team?

SPEAKER_00 12:02

Yeah, so I think it just kind of helps uh emphasize the importance of attention to details to the guys just kind of how you do the small things is how you do everything. And that kind of translate on the field, if that makes sense.

SPEAKER_02 12:14

Yeah, it does. Yeah, it makes a lot of sense.

SPEAKER_01 12:18

Is that part of the culture that you're trying to build on right now? That the the the details.

SPEAKER_00 12:25

Yes, sir. That is something we're big on. Just kind of making sure when we're running like any sort of stick work drill, like making sure it the drill goes perfect. So like everybody, if we're doing two-man passing, making sure every group gets down the field and back with no drops. And like if one group drops it, we're starting again, kind of thing. Right.

SPEAKER_01 12:42

Right, right, right. I'd hate to be that group that drops it, Danny. That's all I'm gonna say.

SPEAKER_00 12:48

Yeah, it's uh pressure definitely builds at the end. That's what it's about, though, man.

SPEAKER_02 12:53

You want these kids to concentrate, you want them to get through these drills, you want them to really buckle down and you know, and get these drills down. I mean, it's a good thing. I used to do the same thing when I coached football, same philosophies, you know. Hey, you do that, yep, let's go. Back to square one, you know, back to one again. So, and they learn to like start doing it right because they don't want to do it a hundred million times, but it's part of building a culture. That's excellent, coach. I love it.

SPEAKER_01 13:21

Well, I think that goes to kind of when we uh we talked with uh Coach Murphy, who's now at Catawba, and he talks about winning the little items, the little actions. And that's what you're talking about right there. You're trying to win on the smaller details because you then inculcate that culture of if you win the small things, then you build on that, and then the the the wins of the games come from those small things.

SPEAKER_00 13:48

Yes, sir. I'm a big believer in that you kind of have to learn to win.

SPEAKER_01 13:52

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Because you can go the opposite way. If you get count, if you just know if you know how to lose, and that's just where you feel you're at, it's that's tough to get out of. That's a mindset.

SPEAKER_00 14:04

Yeah, it definitely is. It definitely is.

SPEAKER_02 14:08

So let's uh, you know, Kevin and I, we talk about this a lot. We talk about assistance, and we always say a good head coach is only as good as as good as assistants. So let's talk about some of your assistants.

SPEAKER_00 14:22

Oh man, I got a shocker for you here. I'm actually flying solo right now.

SPEAKER_02 14:26

Wow, that's not the first time I've heard that. This is that's the second, but there's a lot of coaches going through.

SPEAKER_00 14:32

Yeah, it's just what I've noticed is it's very hard to find good grad assistants right now. There's a lot of the guys are still playing their COVID years.

SPEAKER_02 14:39

Right, right, right. Wow. So how's that been kind of for you? You know, just wearing all the hats on you. I mean, I mean, your days must be just jam-packed, you know. You're getting schedules together, you're making sure kids are going to study hall, you know, you're dealing with, you know, parents and and the team moms, and then, you know, scheduling and then getting you got a lot on your shoulders. How are you doing so far? You look pretty good.

SPEAKER_00 15:06

I appreciate that. Yeah, I think I'm doing a fairly good job so far. And believe it or not, I kind of enjoy it just because since we're so early into kind of rebuilding the program, it's kind of nice that I can kind of have a hundred percent of the control of it, if that makes sense, and build it kind of in the image that I see fit and kind of take it to where we need to be.

SPEAKER_02 15:24

Yeah, your fingerprints are on every part of the program. That's phenomenal. That's gotta make you feel good. But I bet you wouldn't mind one assistant.

SPEAKER_00 15:31

I'd uh one one or two wouldn't hurt. I can't lie.

SPEAKER_02 15:36

All right, we got to talk to the AD, Kevin. Let's write the A D. Yeah, we'll talk about that on that. Tell him Coach needs an assistant, man. We can get this program. He's wearing too much. Just tell him Woodgett.

SPEAKER_01 15:46

If he wants to compete in the peach belt against the Montevalos and the UAHs, Coach needs a little help.

SPEAKER_00 15:56

Yeah, we we definitely are looking for the right grad assistant. So there is a spot available. We just haven't found the right fit yet.

SPEAKER_01 16:02

So that's good. That's good. I hope you find one before the beginning of the season this spring.

SPEAKER_00 16:08

So that would definitely be nice.

SPEAKER_01 16:11

What as you're trying to rebuild this, what would you say are your top priorities, your top three priorities if you've got three that you're you're looking to build upon this year?

SPEAKER_00 16:22

Yeah, that's a very good question. So I would say, first and foremost, as I've spoken a little bit about, is kind of building the culture first and foremost, and then kind of building our reputation locally with more of the local high schools. We we've had a good bit of recruiting success in the past, but kind of last year was the first year we recruited a lot of local guys. For some reason, the previous staffs had gotten a lot of out-of-state kids, so kind of building up those ties in the state of Georgia and Florida and just in the southeastern hotbeds.

SPEAKER_01 16:50

Right. Well, and there's plenty of good lacrosse players from that area, though that area.

SPEAKER_02 16:55

I just think the attackman of the year from Division II is from Georgia. And I believe the number one goalie recruiter, 23, is from Georgia. Am I not mistaken about that?

SPEAKER_00 17:10

Yeah, it's definitely up there, one of the top ones in state. You're right on that.

SPEAKER_02 17:14

That's crazy. You know, because I'm I'm from Long Island, as if you couldn't tell from my crazy accent. But, you know, there's there's there's a net every 50 yards here. Um, I'm sure that in Georgia, there's not. I think what Georgia's an up-and-coming state with the with the with the game of lacrosse at the youth level. Would you agree with that?

SPEAKER_00 17:36

Yeah, I definitely would. And I would say probably about maybe 10 years ago or so is when it seemed to really start to explode a little bit.

