SHOW NO. 37 - The Review sat down with PLL Team Atlas pro goalie Scott Rodgers to discuss his future, mom and dad, what makes a great goaltender, his time at Notre Dame and forging out a bankable niche for an alter ego that is larger than life. But the genuine Long Island article that rarely sees the light of day in a sports world that reacts to 'Likes," Scott is the perfect character for attracting attention because of his ability to communicate and stopping lacrosse balls, but its his locker room persona that few get to see or witness in the flesh, revealing one of the best 'guys' playing professional lacrosse today, so stay tuned and learn something about Scott you might not know
SECOND SEASON MICHIGAN LACROSSE REVIEW - The second season of the Michigan Lacrosse Review gets underway in 2021 on this Wednesday in January and will continue on a weekly basis for the next 35 weeks. We aim to bring you insightful interviews with some of the best minds in lacrosse and we'll go weekly in our second season, so look for MLR on Wednesday nights at your favorite You Tube station.
Show No. 36 - If opportunity comes from circumstance, the Marquette University head lacrosse coach Andrew Stimmel, at the ripe age of 32, has lived more than his share of good fortune. From a brief stint at Penn State as a player, to the best defensive player at Ohio State, a brief graduate internship under legendary coach Nick Myers, to a short stint in the MCLA at Grove City College, followed by a national championship at Yale as an assistant, to Marquette University under Joe Amplo and then anointed to the lax head spot in Milwaukee, Stimmel's rise has been fast and furious and you have to wonder if he's one of the next generation of legends in our sport. If you hear him talk about lacrosse, his family and tradition, you should come away with the idea that Andrew is older than his chronological age, but then who isn't when you're a NCAA DI boss in your early 30s....check it out....
Show No. 35 - Family before all is an easy paradigm to spout, but believing that thought is always the most vital aspect of integrity and former Cleveland State head lacrosse coach Dylan Sheridan lives by the motto. The Western Reserve grad joined the Michigan Lacrosse Review recently to discuss his MCLA and intercollegiate playing days in California, a coaching career that including starting a DI program, a marriage into an iconic lacrosse family and what it means to sacrifice for the sake of your family.......you should really check this episode out because you'll learning something about putting others first in your life.....
Show No. 34 - The Michigan Lacrosse Review spent nearly two hours conversing with University of Detroit-Mercy men's head lacrosse coach Chris Kolon recently and we found him to be exactly what was described by those who know him best. The former Birmingham Seaholm and Rutgers defenseman talked about his approach to recruiting, about finding those players, those sometimes radical personalities, who fit the Titans' culture, he talked about 'not believing he's arrived at the NCAA Division I level, despite a dozen years under his belt on the Six Mile campus and Chris sat back and explained the small, but deadly chip, that sits right on his shoulder that drives him daily to be just a little bit better each day......you think you have a line on someone and then you go and sit down and talk....you should check out this interview because there's nothing left to the imagination...
Show No. 33 - Leadership comes in different styles and Andy Towers, the head coach for the PLL's Chaos, is as unique a personality as there is working in the pro ranks in any sport. He is honest, direct and motivational all at the same time, which is a different step than most professional coaches, but it seems to work for the former Brown All American and PLL and MLL All-Star. Andy talked with the Michigan Lacrosse Review two days after the MLL and PLL merged and conversed about the league's future, where the sport is headed and some insight about a shorter field in the bigs. This is guy you'd want to sit down and have a cold refreshment with frequently, check it out...
Show No. 32 - There are few sports where you can be employed at your local high school and still walk the professional sidelines on Sunday, but Columbus native Bill Wolford might be the brightest lacrosse mind strolling around who few outside of Ohio know. The articulate retired school teacher discusses with the Michigan Lacrosse Review being hired by the Ohio Machine, being drafted into the women's game because of his two talented daughters and what coaching means in his advancing years. This is truly an 'inside baseball' conversation, so stay tuned...
