Danowski’s impact on the Duke program was immediate as the Blue Devils posted a cumulative grade point average of 3.45 in his first semester at the helm. In addition, the team provided over 500 hours of community service during the semester, continuing Danowski’s philosophy of college student-athletes taking advantage of the full experience.

“The coach-player relationship lasts a lifetime – so much more than two hours every afternoon,” said Danowski, the 1993 NCAA Division I National Coach of the Year who led Hofstra to eight conference championships. “It would be a disservice to the young men in the Duke program if we didn’t care about their futures. To take advantage of the opportunity to teach life lessons is a goal of ours.

“I have learned the importance of adapting to the talent you have on the field,” Danowski said. “You can’t put a square peg into a round hole. I am a firm believer in taking what you have and finding the best way to be efficient with that group.”

Things you may not know… You might not know, Danowski was a four-year letterman in lacrosse and continues to hold several Rutgers Scarlet Knight records. He established school single-game records for assists (13 vs. Penn State, 1973) and total points (14 vs. Penn State, 1974) and a single-season standard for assists with 54 in 1973. He currently ranks second on Rutgers’ all-time list for assists (120) and is eighth in total points (177). Danowski, who helped the Scarlet Knights to NCAA Tournament appearances in 1973 and 1974, was a three-time recipient of the program’s Sasser Award, an honor presented annually to the team’s leader in assists. Born March 12, 1954 in Bronxville, N.Y., Danowski went on to earn a master’s degree in counseling/college student development from LIU-C.W. Post in 1978.

Danowski’s father, Ed, was an All-America halfback on the gridiron at Fordham in 1932 and 1933 who later starred for the New York Giants in the National Football League. The elder Danowski led the NFL in passing in 1935 and 1938, earning All-NFL honors in both of those seasons, and guided the Giants to league championships in 1934 and 1938. He later served as the head football coach at his alma mater from 1946-54.

Danowski and his wife, Patricia, have two children, Kate, a former lacrosse letterwinner and 2005 graduate of Quinnipiac University, and Matt, a 2008 Duke graduate and former captain of the lacrosse program.

In the podcast, for our Premium Members, Coach Danowski and I start with a little Super Bowl talk, then he outlines in detail the 7 Ways to Score, also featured in our article section.

As a part of the full podcast, we spent a lot of time on Riding as an opportunity to score, and that section is free and available to all members of the site.

Audio Preview, 7 Ways to Score

I hope you enjoy, get ready to take notes… Coach Mike

As a Holiday Bonus, We are doing this one a little different, featuring this awesome mp3 file interview to All Members, both Free Members and Premium Members have access to the entire 54 min podcast, listen on your computer, or ‘right click’ to download to itunes or your computer, I hope you enjoy, laxcoachmike

Goldberg & Shriver Debate Zone Defenses

Jeff Goldberg served 17 years as the Head Lacrosse Coach for Saint Andrew’s School in Boca Raton, Fl. During his tenure Coach Goldberg amassed 16 final four appearances and 14 state high school lacrosse titles for the Scots. Under his guidance, Saint Andrew’s Lacrosse was ranked in the top 25 teams nationally in 2008, 2009 and 2010 and earned the recognition as the #1 Lacrosse program in the Southeast by both Lax Power and Inside Lacrosse. Coach Goldberg has over 27 years coaching experience and has graduated over 35 high school All-Americans in his career. He currently has more than 30 former students playing lacrosse at the college level. His essence is about helping capable boys grow into exceptional young men with respect, responsibility and resilience.

Coach Bob Shriver from Boys Latin, has been at the helm of the heralded lacrosse program for well over 30 years. That in itself is quite a feat in today’s world. He is truly one of the most recognized high school coaches in the country. Just for starters, his record as the coach, well over 400 wins, in addition 5 MIAA Championship and 13 Championship game appearances. Continuing with the achievements of this great program, “#1 ranked High School Lacrosse Team in the USA”, in 1997 and 2006. In addition his resume includes, Assistant Coach-US U19World Championship Teams of 1988 and 1999, Head Coach-US U19 World Championship Team 2003, Member of the United States Lacrosse Coaches’ Association (USLCA) Executive Committee, United States Lacrosse Coaches’ Association (USLCA) “Man of the Year” is 2006 and inducted into the Baltimore Chapter of US Lacrosse’s Hall of Fame in 1998.