SPEAKER_02 17:44

That's good, man. And you know what? In 10 years, a lot can happen, you know. And you so you said you got some kids from some pretty decent high school programs coming in. So there's some kids that already know how to win, I'm assuming. You know, so you got some of that that pedigree, even though they might be young and not know the NCAA game, you got some kids that are coming in with some pedigree. That's that's fantastic. That's kind of make you feel good.

SPEAKER_00 18:09

Yeah, it definitely is. Just kind of watching them develop every day. I see like, even comparing them to some of kind of my other freshmen, I see little things that they'll do. I'm like, wow, this guy really knows what he's doing, like day one.

SPEAKER_01 18:20

That's great. That's good. And what about the players that are returning? We asked this question to coaches. You know, with the coaching change, it's it's it is a little bit chaotic, it's probably a little bit too strong, but there's a little turmoil, new guy coming in. Have they been accepted? Are they buying in? Has it been a little bit of a transition form? Just what's that been like for them?

SPEAKER_00 18:43

Honestly, it's been great. It's actually been better than I could have ever imagined. You know, they bought in right away. I think it helps that they're very familiar with Reinhardt just being down the road so they know kind of the level of success I came from as a player. So I think that was kind of exciting to them.

SPEAKER_01 19:00

Awesome. Yeah, without a doubt. So, well, let me ask you this. Your schedule is not out on obviously, it's still early right now. It's October as we're recording this. Can you give us any shed any light on what your schedule is like, or is that still in flux right now?

SPEAKER_00 19:15

Yeah, so I'd say it's probably 90-95% done. Um, so we're gonna play 14 regular season games as it stands right now. Um notable ones, I would probably say, would obviously be the conference one. We play Coker at Coker. Uh St. Leo's coming to town.

SPEAKER_02 19:32

St. Leo's coming in? All right.

SPEAKER_00 19:33

Yeah, St. Leo's coming to town, so that should be a fun experience as well. Awesome. Um, and then we're playing a lot of the local D3s and NAIs as well.

SPEAKER_01 19:43

That's good. Well, I'll tell you what, I'm I'm I'm circling those two games. Coker, because you're playing against your old coach, Coach Snow, which will be fun to watch. And then, you know, just someone who's been in and built a program from scratch himself down at St. Leo with Coach Jorgensen, who has been on our show, and he's he's a phenomenal coach, a phenomenal guy. I think those are two really signature gains, I think, for your uh for your program this year.

SPEAKER_00 20:12

Yeah, I would definitely agree with you. The guys are looking forward to that, just kind of testing where we're at. I think that'll be a very good measuring stake, those two games.

SPEAKER_02 20:20

I think it's awesome, man. I think, you know, first of all, Kevin and I love the peach belt. We love the peach belt. When you say they're underrated, you know what? They're not. Other coaches from other conferences see what's going on in the peach belt. And they like what they see. You know what? It's great for Division II. And the more that we can get, the more squads that are playing competitive lacrosse. And we, Kevin and I, we talk about the Peach Belt all the time, right, Kev? I mean, the peach belt, we just love it. It's got so much parity. The teams are really kind of equal. There's, you know, yeah, there's one or two teams that might have a little bit more depth, but that's what it is. It's depth, I think, more than having athletic ability. I mean, everybody, I think in the peach belt, anybody could beat anybody on any given day. That's the way I feel. And I love that about that conference.

SPEAKER_01 21:13

And I think the teams, Coach, from what I've seen, when we watch them, the spirit and enthusiasm of the teams on the field when they're playing in a conference game, it's unmatched. It's unmatched because it's a tight six-team conference. So you guys are know each other. It's it's let's go after it. Let's let's get after this conference game. It's fun to watch.

SPEAKER_00 21:39

Yeah, I'm I'm definitely looking forward to be a part of it. It's kind of the vibe I got from speaking to most of my returning guys is that this it's fun kind of having the local rivalries with the other teams and just kind of the camaraderie with them as well.

SPEAKER_01 21:53

That's great, coach. Yeah, coach, we can't thank you enough for coming on. It's been a lot of fun, and we are Are excited for where you're going to take shorter and see where it goes and see the imprint that you place on this program. And I I can't wait to see you compete not only in conference, but those two signature games as past year, even depending on what the score ends up, like you said, it's gonna be a measuring stick that you can grow from from there.

SPEAKER_00 22:25

Absolutely, I 100% agree. Thanks for having me, guys.

SPEAKER_02 22:28

Coach Vance from Shorter, we really appreciate it. The best of luck to you and the rest of the squad this season, and uh we look forward to watching you guys uh lay it down in the peach belt, and um hopefully we get you back on the show again.

SPEAKER_00 22:43

Hey, just let me know a time and a place, and I will do it.

unknown 22:45

Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 22:47

Thank you so much. We appreciate it. Have a great night, coach. Thank you so much. You too. Bye-bye.

SPEAKER_01 22:53

Okay, Danny. One other peach belt change, and that's at Young Harris. Their new head coach is Brendan Gelder. He was the assistant at Barry College the last two years, which is only two hours away from Young Harris. Before that, he was an assistant at Oberlin College, so he's got some D3 experience, obviously, in those two schools. And he's a graduate of Frostburg State and a four-year member of that team. So now back then, Frostburg State was D three as well. Yeah. But we're familiar with Frostburg State. We know what it's like up there. We know what that team's been like. When they were a D3 program, they were very darn good, and they're a very good uh D program. They're still very good. Now he takes over Young Harris. Like, Young Harris is a reboot. It's almost a brand new program again.

SPEAKER_02 23:43

I feel bad for some of those kids at Young Harris, what they've had to deal with, especially like the seniors. Yeah. You know, they they've had to deal with a lot of crap there, and nothing to do with them. Just it's it was an AD thing, or I don't know what went on there, but you know, they gave up their program uh two years ago, and then COVID came and they got a new coach, and then they had an uh uh abbreviated season again. So now they're starting over again, young Harris.