Show No. 31 - Painting fences is a charitable act of kindness in Denison University head lacrosse coach Mike Caravana's mind to keep those underpaid assistants from living in a tent, and while that might seem like a bit of an stretch on the old hide cover, there is some truth to what has become an urban legend. The soft spoken Caravana spent a few minutes with the Michigan Lacrosse Review this past week and talked about his career, the Denison coaching pipeline, old school lacrosse and what's next for the four-time All American attack at Virginia, who roomed with one of the best defensive players of the time and had another roommate who ended up coaching under the aura of the Golden Dome....you have to check this interview out because you'll learn a lot..
Show No. 30 - The new president of World Lacrosse doubles as the highly successful president of the NLL and the San Diego Seals. The direct and likeable Steve Govett spent a few minutes talking about the growth of lacrosse as it relates to the Olympics, the PLL, the global environment and the amateur game. Steve really breaks down why lacrosse is growing, while some aspects of the game seem stalled and how those running the sport we all love are trying to put a lacrosse stick in more hands. This is an insightful discussion about topics that never come up at the water cooler and maybe they should because it affects all of us, so stay tuned...
Show No. 29 - If its not the ease of personality or his engaging curiosity of humanity, The Hill School's Mike Murphy is one of those guys you just want to sit down and share a meal and tell stories. The talented young coach has had success as an All-American at New Hampshire, learned his coaching chops under the watchful eyes of Dennison's Mike Caravana and Army's Joe Alberici, successfully directed his own Ivy League program at Colgate and has recently won two PLL Championships as an assistant to Jim Stagnitta, a title played at the highest level of lacrosse in the world. So take a minute to enjoy the conversation with the Michigan Lacrosse Review and you'll end up wanting to share a beer with the really likeable Mr. Murphy....
Show No. 28 - If you have a vision of patriotism, then working at a service academy is probably the easiest venue to conduct your career, and there isn't a better fit in lacrosse than West Point and head lacrosse coach Joe Alberici, who began his 16th year atop of the Black Knight program this past September. The central New York native has had an interesting ride as a Duke assistant to legendary Mike Pressler, but you might be surprised that he wasn't the first or the second Alberici inducted into the Auburn High School Athletic Hall of Fame. The soft spoken Alberici talks about a number of subjects and should make your listening really insightful....
Show No. 27 - The Michigan Lacrosse Review had some time to talk with the best longstick middie playing lacrosse today on the entire planet in former University of Maryland All American Mike Ehrhardt, who now applies his skills for the PLL champion Whipsnakes. Mike jaws about taking the unusual road from close defense, to becoming a converted LSM to walking on the US National team tryouts, to being voted the MVP of the 2018 World Championships to being honored as the Best LSM in the PLL this past year.....which was quite a journey, but stay tuned because learning about fighting through shyness will mean more than any individual award Ehrhardt has been given...
Show No. 26 - A legend coach stops by the Michigan Lacrosse Review to converse about coaching in college, then moving on to the professional ranks before recently agreeing to oversee a highly successful prep program. The PLL's reigning championship coach Jim Stagnitta talks about culture and coaching, his time at Washington and Lee and what celebrity means when acquired in the latter part of your professional career...
SHOW NO. 25 - From Baltimore to Columbus, and Ohio State, to the MLL and the PLL, High Pointe University head coach Jon Torpey has had a quick rise to the upper reaches of intercollegiate and professional lacrosse. The amusing former Denver assistant coach talks about his first lacrosse stick, which is a story you have to hear to believe. Jon joined the Michigan Lacrosse Review this past week and we couldn't be happier....
SHOW NO. 24 - From slightly recruited Denver high school lacrosse star, to Denver University walk-on, to college All American, from the practice squad to All MLL to moving along to become one of the best offensive threats in the PLL, Eric Law has taken an underdog road to the top of the lacrosse world, while maintaining a humble demeanor that pleases coaches, angers opponents and pleases his parents. This edition of Michigan Lacrosse Review is insightful, funny and really uplifting for those who don't consider themselves superstars, stay tuned....