The short version, between them they have almost 60 years of coaching experience at the highest level. Between them they have over 800 victories, and between them they have some incredible thoughts and perspectives on lacrosse zone defenses.

Why are they important? When might you use them? Which Zone or Hybrid Zone to use? And if you see them, how to beat them.

All Members Free and Premium can listen to the entire podcast or download the mp3 file, to download put the curser over the download word below, and right click

If you like the heavier content in the full length interviews, please consider joining us a Premium Member, and get 20 or podcasts per year, we currently have 60 hours from great coaches in our Premium Member library, or if you have five or more coaches consider a License Package and save over 40%… I listed the current coaches in our Premium Member Library below,

And remember to check the article Zone Defense The Great Debate II in our article section… it is a more in depth ‘meaty’article, if you are a progressive lacrosse coach, you need to check it out,

Audio Interview For All Members w Shriver & Goldberg on Zones

Download (right-click -> Save As)

Current Coaches in our Podcast Library

Coach Danowski, Duke

Coach Pietramala, Johns Hopkins

Coach Pressler, Bryant

Coach Meade, when at Navy

Coach Jez, CW Post

Coach Daly, Tufts

Coach Cerino, when he was at Limestone

Coach Starsia, University of Virginia

Coach Toomey, Loyola

Coach Beville, Cortland State

Coach Bates, Princeton

Coach Cottle,

Coach Myers, Ohio State

Coach Alberici, Army

Coach Paul, U of M,

Coach Zimmerman, UMBC

Coach Tiffany, Brown

Coach Pilate, Roanoke

Coach Marr, Albany

Coach Seth Tierney, Hofstra

Coach Bill Tierney, Denver

Coach Hank Janczyk, Gettysburg

Coach Roy Simmons, Syracuse

Coaches Gallagher and Popelar,

Coach Wolford, Upper Arlington

Coach Corrigan, Notre Dame

Coach Cannella, U Mass

Coach Berkman, Salisbury

Coach Kerwick ,

Coach Cantabene, Stevenson

Coach Tambroni, Penn State

Coach Sheehan, LeMoyne

Coach Sowell, when he was at Stony Brook, now Navy

Coach Shay, Yale

Coach Ryan, Mercyhurst

Coach Urick, Georgetown

Coach Seaman, Towson

Anthony Kelly, FOGO, Asst Coach Ohio State

Coach Shillinglaw, Delaware

Coach Caravana, Denison

Coach Garber, Loomis

Coach Koudelka, Lynchburg

Coach Jeff Goldberg

Coach Shriver, Boys Latin

Coach Towers, Dartmouth

Coach Murphy, Penn

Coach Rostan, Hampden Sidney

Coach Wojcik, Harvard

Coach DeLuca, Cornell

Coach Lawrence, Hartford

Coach Purdie, Adelphi

Coach Coon, RIT

Coach Berkman, interview 2

Coach Wilbur, Onondaga

Coach Breschi, NC

Brodie Merrill, The Hill

Coach Van Arsdale, JU

Coach Starsia, UVA, interview 2

Widely regarded as one of the best teachers, motivators and tacticians in the game, Dom Starsia is in his 20th season at the helm of Virginia men’s lacrosse program. His 329 wins are the most all-time by a coach at a Division I school, passing former legendary coach Jack Emmer (326). The record-breaking triumph was an impressive 13-9 victory over No. 2 seed Cornell in the 2011 NCAA quarterfinal round on May 21. The victory was part of the UVA improbable run to the Starsia’s fourth NCAA title.

His teams have reached the final four 13 times in his 19 seasons as Head Coach. UVa’s efforts helped garner Starsia an ESPY nomination for Best Coach and a waltz down the red carpet at Los Angeles’ Nokia Theatre in July 2011, going up in his category against the likes of UConn’s Jim Calhoun, Dallas Mavericks’ Rick Carlisle, Auburn’s Gene Chizik and Green Bay Packers’ Mike McCarthy. Pretty huge statement for the game of lacrosse. In fitting recognition of his coaching success, Starsia was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in November 2008, one of only four active Division I coaches so honored.