SPEAKER_01 24:11

Yeah, it'll be interesting though, because when we talked to Coach Herring last year, it definitely seemed that he was building the right culture. Now it didn't show up necessarily in the final their final record with only one win. But if you look a lot of those losses, they were they had several that were just one goal losses. So I think there may be something to build upon that Coach Gelder can do here.

SPEAKER_02 24:36

Well, uh, he's gonna have his hands full a little bit, he's gonna have to get to work, and um you know, I guess recruiting is gonna be the biggest thing at Young Harris right now. I just just getting just getting bodies to come and play lacrosse there.

SPEAKER_01 24:51

Yeah, yeah, I agree. So, but let's hear from him. Let's do it. Hey coach, welcome. How you doing?

SPEAKER_02 24:59

Good, thank you for having me. I'm really excited to go on. Yeah, Coach Brandon Gilbert, the new head coach at Young Harris. Thank you so much for taking the time with us. We really appreciate it. The two knuckleheads, the two knuckleheads from In the Crease. We really appreciate you coming on. How's it going?

SPEAKER_05 25:15

Oh, it's going great. It's going great. We just finished our uh our fall scrimmage, so our guys are going home

oach Geldart of Young Harris

SPEAKER_05 25:20

for fall break, and it's a nice little well-timed event because they're they're all off campus and back in their respective homes. So I'm excited to get it going with you guys.

unknown 25:28

Good.

SPEAKER_02 25:29

Who'd you scrimmage?

SPEAKER_05 25:30

Uh we scrimmage Oglethorpe. Um, I was hired on the 15th, so it was the first and uh quickest team we can get to commit to coming up to the valley, and and it was a pretty good day. We had we had a great day with the cross. It was uh 70, 70 degrees. Nice money, no, not a cloud in the sky, and we had a pretty successful day. And I mean the the stands are packed from end to end. You couldn't tell us that it was a false scrimmage basically.

SPEAKER_01 25:55

Oh, that's awesome! That's awesome. That's that's great news. So let's talk about that for a second. Um, Coach Herring, uh, who we talked on this uh podcast last year, he stepped down in June, and I think you were named like a month and a half later, sometime maybe early August. So it must really, it probably still is a little bit, but it's been a bit of a whirlwind. So, what were your first few steps that you did uh joining this program?

SPEAKER_05 26:21

Yeah, well, um first and foremost, Coach Harry did a great job building the team. The guys are great people on top of being very talented with the cross players. Him and Coach Gabriel put a lot of legwork in, and I'm lucky because uh a lot of people look at it as a leg as a as a reboot, and for me, I'm stepping in a lot of the legwork prior that you would expect that to do is already kind of done for me. Um, so very lucky for the things he did. Um, first and foremost, I wanted to get the guys to play in the cross. That's what they got recruited to do. So as soon as I was able to within and civil compliance, I got them out there on the field, um, really got them going to see how I could I could see what they were into and and what the guys were good at and test talent level, but also see how hard I could really get away with pushing them in the weight room and on the turf. Um, one of the things I was really excited about doing was setting up that scrimmage and being done by fall break. So the fact that we could really get done, uh, really get into our 45-day segment very early so that the guys would be able to really get a taste of what it's like to be five days a week grinding and out on the field, testing their knowledge of lacrosse, but also pushing their limits of their skills and really seeing what we had to work with, as well as teaching them to compete, also letting them know that lacrosse can be fun and should be fun. You know, you get out there on the field, and a lot of guys think, oh, it's time for us to go to work, and it is time to go to work. But there's also a time and a place for there to be music and practice. There's a time and place for us to have some skills, competitions, some stuff that we could really do to make practices fun. Um yeah, and uh just the fact that we got that scrimmage set up, I was pretty excited about. Um, it kind of gave us that end goal. Um, I also set them up with our academic uh meetings that we do every two weeks for those guys that are under a certain standard, which is a 3.0, and once a month for those guys that are over it. So they really got into it pretty quick of learning what it's like to be a true student athlete real early in their semester, and I got to jump into it quick too.

SPEAKER_01 28:23

That's all yeah. It's interesting, Coach. You hit on some of the things I have got questions about. So let me just start off with um really, really interesting to hear that uh you're impressed with the players that Coach Heron and his staff brought in. But obviously, they're all his recruits, basically. I and I don't think, and maybe you have, been able to bring any of your own in from this year. So, what was that like for them? And have they embraced you as the new coach? Uh, I sometimes there's a transition. I'm just kind of interested in how that went for you.

SPEAKER_05 29:01

Yeah, yeah. Um, I will say that I think that they were really ready to be kind of grinded out. Coach set them up to be ready to work really hard, and they did for me, and I was pretty excited about that. Now they did go one to 14 last year. So the fact that we still had everybody from last year that was eligible, and we also kept all the recruits was amazing. Kind of shows like the testament of the team and the guys and how bought in they really are, because usually when things like that happen, the team kind of dissolves, or you'll lose a couple guys, and we didn't lose any, except for those yeah, except for the ones that weren't eligible. So they they pretty much adapted to to a little bit more of a of a lighter uh mental task uh testing uh coach, but also uh I push them and I test them pretty consistently so they know where their scores are in testing. So they kind of adapted to like one set uh one set of plans to another really, really well. We had great young leadership, um, something you don't see everywhere. And we had three, well, two uh sophomore captains and a senior captain who's been around the block. And um it was uh I was excited because I knew that once I started pushing them in week one and in the weight room and really testing them, they uh they responded really well. They also built each other up when you know you start to push on a kid or you challenge a kid and three or four friends get behind him, and it was pretty cool to see.

SPEAKER_02 30:32

Yeah, like you got this, don't worry about it, man. You got this. Yeah, good, that's good. Showing that support. That's good. How many carrying on the roster?

