Posted August 19, 2011
Meet John Paul, ’94. This alumnus has coached U-M’s men’s lacrosse club-varsity team for 14 years, and has compiled some stellar stats in the process. He is now head coach of the new men’s varsity team, one of two new varsity lacrosse teams. See what he told the Alumni Association about U-M’s chances, why he thinks lacrosse is so great to watch, and more.
(An excerpt of this interview appears in the early fall issue of Michigan Alumnus magazine, available online.)
Alumni Association: What does it take to be a good lacrosse team? And why is Michigan men’s lacrosse so good?
John Paul: Certainly you have to have talent. Speed, athleticism and stick skills are all necessary components of any great lacrosse player, and great teams are made up of great players. But the success of our club program can be attributed just as much to our culture. We have had a lot of very talented and dedicated people who have been willing to make tremendous sacrifices for the team. That culture will carry over to the varsity program, and that will help us get to a competitive level in Division 1 lacrosse, which is obviously a significant step up.
We have always had a program full of people—athletes, coaches, and staff—who are committed to excellence and to each other.
The club team at U-M has a long history. What sense of that history have you gained during your years as coach?
My experience with the team started in 1985 as a player, so I’ve been a part of the program through its transition from a very traditional club with a lot of graduate students and non-students playing to the MCLA team of the past 15 years that operated much like a varsity program.
As the head coach, I’ve had the opportunity to reconnect with alumni from every era, all the way back to the first team in 1940. The common thread in all of those experiences is the tremendous pride that everyone has in competing for Michigan. It doesn’t matter what level it is. Wearing the Maize and Blue is special. I’ve also found that our alums are so proud of what the team has accomplished recently, and of course that we will be going forward as a varsity program.
What will men’s and women’s lacrosse teams do for U-M Athletics?
(Athletic Director) Dave Brandon talks all the time about growing the Michigan brand, and lacrosse does just that. It gives us a more significant presence in the fastest growing sport in America. It gets Michigan teams to the East Coast with regularity, where we have so many alumni who are hungry to root for the Maize and Blue in their regions. It further solidifies Michigan’s place as a leader in college sports.
What is the competitive environment like for collegiate lacrosse in the U.S. these days?
There’s so much parity now. While the same handful of teams is still at the head of the pack, the gap behind them is closing. There are a lot more one-goal games now as well. The difference between a great season that gets a team into the NCAA tournament and a disappointing season can be just a handful of goals. That parity is due in large part to the tremendous growth of the game from coast to coast. There are a lot more talented high school players, and there are a limited number of D1 opportunities for them.
Will varsity status mean changes in how and how much you recruit?
No doubt. We’ve been recruiting for years, but we will now be in a position to attract elite players. The biggest difference at this level is how early recruiting takes place. Our sport has gotten to the point where high school sophomores are making verbal commitments to the top D1 programs. That’s not necessarily a good thing, but we will have to be involved early as well if we’re going to compete. Hopefully the NCAA will address that issue soon.
Will recruiting be an issue as you compete against established varsity programs?
Recruiting is always an issue. We expect that Michigan will be in the mix with the traditionally elite lacrosse programs because of all that we have to offer here. Our academic reputation, national scope, athletic tradition, alumni and fan network, and resources will allow us to compete for top recruits if we can get them to visit. That’s going to be the key. We have to get into conversations that have been traditionally reserved for a handful of programs. I think we can do that.
What does varsity mean in terms of difficulty? How do you predict your team will fare?
It’s a completely different level. As a club team, we were able to build our own resources and support that put us at the top of the pack. As a varsity program, we will be competing on a much more even playing field, and we’ll have a period of transition as we get there in recruiting, coaching, and facilities. We’ll get there, though. I can’t predict how we’ll fare right away, but I can promise that we will compete and that we’ll have a program that Michigan fans will be proud of.
For the uninitiated fan, what are the basics of how the game works?
Lacrosse is most like basketball strategically, with the contact of football or hockey. If a new fan thinks of it from a basketball perspective, they will understand it a lot faster.
What is the best thing about watching lacrosse?
Lacrosse takes a lot of strategy, skill, and teamwork, but it also allows for creativity. It’s high-scoring, action-packed, fast, and physical. What’s not to like?
What is the most confusing part for new fans?
When a shot goes out of bounds, the closest team to the ball when it crosses the sideline is awarded possession. This is only true for shots. It’s intended to reward teams for shooting by making it easier for them to retain possession.
Who are some U-M players to watch?
Trevor Yealy is a fifth-year attackman who was a four-year First Team All-American in the MCLA. He is a pure goal scorer who does so much for us on and off the field. Keep your eyes on Thomas Paras, a junior attackman, as well. He has the athletic ability to thrive at the D1 level. A lot of our club players will have tremendous opportunities to shine at the next level.
Who will U-M’s biggest rivals be? And can U-M beat Ohio State?
Ohio State, Notre Dame, and Penn State are natural rivals. I’m sure new rivalries will develop as we go forward as a D1 team and in our conference, the ECAC. Ohio State? Of course.
What is a highlight from one of the team’s recent championships?
In the 2010 championship game, we weathered a late run by Arizona State and momentum was starting to turn back in our favor. There was a whistle at midfield for a loose ball push violation, and our guys won the whistle and were ready to play faster than the Arizona State players were. Josh Ein fed Clark McIntyre for a goal that really iced the game. It was a hustle play in a situation that we stress to the guys all the time, and it was so energizing to see them make such a huge play in that situation.
Who are some lacrosse alumni of note?
This is a loaded question. We have a lot of great alumni, and I’m sure I’ll get a hundred emails from former teammates and players giving me grief for not listing them. Bob Woodruff, JD’87, of ABC News played when he was in law school. He was an outstanding undergraduate player at Colgate before he came to Ann Arbor. Howard Handler, ’83, MBA’85, who went on to serve as head marketer for the NFL, MTV, and others, also played here.
What is the best way to follow the team this fall?
Follow us on mgoblue.com and through our twitter account, @umichlacrosse.