A native of Valley Stream, N.Y., who never actually played lacrosse until his days as a football player at Brown, he later became the Head Coach at Brown in 1982 and compiled a 10-year record of 101-46, while establishing himself as one of the top young coaches in the game.

His teams boasted the best Ivy League record and the best overall record for any Ivy League school over that 10-year span. He is still active coaching youth at camps, and you can find that information at www.starsialax.com.

This is actually our second podcast with Coach Starsia, with the first, still in our library two years ago. But some suggest his best coaching job ever was in 2011, when he re-invented a zone defense he first ran many years ago at Brown, en route to the 2011 NCAA Championship, as his team and Coach overcame significant adversity, resulting in the prestigious USILA DI Coach of the Year Award.

In the interview, Coach Starsia takes us through the reason and implementation of the unique zone defense, from his IMLCA Keynote, an interesting dialog regarding internal team leadership and how they worked through adversity, and the philosophy behind a .900 clearing percentage. Even after two years of interviews it always amazes me how the great coaches are so honest and willing to share, I hope you enjoy. This is one of the best interviews on the site.

We offer two unique audio samples from the full interview for all of our Free Members, first on how the team and the coach came through all of the adversity during the season with strong internal leadership within the team, from places you might not expect,

The second Preview sample again free for all Members is on the Zone itself… it takes four seconds to kick in on the audio, hang in there and it will be worth it…

The unique zone is also featured in the article section of our site, with a drawing and more detail.

Thanks again for all of the support, I hope you enjoy,

Audio Preview, Internal Team Leadership

Audio Preview, The UVA 2011 Zone

With a resume of building young men, establishing tradition and winning championships, as well as one of the most respected lacrosse coaches in the country, Guy Van Arsdale was named head coach of the Jacksonville University men’s lacrosse team in August
2011.

Van Arsdale became the second coach in JU history and comes to the First Coast after spending the last two seasons as head coach of Division III Colorado College, with previous stops as an assistant coach at Notre Dame and Penn State.

Van Arsdale, who has been a collegiate coach for 27 years, led Colorado College to its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2011, overseeing a Tigers program that finished 15-1 en route to capturing a SCAC championship by going undefeated in league play.

In two seasons with the Tigers, Van Arsdale posted a 25-3 record to earn SCAC “Coach of the Year” honors both times. He has a career heading coaching record of 135-57.

Prior to his stint in Colorado, Van Arsdale was as an assistant coach at Penn State University from 2004-09, serving as the recruiting coordinator and running team film sessions. He fulfilled a similar role in 2003, working as an assistant on the Notre Dame staff.

Van Arsdale started his head coaching career in 1988 when he took over the men’s lacrosse program at Rochester Institute of Technology. In 12 seasons, his compiled a 112-54 record and made five NCAA Tournament appearances. He led his team to the quarterfinals four times and reached the semifinal round in 1999.

He has coached more than 50 All-Americans in his three decades in the profession and continues to be sought after as a featured speaker at regional and national coaching clinics.
Besides his collegiate experience, Van Arsdale has also coached in the professional ranks.

From 2001-03, he served as head coach and assistant general manager of Major League Lacrosse’s Rochester Rattlers. Besides being the franchise’s first-ever head coach, Van Arsdale also oversaw the budget and marketing plan.

Van Arsdale also was an assistant for the Rochester Knighthawks from 2001-03, serving under Paul Day to help the franchise advance to the National Lacrosse League’s championship game in 2003.

Before entering coaching, Van Arsdale excelled as a player at Hobart College, earning NCAA Division III “Player of the Year” honors in 1983. A member of the Hobart College Hall of Fame and the Western NY Chapter of the U.S. Lacrosse Hall of Fame, Van Arsdale played under then-Hobart coach and current Georgetown head coach Dave Urick.

Van Arsdale graduated from Hobart with a degree in history in 1984.

In this awesome interview, Coach Van Arsdale covers a wide range of topics regarding running a great lacrosse practice.

Thanks again for all of the support, I hope you enjoy,

Audio Preview, The Gauntlet Drill

It is kind of funny, we did not find Brodie, he actually found us via his ipad. He joined our site as a Premium Member, and flattered us, with his comments on our lacrosse drills and the reaction of his lacrosse players to some of our lacrosse drills. Pretty humbling for laxcoachmike. I did not know he was coaching HS lacrosse players, and could not wait to get his thoughts with an interview on coaching and he exceeded every expectation, I found myself geniunely liking this young coach and I am sure you will as well.