SPEAKER_05 30:39

Right now we're at 32 players.

SPEAKER_02 30:42

Oh, great. That's good.

SPEAKER_01 30:43

That's good. That's fantastic. That's a little bit build from last year, which which is awesome.

SPEAKER_02 30:47

Considering, you know, two years ago there wasn't no young Harris, you know. So considering to get 32 and have all those kids come back and nobody leave, that's fantastic, coach. Stepping into a good little uh good little thing there. Um Peach Belt. What do you think of the Peach Belt, man?

SPEAKER_05 31:05

Oh, I'm I'm I'm so excited to be a part of it. Um, a lot of the coaches I've already met um just from coaching at Barrie College, they're local guys that not local guys from the South, but they are local guys, the coaches that I see at a lot of recruiting events, or they've worked with my former boss Coach Gilbert uh multiple times. So they're good. And it's a competitive environment. I also feel I feel that it's uh something that we can we can really strive towards competing pretty quickly um at being being a competitor for. The uh the games, if you look at last year, the box scores, um Young Harris was in them at halftime.

SPEAKER_01 31:44

Coach, that's what I was gonna say. There were like three or four games that were just one goal losses, and I watched a few of the Young Harris games where your team was in it going into the second half, and I think a lot of it had to do with depth last year. And also just coming back. I mean, the other teams a little more experienced, all that kind of adds into it, but I I didn't see uh a loss of trying to fight and stay in the games and any games that you guys played in.

SPEAKER_05 32:16

Yeah, and I feel very lucky to have guys that gutted it out through those losses and still stuck it together.

SPEAKER_01 32:22

Yeah. Yeah. It's so we always talk about the peach belt, and you you touch on it too. Sorry, Kevin, but we do. We talk about the beach belts a lot. I think actually it's probably the conference that has the most parody. You even if you do not look, don't look at the stats of of some of the teams like Shorter and Young Harris right now. Look at how they compete against each other during the games. And and I think that's what makes it really exciting.

SPEAKER_05 32:51

So I kind of like to compare it to the NFC East. You know, those teams don't look that great, and then they end up being in the table somehow.

SPEAKER_03 32:59

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 33:01

What's great about the Peach Belt is how how how the schools have really bought in, and the students at these schools are supporting the lacrosse team, like, you know, two years in a row at the championship and through the conference championships and the conference tournament. The crowds at these games were phenomenal. And you know, lacrosse is primarily like a northeast kind of game. You don't think about the South drawing lacrosse fans like that. But we we saw it and Kevin and I marveled at it. We were like, Kevin, did you listen to the crowd? Did you hear them? There was just insane. It was great. So even other coaches from other conferences have spoken about the peach belt and how much they're coming along and what's going on there. So, how do you feel about you know being in that peach belt and getting to play against some of them?

SPEAKER_05 33:51

Oh, I'm I'm so excited for it. I can't really overstate that. The uh one of the things that I really noticed um is that a lot of audit schools down here, um, the students are fans, just flat out. There's just a fan base for athletics. And lacrosse, like you're saying, it is pretty new and it's exciting. People really get bought in to go into the games and supporting the team, and you see a player that plays out, and people start to really learn their name and really be excited when they get the rock and when it's their time to perform, but also they know who's gonna be who's gonna be making the plays. So there's just a true fanhood down here. Um, also, I think it's kind of across the board that um the lacrosse teams down here really go and show out for other teams. So they're all if there's a football team at the high at the college, then they'll show out to that football football game.

unknown 34:42

Right. Right.

SPEAKER_05 34:43

Basketball, basketball's a very big deal down here. I mean, the Peach Bell Conference and is pretty competitive in basketball as well. And our guys go crazy for basketball games, and the basketball guys, you know, it's super weird to say, but they show out for us too.

SPEAKER_02 34:57

That's awesome.

SPEAKER_05 34:58

Yeah, it's not something you don't really hear about. Um, one of the things that you kind of typically hear is about a little bit of a conflict between sports, between baseball and lacrosse. But baseball in Georgia is very, very big.

SPEAKER_02 35:10

Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_05 35:11

Growing with fanhood. So here at Young Harris, I know that I'm pushing for our guys to be big baseball fans when they can show out and be in the stands, but also um our soccer team was number one in the country for a good amount of time last year. So why not go support them? So we started off with a couple of things for them too. And it's really kind of if you're a fan of your fellow student athletes, a lot of these schools are are pretty primarily student athlete driven. The other side is that they show up to your games and their fans as well, not only just being proud of their team and their sport, but of their school, and that flip is is amazing, really is.

SPEAKER_01 35:45

Yeah, I I find it uh fantastic that you said at a fall ball scrimmage you had packed stands. I think that is just phenomenal. That's pretty cool. Now, talking about you coming from Barrie College coach for a couple years and being in the Georgia area, just a couple hours away. Do you think that's gonna help you in in recruiting and and other things as you build this program here in Young Harris?