SHOW NO. 23 - If you want to know what its like to start an NCAA Division I lacrosse program from scratch, just talk with Monmouth University head lacrosse coach Brian Fisher. The former Rutgers and Notre Dame assistant coach took a leap of faith eight years ago to leave the comforts of South Bend and make the journey east to the unknown ground of seaside New Jersey.....you might be really surprised by his remarks, stay tuned...
SHOW NO. 22 - A Long Island attackman can best be represented by arguably the best offensive player in the world today, Rob Pannell. The former Cornell superstar, now of PLL fame and a New Balance/Warrior recruit, Pannell spent a few minutes with the Michigan Lacrosse Review conversing about loyality, culture and process as it pertains to the professional lacrosse. Rob is a guy who believes that more isn't always the best move and that integrity matter. This show is special, so stay tuned......
SHOW NO. 21 - Integrity and loyalty are usually synonymous with good character and the Michigan Lacrosse Review found that in full view when conversing with UAlbany head lax coach Scott Marr recenty. The Yorktown, New York native begins his 21st year atop the Grey Hounds men's program and he's quietly built UAlbany into an annual Top 10 program from a perch that doesn't have the resources his intercollegiate peers in places like the Big 10 or the ACC have at their disposal. UAlbany was a final four NCAA D1 qualifier in 2018 and Marr has his charges ready to go if we can ever get past this pandemic, so stay tuned and learn a bit about his early career, the Johns Hopkins years and life at the World Championships.....
SHOW NO. 20 - There's always one quiet, but deadly guy in every group of young men. The former Grand Valley State lacrosse standout Cam Holding is probably that guy and you have to know there are not many who have accomplished more in lacrosse with less fanfare than the likeable San Diego Seal assistant captain. The former Michigan State head coach, who directed the Spartans to their only national championship, sat down with the Michigan Lacrosse Review this week to converse about indoor lacrosse, his life in San Diego, playing for his home country and how important parents are to the development of their successful children......this is one show to watch folks...
SHOW NO. 19 - The grit and determination that made Geoff Snider one of the most feared lacrosse players in sport history is evident during a recent interview with the Michigan Lacrosse Review. The likeable Canadian was the MVP of the 2006 FIL World Championship, he's been in the NLL and MLL and few are as skilled at taking faceoffs, but don't call him a FOGO or you might get back something you don't expect....as a coach, most of us would take a hundred Geoff Snider's, check it out...
Show No. 18 - After making the NCAA Lacrosse Final Four in 2019, Penn State, under the direction of head coach Jeff Tambroni, was a rising power a season away from the championship promised land, or so the experts opined. A quick 5-2 start for the Nittany Lions in the spring of 2020 and then the bottom dropped out as a pandemic rendered any momentum quiet. But the highly successful Tambroni, who spent a decade as Cornell's top lax boss, talked with the Michigan Lacrosse Review this week about the present, what's over the horizon for his program and you might be interested to know he's not familiar with the origin entitled Happy Valley. Stay tuned for another insightful interview.
SHOW NO. 17 - The Michigan Lacrosse Review show traveled virtually west, again to the University of Denver, to converse with Pioneer Associate Head Coach Matt Brown about the current state of intercollegiate lacrosse offense, why the box game means so much to North American development for homegrown players and a bit about wearing the Canadian flag as a national team coach. The brilliant offensive mind of Matt Brown is insightful to listen to as a student of the game and his Canuck flavor makes him sound like a neighbor. Check this interview out and you'll learn a ton...