Brodie Merrill is widely regarded as a revolutionary lacrosse player. He is a graduate of Georgetown University, a two-time All American, two-time Teewaraton Award Finalist and in 2005 was named the NCAA’s Defensive Player of the Year. He was the MLL Rookie of the Year in 2005 as a member of the Baltimore Bayhawks. For four consecutive years he was awarded the Major League Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Year Awards.

In 2006, he helped the Canadian national lacrosse team to an historic win at the World Lacrosse Championship in London, Ontario. He had an outstanding tournament, being named Best Defender and earning All-World honors.

We endorse and urge you to consider his camps, the Reebok Top 100 Camp in Canada in July (top100lax.com), and the Southern Select recruiting camp with Chris Schiller in Charlotte in mid June. (southernselectlacrosse.com)

We had an awesome interview with Coach Merrill covering over an hour’s worth of lacrosse practice topics. The interview covers; their unique practice schedule, warm ups, continious transition drills, some great ground ball drills, shooting drills and situational controlled scrimmages. For the Premium Members there is a dialog in the full podcast on the changes in the Clearing game, you just will not want to miss.

For all members, including Free Members, Coach Brodie shares an awesome drill the kids love; they call it “The Hill Drill.” The cool thing about this drill is that even smaller rosters can get up and go at a very fast pace. I think it would be a great way to either open or close your practice and we also feature it in the article section of the site,

Thanks again for all of the support, I hope you enjoy,

Audio Preview, The Hill Drill

Joe Breschi’s coaching philosophy is summed up in three words • FAMILY • ACADEMICS • LACROSSE. Now in his third year as the head coach of North Carolina’s historically-successful lacrosse program, Breschi is well on his way to instilling that philosophy at every level of the program and its reach to alumni, student-athletes and their families.

Breschi, a 1990 Carolina alumnus and former assistant coach for the Tar Heels, became the 12th head men’s lacrosse coach in Carolina history on June 18, 2006. Breschi came to Chapel Hill from Ohio State where he had served as the head coach for the previous 11 seasons. Breschi was an assistant coach at UNC and Brown University for seven seasons prior to his stint in Columbus with the Buckeyes and he has 20 seasons of collegiate coaching experience overall entering the 2011 campaign. Breschi has accomplished much in his life for a man 42 years young. ACC coach of the year in 2010…Great Western Lacrosse League coach of the year in 1999, 2003 and 2004…

In 2010, Breschi led the Tar Heels to a 13-win season, matching the fourth most wins in a season in school history, and the most wins since 1993. Carolina grabbed a share of the ACC regular-season title for the first time since 2003 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals for the second straight year. Carolina opened the season with 10 straight wins, its longest winning streak since 1991.

Success at North Carolina came not only as a coach for Breschi, but also as a player. Breschi was one of the finest lacrosse players in the history of the ACC while playing for legendary coach Willie Scroggs from 1987-90. He was also a member of two U.S. National Teams. He was an All-ACC selection in both 1989 and 1990 and was selected to play in the prestigious USILA North-South All-Star game in 1990. He was a first-team All-America pick on defense in 1990 and an honorable mention All-America in 1989.

In the full-length interview, Coach Breschi kept it real and I was truly impressed by that. We covered a wide, wide range of coaching subjects and ideas ranging from, quick pace, his practice structure, and his three key concepts in regards to practice.

1. Got to have a plan, long term, weekly, and daily
2. All Drills MUST emulate game situations
3. Every Drill fast paced, short in duration, 7-10 min

Coach also covered ideas on how to make film study shorter and better as a learning experience, how it is critical compete in every drill, transition, 2V2 w nubs, 4V4 tournaments, the critical elements in their documented success on Man Up scenarios, and why it is OK to share his faith with his team, it was awesome!

And his well respected camps both on an off campus, including a Team Camp at North Carolina that is really growing in popularity, just google North Carolina Men’s Lacrosse and the information is on the right hand column.