SPEAKER_05 36:14

Um, I will say that it will help and and her in a little bit of both ways. I know that uh I know that everybody that I recruited this past summer is uh is gonna be going and looking at Barry as well, because you know I was paid by Barry to recruit them. So I've got a few databases supported there with the work that I did. Um I do have a pretty pretty decent uh relationship with the Piedmont coaches as well. Um, and so it's pretty interesting. My knowledge of the Division III in Georgia and in uh South Carolina and North Carolina, just knowing how knowing the impact of those schools and really, really how the ODAC also impacts recruiting around here, I think it kind of gives me a little bit of a leg up in understanding where people are really looking to go and what they're looking for in their college experience. Um the D2 world is is pretty new to me, but I've known about it for a while due to the recruiting trail and meeting those guys, like I said earlier, but also knowing what they have to work with at their schools and and now knowing that South Carolina, you know, is is a little bit of a hotbed for some D2 programs, you know, notably uh uh limestone, they're pretty decent. Uh yeah, they're not heard about them since I played uh in high school. I've always known that limestone is great. And uh Queen switching to D1 is a pretty big deal too. Um so it's uh the landmark is the landmark of D2 lacrosse is kind of changing a little bit, twisting a little bit. I would say working at Barry helped me understand really recruiting in Georgia, recruiting in South Carolina, recruiting in Florida, and what those kids are really looking for, and also kind of what recruits are if they go to look at Barry, Young Harris is close but distinctly different as well at the same time. And I'm excited to be able to say, listen, this is what you're gonna get at both schools, and and this is what you're gonna get at some of the other schools in Georgia, and kind of speak on that. It helps me give them a pretty realistic explicit expectation of what they're looking at with the schools um and what we have to offer. And and you know, I'm always always looking to shoot kids straight, let them know what they can expect and what they're gonna get out of their environment. I'm really never gonna be pressuring anybody to make a decision that they need to make because college is a life decision, and I really support making that life decision what's best for them and their families.

SPEAKER_02 38:24

How is the high, you know, the southern the southern states, like you just mentioned North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, they're they're starting to really produce players now. Um what do you think about these high schools in Georgia now? Um let's talk about some of the high school lacrosse programs in Georgia and where they are compared to the rest of the country.

SPEAKER_05 38:49

So I will say that there's great athletes coming out of Georgia. Um and then there's also a lot of really talented lacrosse players. Now, along with that, there's not a lot of youth programs that support the development at a young age. So you're getting a lot of guys that are picking it up. They either switched out of playing baseball in middle school and they started early lacrosse careers in uh high school, or they uh or they're picking it up as something they do in mean time to be in shape for football. And we take athletes in a place like Georgia that are really great, it's just a great um hotbed for baseball and football. And you say, hey, by the way, like you can probably get a little more action just by being the general athlete that you are at a high level for the cross, very similar to what happened in Florida a couple years ago. Um, they really just don't have that fundamental youth buildup. But after middle school, high school, those guys hit their growth spurt, they fill in with all the strength conditioning programs or the facilities, the sheer facilities of the high schools in Georgia are just incredible because of the attraction for football. And you know, they really develop really, really well here in the Peach State, and it's just kind of making sure that uh, you know, trying to keep the guys that are from Georgia going to schools in Georgia is kind of kind of hard right now.

SPEAKER_02 40:08

Yeah. Well, we got to get them youth coaches to get them kids out there earlier in Georgia. That's what we need to do. Got to get them out there, get them youth coaches, get some good guys that are from the north that played lacrosse, you know, just start a lacrosse program down there and get these kids with sticks in their hands, because you're right, it's a really athletic state football, you know, basketball too, Georgia, you know. So you got the three major football, basketball, baseball, really good Georgia, you know, for just producing great athletes in those three sports. But in now it's time to get the lacrosse programs going down there, right, Kev?

SPEAKER_01 40:46

Oh yeah. Oh yeah. You know, it it takes a while to build. I think I think it will. I think it's probably gonna come from the top down. It's gonna be looking at what's available college-wise, and then it's building at the high school level, and then trying to get the youth programs to then feed into the high school level, I think. One more question for you, coach. Uh, I know you're just fresh off of uh fall ball, so I know you probably have this already in the back of your mind. I'm not giving you any time to rest, but now that you've looked at your teams, you've you've got them on the field, what would you say are your top few priorities going into the spring season that you're gonna try to build upon, whether that's on the field or off the field for your team?

SPEAKER_05 41:26

Yeah, so uh we have number four college turnovers defensemen in Division II lacrosse right now, and we have number 20 college turnovers defensemen for lacrosse right now. So in the NCAA, we've got some pretty, pretty high commodities. You talk about those two guys, and then uh our goalie did really well last year. So our defense has the the real fundamentals to grow. Um it's teaching them a consistent system and then also building on our our long stick midi and uh and our our defensive midfielders, those guys really buying into the the system and finding some guys that maybe didn't play those positions in high school now that know that they're great athletes and they really can do it. So, really building our defensive midfield, I think, is the thing that we're focusing on now, building our system. Um, we cleared pretty close to 100%. And I know the guys I call it time out during the scrimmage, and I was like, all right, this is clearing drill. And they all got so excited. Uh super weird that they'd be so excited for something like that, and they were like, clearing drill. They cleared, they cleared almost 100% during the scrimmage, and our man up great in the scrimmage too. And and so it was it was great to see. Um, building on just you know, building some defensive consistency. Last year we ran a lot of zone, and uh some teams kind of took it to us in the zone. So knowing that we have that and we can use it sometimes is great, but really building on like the brotherhood that we have, bringing in the underclassmen, recruiting is is a big deal for me now. Like I said, hopped right into the lacrosse, right into the weightlifting, and now it's like okay, got that done. Let's focus on recruiting our our 23s and 24s, and we got a couple guys already, but definitely looking to build those classes and um kind of take care of that over the next couple of months and really get it set away. And and um I'm excited for for our spring break trip. Uh they didn't have that last year just because they were low on numbers. So teaching the guys kind of how to get through a whole season with a full team is is a new thing for this group, and I'm really excited to do it.

SPEAKER_02 43:22

That's good. I'm I'm excited for Young Harris too, because again, two years ago, they didn't have a program, and we just, you know, it was like the talk of Division II for a little bit, you know, and to see it come back, see you guys have 32, so you guys have to see you guys bring back players from last year and guys didn't take off, and it's that's a positive sign. It's all pointing upwards, if you uh if you ask me.

SPEAKER_05 43:45

Yeah, I'm really, really lucky and really excited about it.