SHOW NO. 16 - The healthy field of intercollegiate club lacrosse is a real and viable option for those high school student-athletes who are looking to prolong their athletic careers, while coupling educational opportunities that suit the future. The best club league in the country is the MCLA and Georgia Tech head coach Ken Lovic, and MCLA president, spent a few moments with the Michigan Lacrosse Review to talk about club lacrosse, the health of his league during a pandemic and why they could potentially play their national championship in Texas next year. Check out another version of college lacrosse....
SHOW NO. 15 - The Michigan Lacrosse Review takes a trip, virtually, to the Middle East this week when we talked to Israel National Lacrosse Association's Ian Kadish about life in the international lax world, being proud of his Jewish heritage in an ever evolving sports landscape and how the many national lacrosse teams operate and a way for you, an American lacrosse player, to be considered as an American citizen. This insightful discussion will surprise you because, as Ian points out, there isn't a guy on every street corner with a gun for protection, but he does cover a bit about air raids.....stay tuned..
Show No. 14 Michigan Lacrosse Review Brodie Merrill The Hill Academy Head Coach PLL and NLL
SHOW NO. 13 -If you want to know about a specific lacrosse issue, Michigan Lacrosse Review has always believed that going to the source is a strong move. We asked arguably the best faceoff specialist in the world, retired Penn State alumni Greg Gurenlian, about his thoughts on the value of faceoffs during a pandemic. There's been a lot of talk around the Mitten recently suggesting that the lax faceoff would be a 'thing of the past' if those overseeing the local prep scene had their way this spring and as it turns out those who are churning conspiracy are just wrong, and Mr. Gurrenlian makes some of the very points that will probably surprise you. You need to check out this interview because the likeable former Rochester Rattler will amaze you with his articulation, grace and an ability to share his passion..
SHOW NO. 12 - The last NCAA DI coach to win a national championship joined the Michigan Lacrosse Review this week to talk pandemic, growing up with native Americans from the Onondaga Tribe in central New York, lax spiritualism and the hope we play this spring. But Lars Tiffany, the Virginia head lacrosse coach spent a great deal of time conversing about his college coach, and former Virginia head man, Dom Starsia, and the influence coaches have on student-athletes, including Lars. As we continue this series of conversations with those who have earned a bit of visibility from lax, this is a real special hour.....you should check it out because great coaches start with being great people...
SHOW NO. 11 - We come all the way back to Waterford to converse with Colgate assistant lacrosse coach Chris Cooper, who is teaming up with former Notre Dame star Matt Karweck, the current head coach, to form a might duo. Chris is a Waterford Mott graduate, who decided to make coaching a full time profession. The likeable 36-year-old has worked for some serious talent and the lessons have sunk in after listening to him talk. Check out this conversation because there's a lot to learn...
SHOW NO. 10 - The nuts and bolts of managing the administration of a large athletic union can be time consuming and tedious, but when you throw in a discussion about the Olympics, the effect Coved could have on the competitive landscape and what's around the corner, Michigan Lacrosse Review's conversation with US Lacrosse CEO Steve Stenersen this week puts a number of things in prospective and hints at the road moving forward. The 60-year-old former North Carolina face-off specialist isn't as buttoned up as your would expect from a industry leading CEO and this is a conversation worth listening to because we think lacrosse is in good hands...
SHOW NO. 9 - The trail to success is always littered with opportunity and few have followed the twisting road that is Brian Holman's world. The highly successful University of Utah head lacrosse coach was an All American goalie at Johns Hopkins, a successful assistant coach at his alma mater, the winner of a national championship as an assistant coach at North Carolina, an MCLA head coach, who turned around a club program before blazing a trail to the NCAA Division 1 ranks, and oh by the way, his son might be the best lacrosse player in the world and his daughter was an All American......Utah will be a highly successful mens lacrosse program because of Brian Holman's infectious belief in those he entrusts.....you have to check out this interview on the Michigan Lacrosse Review...