5V5 ‘Tar Heel’ Unsettled Drill, for lack of a better name,

In the Preview Sample, coach offers up a great drill that is actually a 5V5, but also a key transition drill, in the full field, you are going to love. And we have an article on this fast paced drill, great for HS teams in the Article Section. I also wrote an article on another great drill that is up on the Laxpower.com site, on his 2V2 Ground Ball Drill that is really so much more. I hope you check it out!

Audio Preview

If you are not from Upstate, you may not be familiar with this great young Coach, and this great program, but you need to be. Meet Coach Chuck Wilbur. Lets start here, 5 National NJCAA Championships in six years, a 19-0 season in 2011 a 151-15 record, winning 10 consecutive Mid-State Athletic Conference championships, and 7 consecutive Region 3 championships.

I was thrilled to get this interview, and this great coach offered up some awesome ideas that will help all of us. Coach Wilbur was named the NJCAA Lacrosse Coaches Association National Coach of the Year in 2006, 2007, 2009, and 2011 and has been named conference coach of the year for 7 consecutive seasons.

Coach Wilbur played initially at Herkimer County Community College, where he was a two-time All-American lacrosse player in 1996 & 1997. He was named the NJCAA Region III Player of the Year in 1997. He continued on to play Hobart College in 1998 and 1999. He graduated from Hobart in 1999, and was the Team Most Valuable Player and leading scorer that year.

In this really fast paced interview, Coach runs us through his general skeleton plan for practice, when a Community or Junior College is the possible right choice for a player and offers some great drills as well as coaching concepts. In 2011 his team averaged close to 25 goals/game vs. holding teams to under 5 goals/game, all while playing nine teams ranked in the top ten. He discusses his emphasis on team play, stickwork drills, transition drills including a great 5V4, (on the air we named it the Lazer Drill) which is an awesome drill for teams of all sizes, 3V3, 6V6 concepts, and finally a pretty cool Man Up Play off of a 3-3.

In the ‘Preview Sample’ we focus on the 5V4 Drill, and it is also featured in the article section of our site as well.

At Onondaga they have a great day camp on campus in July, just internet search for Onondaga Men’s lacrosse, and click camps in the right hand column. I am sure you are gonna love this interview.

Audio Preview

An All-American midfielder at St. Lawrence (NY) University in ‘82, Berkman came to Salisbury after serving as the assistant lacrosse coach and head basketball and junior varsity soccer coach for three seasons at his alma mater. The Watertown, NY, native, starred on the basketball team as well as the lacrosse squad at St. Lawrence, earning MVP honors in basketball as both a junior and senior. He also was selected to play in the prestigious North-South All-Star lacrosse game in 1982. Berkman was inducted into the St. Lawrence Athletics Hall of Fame in 2001.

After graduating from St. Lawrence in 1982, Berkman spent two years at Salisbury University while he earned his master’s degree. He served as the Gulls’ assistant lacrosse coach during those two seasons as SU compiled a 23-7 record. Following one season at Potsdam State (1985), where Berkman coached the lacrosse squad to a school-record nine wins, he returned to St. Lawrence from 1985-88.

As head basketball coach, Berkman directed his ‘87-88 St. Lawrence team to the ICAC league championship. Berkman also guided the SU women’s soccer program for seven seasons (1994-2000) and posted an overall 102-28-5 (.774) record and two CAC championships.

In this interview we get even more shooting drills, his philosophies on shooting in practice, (it makes so much sense the way he describes it) info on the new DVD (Championship Productions) with even more shooting drills, I bought it, it is awesome.

Preview Sample

Coach gets into great detail on the ‘ 2 Man Games’ which is featured in the Preview section on how to work on the four different pick looks integrating into practice without slowing down practice, or having a bunch of kids standing around. And check out the article on these concepts for lacrosse practice in the article section.

For our Premium Members, even more detail on pick angles, on the 2 Man action, a new look on 6V5 on three qtr field, and three great looks from each side on very basic but effective Man Up plays out of a 1-4-1, good for any age group.

Audio Preview

Coach Jake Coon, RIT

Jake Coon in just his second season at the helm of the RIT men’s lacrosse program, led the Tigers to the NCAA DIII Semi-Finals. In the 2010 season, Coon was named the Empire 8 Coach of the Year after leading the Tigers to the Empire 8 Championship and berth in the NCAA Division III Championship. I found him to be really engaging, very open, and I am sure it comes through in his coaching, and he would be a great guy to play for. He is a great lacrosse coach especially for defensive lacrosse players, with great ideas on defensive lacrosse drills.