SPEAKER_01 43:48

Yeah, so coach, thanks for coming on. It was great to hear um what you've been doing, where young Harris is. I know I speak for Danny, he's kind of already said it that we're we're we can't wait to watch you guys. Play in the season. They don't show any uh fallball scrimmages. I can't get it online anywhere, so I have to wait till the the the real season starts. But it'll be fun, Coach. And I'll love to see you in the uh Peach Belt in conference games. I think some of your other conference games will be fun to watch, too, as you go against St. Leo and Florida Southern and then you know Newberry and some of those teams. I think it'll be it'll be a great test for your players and something to build upon. It'll be fun to watch. So thanks a lot for coming on.

SPEAKER_05 44:30

Yeah, thank you guys for the kind word, and I really appreciate your time and putting me on here.

SPEAKER_02 44:34

Coach Keldart, Young Harris, we really appreciate you taking the time. We wish you the best of luck this year. Congratulations on the job. And go get them. Thank you, guys.

SPEAKER_01 44:45

All right, Danny. Now we're moving from the south to the storied conference in the north, the NE 10. And this is a coaching change at a school I'm very familiar with. American International College, AIC Yellow Jackets. Coach Jack Spallone takes over for Tim Robbins, who was the head coach there since 2016. But I'll tell you what, Coach Spallone comes in with a good pedigree. He coached a the last three years at Lewis as their offensive coordinator, and before that was at Lycoming for five years. And he played attack at St. Joseph's. He has some strong credentials.

SPEAKER_02 45:29

100%. You know, St. Joe's top-notch Division I school, right in the heart of Philly there. They play all the big boys every year, so he knows what it's like to play at a top, high, super high level. He knows what it's like to play there. And then at coaching at Lewis, man, um you and I discussed Lewis and how unbelievable they got in such a short period of time. Yep. In a three-year period, they went from zero to a hundred. And what Coach Peruzzi has done there is beyond remarkable. And and Coach Spallone was right next to Coach Lewis the entire time running that offense.

SPEAKER_01 46:09

Exactly. Exactly. Danny, there's nothing more than I would like to see than success at AIC in my old stopping ground. So why don't we just bring in the coach on to see if he can make my wish come true? Let's get him on.

SPEAKER_04 46:23

Hey coach, how are you doing? Doing well, guys. Doing well. It was a solid weekend. You know, having our last trimmage of the fall was a nice way to uh wrap things up. And, you know, happy to be on the podcast tonight with you guys.

SPEAKER_02 46:37

Well, thanks, Coach Spallone. We really appreciate you taking the time to come on uh the show with us. So, head coaching changes, and here we go again with the

Spallone

SPEAKER_02 46:46

round robin in D2. And here you are at AIC. Let's let's talk about your jump over. Let's talk about how to go.

SPEAKER_04 46:55

Um, so far the transition's been um very smooth. Um I was fortunate enough to interview at a couple of places over the course of the summer. And with all of the conversations that I had with different administrations, I really felt like this was the best place uh for me um to you know potentially change a situation for a group of young men and for an institution. And um I like the challenge of a rebuild and a build. Um it's really all I've done in my coaching career. Um I started at Lycoming College, we rebuilt there, made our way up to a Mac championship, and then transitioned out to Lewis and uh focused on building that program with um Coach Peruzzi. And uh, you know, I really like the people here at AIC. Everyone's been very welcoming, very outgoing, and uh, you know, it seemed like a great place.

SPEAKER_01 47:52

That's great. Yeah, well, I'll tell you what, coach. I talked about it in the intro a little bit. I grew up right around the corner from AIC, and there's nothing more that I like to see than AIC start kicking some ass in NE10. And uh coach and the pedigree you bring from uh both like home and especially uh what Danny and I know from watching Lewis the past couple years, I think is a a great thing for for AIC. So you touched on a little bit. You just finished uh um fallball, right? Well, your scrimmages for fallball. How'd that go this week?

SPEAKER_04 48:30

Uh it went pretty well. Um, you know, obviously scores and things like that aren't necessarily something I'm focused on in the scrimmage, but um the guys were playing incredibly well in our system, they were adapting and communicating very cohesively as a team, and that was really the big measuring stick that I was looking to see us make a jump with. And uh, you know, the the results went our way, will be what I'll what I'll say.

SPEAKER_01 48:56

Oh, that's good. That's good. That's correct. And let's touch upon that for a second. We had Coach Robbins on last year. He uh I I love talking to him because he he was an interesting guy from how he was trying to put the team together, almost growing the game internally right there at AIC, bringing in college football players at 285, 300 pounds to play games. That was great. Yeah, it was really unique. And so how have how has the team taken your new philosophy? And if you want to touch upon how you maybe do things a little bit different, but how's that gone?

SPEAKER_04 49:35

Um a lot better than I was expecting, honestly. Um coming into a a rebuild, you know, I was expecting to have a little bit of pushback, um, maybe some guys acclimating to a different level of intensity at practice and how we train um in the other areas from wall ball to the weight room. And it's been kind of the polar opposite. Um, I've been blessed to have a group of upperclassmen that kind of seem like they've been waiting for this. Um they they had that desire to be pushed and to work really hard. And I understand that you know, when you don't have a ton of numbers, you can be a little reserved with that and and not necessarily want to hit the ground running for the sake of keeping a solid squad on the field. Yeah. Um and we've kind of gone full send into it. Um, you know, my background, I I played at St. Joseph's University in Philly. Um, and you know, in my tenure as a coach, I've always kind of focused on intensity of practice. Um, and my it's a firm belief of mine that you always regress to the level of your your preparation and your training. So we've upped our intensity at practice, we've upped the physicality, we've upped the pace, um, you know, the volume of conditioning and and work outside of practice time. Um, I preach to the guys, everyone in the country practices two hours a day. Um that that's not gonna be something that changes your circumstance. So, more than that, we've also adopted a leadership council of um some upperclassmen, some younger guys, guys that our coaching staff has kind of identified as guys that we will need to be leaders in our program. Um, and I've had them read two different books. Uh, first is The Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell about changing circumstance and where you're at. And the second one is uh Extreme Ownership by Jimmy.