SHOW NO. 8 - The Michigan Lacrosse Review sat down with the University of Michigan head lacrosse coach Kevin Conry to talk about his defensive background, playing defense at Johns Hopkins, winning a national championship at Maryland and taking the reigns in Ann Arbor from a coach who built the lax program from scratch and was asked to leave three years ago. We think you'll be surprised by his answers and where the Wolverines are headed....
SHOW NO. 7 - There are times in sport when meeting your hero can be often disappointing, but just the opposite was true today for the Michigan Lacrosse Review. The legendary University of Denver coach Bill Tierney stopped by to discuss age in coaching, the premise of coaching culture in lacrosse, the difference between recruiting in the Ivy League at Princeton or out west at the University of Denver. And there was more. The likeable 69-year-old remembers when dad wheeled a belt to make a point and grounded the young Long Island lad for more than a year and he remembers being beaten by 70 points as a junior varsity basketball coach, which his wife of 44 years brings up when he gets to believing the hype that surrounds genius. What we found today was an honest, straight forward veteran who is loved by his players, respected by his opponents and deserving of all the praise that comes his way, stay tuned or you'll be missing something pretty special...
Show No. 6 - The Michigan Lacrosse Review learned two things from interviewing Colgate University head lacrosse coach Matt Marweck. We learned that there is more than one way to find your way to the top of the NCAA Division 1 lacrosse coaching ranks and remembered just how special Matt Karweck is to the sport we all love. This likeable former Notre Dame attack covers a wide variety of lacrosse subjects, but prepare yourself for some answer you might not expect......honestly......
Show No. 5 - If you believe the suggestion that life comes to those who wait patiently, Dwayne Hicks is your guy. The lacrosse legend waited years for a chance to coach in the bigs and that opportunity came as he was named the head women's lacrosse coach at University of Detroit-Mercy. The former Notre Dame lax star spent a lifetime chasing lacrosse as an avocation and high-level advertising professionally, but after sending daughters off to college and retiring from the grind of corporate America, Hicks landed his dream at the rip old age of 58. You should check out this interview because it gives hope to dreams that they never die....
Show No. 4 - To teach or to coach, are they the same process? Michigan Lacrosse Review had the opportunity to converse with Ohio State head coach Nick Myers about his relationship between coaching and teaching. The quiet Maine native is one of those steady figures in intercollegiate athletics that turns out to be as nice as you would expect, which is probably why he is beginning his 13th year in Columbus. Nick talks a ton about culture and what it means to his Buckeye program, so stay tuned because this is a great interview.....
SHOW NO. 3 - There are few innovations that have occured in offensive lacrosse in the last 20 years that didn't find their way across Jamie Munro's desk. The former Yale assistant, Brown All American and Denver University head coach has been the offensive guru for many of the standards we practice today. Michigan Lacrosse Review sat down with Jamie to talk a bit about offense, the condition of the sport and mostly importantly his love of virtual lacrosse learning through JM3 Sports, stay tuned for some insightful views on today's game
SHOW NO. 2 - The second installment of Michigan Lacrosse Review finds us talking with one of the best intercollegiate coaches in the country, Notre Dame's Kevin Corrigan. The 33-year veteran talks about his 2021 squad, getting back to the field this fall and he gives rare insight to recruiting in a pandemic, eliminating faceoffs, sort of and wonders aloud what's next. We appreciate Coach Corrigan coming aboard Michigan Lacrosse Review and we think you'll like the interview.
With the creation of a YouTube show titled Michigan Lacrosse Review, we will attempt to explore the world of lacrosse inside the Mitten while we look outside of our borders to the national figures who influence and advance the sport of lacrosse. It's our goal to be show specific by conversing with those who have an expertise with an inclusive talent. The show will be aired weekly on Monday afternoon's for as long as we have guests and or until the faucet runs dry. The inaugural show features Harvard head coach Gerry Bryne, who spends some time talking about defense and what it takes to play the position and you might get a kick out of the former Notre Dame assistant coach's idea of multi-sport athletes. We hope you like this show, so stay tuned......