A native of Homer, N.Y., Coon is a strong believer in community service. His student-athletes are the most active in that regard on campus, regularly volunteering by mentoring young students in the Rochester community.

Coon is a 2001 graduate of Nazareth College, where he excelled on the field, helping the Golden Flyers to the 1997 NCAA Division III championship. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in social science and a minor in sports management. He was a four-time All-American, two-year captain and a two-time Division III Goalie of the Year selection.

Coon was inducted into the Nazareth College Hall of Fame in 2009. After graduation, Coon played professionally for the Rochester Knighthawks of the National Lacrosse League from 2000-2003. He played for the Rochester Rattlers of the Major League Lacrosse from 2001-2005 and the Boston Cannons from 2005-2009.

OK so I kind of messed up talking offense with this defensive minded coach for the first portion of the interview, but in the second half of the interview his defensive expertise and attention to the defensive fundamentals really came through. Although Coach discusses the fact that team defense is critical, and a large portion of their philosophy, he focuses on the individual’s contribution to the team defense. “Don’t get beat,” a declining emphasis on individual checks, and taking the ball away, and more on position, and angles play.

For more information on the camps at RIT, just go to the RIT Men’s Lacrosse Site, at www.ritathletics.com click Lacrosse then on the right hand corner click on the Tiger Lacrosse Camp, and they invite beginners as well!

In the Preview Sample below, (for all of our Free Members) you can listen to Coach Coon and his focus on the fundamentals. “Back Pedal, Drop Step, Turn Them and Squeeze Them.” Especially in the “War Zone,” where it is time to get physical. And if your teams are seeing more on the ‘Pick and Slip’ in the 2-Man Games, listen to his successful philosophy on how to defend this popular look in the 2-Man Game.

And check out my article in the article section on the critical nature of focusing the defensive fundamentals and how to ‘rep’ them. Check it out!

Audio Preview

What makes this interview particularly awesome is not only the fact that Coach Purdie in just his fourth season as a Head Coach made it to the NCAA Finals DII, or in 2008 he was also named ECC Coach of the year, but he was placed as the Head Coach coming directly from the high school head coaching ranks on the Island, where he was a Coach of the Year. That is rare, and might offer hope for any of us high school coaches looking to live the big dream. But as you will hear, he just seems to be the kind of coach kids would love to play for, and like many of our contributing coaches recognizes the importance of fun for the players in practice.

In his first two seasons he was 12-13, but in his last two seasons, 26-8 and making a trip to the NCAA’s in a Division where they only invite four teams. And then of course on to the Championship game no less, even though disappointed with a one-goal loss.

Purdie, a member of the Australian World Games team before arriving at Adelphi, made his mark as a two-time All-America selection. He played three years for the Panthers, from 1987-89, helping the team to two NCAA Division I Tournament appearances.
His post-collegiate career includes playing seven times for the Australian Lacrosse World team. He also played for the New York Saints (1990-99), New Jersey Storm (2002-03) and the Anaheim Storm (2004), playing in over 100 professional indoor lacrosse games. In 1994 he was named Best Midfielder at the World Games.

Purdie has coached at the Waldorf School in Garden City, N.Y. and in 1997 was named the New York Metropolitan Lacrosse Association High School Coach of the Year.
In this fast paced interview Coach shares his unique practice planning philosophy, he tries to enter the season with 50 plans in place, but is constantly adapting each practice to the immediate needs of the team.
In the full length interview he addresses a number of topics including drills and philosophies, some awesome thought and even a few plays on Man Up, teaching time, his regular Goal to One drills/scrimmage, 1V1’s and more.

Information on his popular camps can be found on the Adelphi Men’s Lacrosse Site, for his Nike camp which is a great opportunity for players interested in Adelphi to get to know the coaches, as well as www.checkmatelacrosse.com for his camps on the Island.

In the free sample, just click below, as well as in our article section, we feature his unique take on 6V6 which begins with transition. It is one of the best ways I have ever heard, even in 50+ hrs of interviews with NCAA coaches to run 6V6 lacrosse drills in lacrosse practice. Check it Out!

Audio Preview