SPEAKER_01 51:35

Coach I was just going to mention that book, Extreme Ownership. That is that is a phenomenal book to give your players to read.

SPEAKER_02 51:44

I have to say that out of all the coaches that we've interviewed, you're the first one that says that they told some of their leaders to read books. And I think that's great, you know, because it shows an area there where you want their heads to be. And you know, when they delve into that book and they start, you know, reading that kind of stuff. Uh I just wrote them down because I want to read them now because it sounds interesting.

SPEAKER_01 52:08

Danny, I just mailed my copy of Extreme Ownership to my son Ronan, who was asking for leadership books. I said, You want a good one? Read this. It's it talks about accountability from you first. Extreme ownership. It's great.

SPEAKER_04 52:25

Yeah, and um, you know, they've they've really embraced that. Um, but more so the the thought process behind it. Um fortunately, I I was blessed to learn from a phenomenal mentor in my first stop at Lycoming, uh, Chris Canlin. Um he's a phenomenal coach, he's a whole bar guy for years, played for the Rattlers, and uh ironically enough, we'd played with each other in Syracuse City League when I was a college kid when he was playing in the pros. So um he really stressed that level of discipline. Um, and I learned from him that it's our job as coaches to teach our guys how we want them to lead, not to just kind of let them go by the wayside and and go with whatever their gut entails. Right. They're they're 19 to 24-year-old kids, they don't always get it right.

SPEAKER_02 53:16

Yeah, no, absolutely, 100%. I think that's so interesting. I think that's great that you're coming into AIC. You know, AIC struggled. We're not gonna sit here and lie. They've been a struggling program for a while. But you know what? I also think that good athletes want to be coached. They want to be pushed. I believe that the good ones want that. And now they got that in you. And it seems that they they're they're coming along pretty good with that so far.

SPEAKER_04 53:42

We are making a lot of progress. You know, we still got a ways to go. Um, I am a perfectionist, so we we won't really know exactly where we are until the final whistle is blown in the regular season. But um, I'm optimistic with the level of work that these guys have been putting in and expect them to continue to put in over the coming months.

SPEAKER_01 54:04

So, what do you want to see, coach? If you said um because Rome wasn't built in a day. So at the end of this year, do you have any markers, any stepping stones, any guideposts that you'd say if we get to this point, we were successful this year?

SPEAKER_04 54:28

We have set some pretty lofty team goals um as a group. I'm a firm believer in reaching for as as far as you can. Um, so we wrote it on the board as a group on our day one of our first meeting. We want to make the conference tournament. Um, and that's gonna be a lot of sweat equity to make that happen because in the last eight years, I I really don't think that they've managed to win in any 10 game. Um, they've been close, but haven't quite been able to get over that hump. Um and I want to see us execute and play as a group more than anything else. The results are gonna be fantastic, but if I can get these guys to focus on doing it together as a unit, um, the the results will come. Um, you know, I've been at this uh a while, and that that seems to be the most important piece. If you can get the guys to buy into loving one another and fighting for the guy to the left and their right, they're gonna always find a way to find that extra goal in the fourth quarter when they need it, or sell out for that loose ball with 30 seconds left if that's what the team needs. So um I would love to see, you know, some wins, but you know, one step at a time, I think you know that stuff will come with the work that we're putting in.

SPEAKER_02 55:50

Building blocks, you know, coach, the ingredients to building that cake, you know, to making that cake. You need the ingredients. And it starts, it starts with you and uh and ultimately it'll end with the execution with the kids on the field. But you're in the NE 10, man, and you know, arguably, you know, arguably.

SPEAKER_04 56:11

I would say it's the SEC of D2. Um six ranked teams every year, pretty much quantifiably, and some that squeak in and squeak out over the course of the year. Um, you know, also historically a three-bid tournament league. Uh very, very few can claim that same same area.

SPEAKER_02 56:32

So the SAC might say something a little bit the sack down there. The boys are playing pretty good down in the sack, too. That's a good thing. They are, they are. That's a good conference as well.

SPEAKER_01 56:42

But and you come you come from a great conference in the GLBC, some really quality teams in that conference. So how are you taking that and then embracing playing in the NE10?

SPEAKER_04 56:56

Um, you know, I I love the challenge. Um we uh coaches always like to talk about you want to be the best, you have to play the best. And for us, we get to do that week in and week out at in conference. Yeah, you know, we don't have to hop on the bus for nine and a half hours to go find that game. It's uh it's a fortunate place to be. I know like from my perspective, I'm excited by it because I'm coaching against some guys that I grew up idolizing. Um, you know, in Coach Sheehan from Le Moine and guys like Coach Mariano from Ace. Um I actually remember when he recruited me when he was at Sacred Heart. Right. That's right. It was at Sacred Heart. He's been at this for a long time, and you know, I'm excited to uh you know see how we stack up. I know uh they've been at their locations a little bit longer, and and consistency and continuity is the name of the game.

SPEAKER_03 57:50

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 57:51

But uh I know I'm excited for that opportunity.

SPEAKER_02 57:54

Well, coach, you're bringing the pedigree, you know, playing at St. Joe's, that's Division I. They play a high-level Division I lacrosse. So you got that behind you. A couple of years of like coming, and then, you know, with with Lewis, and Lewis did a great job last year. They really have come a long way, very fast, very quick. And that GLV really did. And that GLVC conference is pretty tough as well. You know, they're really fucking coming. And you know what? The other conference and the other coaches know from the other conferences know how good the GLVC is. So you know what, coach? I really think that the Yellow Jackets are really headed into a really good place right now. Um, really looking forward to watching you guys, you know, grow as a team and seeing what you guys do this this this season.

SPEAKER_04 58:38

I I appreciate that. I know we're uh we're looking forward to it. Um the guys were kind of asking today if we could get another scrimmage in. I said, no, we only have so many uh competitions in in a segment, guys. We we gotta save a little bit for the spring here. That's good.

SPEAKER_01 58:55

That's good to hear.

SPEAKER_02 58:56

Yeah. Yeah, because they're excited, you know. They want to play, man. They want to play. And they like, you know, you it gets boring playing against each other every day of practice, you know, and you know, the ones against the ones and smacking each other around. It's nice to look, you know, look at another color uniform and smack those guys around a little bit. Absolutely. You know how those guys are. So it sounds like you got a really, really good thing going. How did recruiting go this year?

SPEAKER_04 59:21

Um, so the freshman class, um, they are layovers from the previous regime. Um but what I will say about those guys is they love to work, they've really sunk their teeth into the opportunity that they think is in front of them. We are playing a lot of those young guys. Um, you know, we ended up starting four freshmen um this weekend. So looking forward to watching them continue to grow. And now, here as we kind of turn the page to the 2023 class, will really be where we build our lifeblood for the future. Um we've uh we've been kind of lucky. We have 13 guys committed thus far um from eight different states and two different countries.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:12

Um let me let me tell you, Coach, the what what I've seen, and I think that's phenomenal because what I've seen with AIC in the past, and looking at their roster, it's locally grown. You get the kids from Pittsfield, West Springfield, and that's great. And that's kind of what that college, AIC, has been known for. And it's a it's a local school, uh almost a community school a lot of times. And so to pull in guys from eight different states starts to set the precedent that you can come from other places and you can get your degree at AIC and then also play good lacrosse in a phenomenal conference.

SPEAKER_04 1:00:56

Exactly. And, you know, we've done a pretty good job of identifying guys that you know are gonna buy into the culture. I've been very transparent with what it's gonna entail. Um, you know, no one's gonna give us an opportunity to make the N tournament or to win those conference games. We have to put in the sweat equity and go out and take it. Um, and being the underdog is fun, and the guys are kind of thriving in that role. They want that opportunity to showcase what they can do and to get on the field and and play a contributing role early. Um, you know, I I would be sugarcoating it if I hadn't said we've been a little lucky with timing of things and and buy-in, finding those right guys to have you know amassed a pretty hefty dose of talent in a in a group of young men so quickly. Um, and we're we're still just getting started. The plan and the goal is to bring in between 25 and 30 in this recruiting class and then another 25 to 30 the following year so that we can get back up to kind of the normal roster point for everybody's kind of in that 55 to 65 kind of range, and that practices are gonna be have to have to be so intense that you know we need that. Yeah. Um, next man up, you never know when your number is gonna get called. And for these young guys, they could be lining up against the three-year, six senior all-American, you know, when we play any team. So true.

SPEAKER_02 1:02:34

So true.

SPEAKER_04 1:02:35

Those guys are just excited by that.

SPEAKER_02 1:02:37

There's a lot of all-Americans in the NE 10, man. So definitely uh I I I love what I'm hearing, Coach. I really do. I think it's gonna be great for AIC. Again, it's a team that's struggled for a little while, but I think they're in good hands with you, and I I I I wish you nothing but success. I really do.

SPEAKER_04 1:02:56

I appreciate that, Danny. I really do. Um, you know, I know the kids are excited, I'm excited, and uh, you know, we're we're just gonna keep putting our head down and going to work. That's all you can do, man. But that's awesome.

SPEAKER_01 1:03:09

I'll tell you, after talking to you, I'm gonna, now that my son no longer plays a college lacrosse, I have some free weekends, I may actually uh take a road trip home and stay with a high school buddy and watch a home AIC game on the on the weekend this this coming spring. I can think of nothing better to do than to try to do that.

SPEAKER_04 1:03:28

Well, you'll have to let me know what weekend that is. Maybe we can get you set up in the press box with some uh special treatment. That'd be great. Awesome. Awesome.

SPEAKER_01 1:03:37

Yeah, coach, this has been a lot of fun. Thanks so much for coming on.

SPEAKER_04 1:03:41

No problem, guys. Thank you for having me and uh you know have a good rest of your night.

SPEAKER_02 1:03:46

Hey, Coach Jack Spallone, the new coach of the AIC Yellow Jackets up in the NE10 up in Massachusetts. We've really enjoyed having you guys come on the show tonight. We really did. You were a great guest, and uh I'm really looking forward to watching AIC this year and see see the path that you're taking them to. I really do, and we wish you nothing but success. And thanks again for coming on. Thank you, guys. Thank you. Have a good one.

SPEAKER_01 1:04:12

Danny, we just had some phenomenal coaches on this episode, and all of them really fairly new with Spallone and Vance and Geldart. I mean, what a what a lineup.

SPEAKER_02 1:04:26

Yeah, and good guys too, man. I really enjoyed talking with these guys tonight. They're really interesting guys. They they all bring pedigree, they all bring something to the table. And these kids are lucky to get these coaches and and they get to continue playing the game.

SPEAKER_01 1:04:41

I I couldn't agree more. I think that's that's part of it, is I think these schools have found the right fit for each of their programs. And and I think that's I really do look forward to see where these teams go. A lot of them the one the three we we talked with are teams that were at the bottom of their conferences for the most part. And and it'll just be so cool to see them grow and and get in that mix. And like like the Coach Spallone said, get to their conference tournaments and and show up.

SPEAKER_02 1:05:19

Well, I like what co Coach Spallone said too about how some of the kids weren't used to some of the intensity that they're bringing to practices, how they're up the ante a little bit at practice, they're bringing the speed, they're getting after it. Something that maybe some of the the schools that have struggled in the past haven't had coaches like that. So I think Spallone is gonna do I think he's gonna do good things at AIC. I really do. I I I I really honestly do.

SPEAKER_01 1:05:47

It's gonna be fun to watch, that's for sure. And with that, Danny, I think for tonight, that's a wrap. It was a long one, Kev, but that's a wrap.