Desperate for work in the lacrosse sector.

On Career Hunting

The season is four games old with nine to play.

Graduation looms in eight weeks.

I am on the war path hunting for lacrosse jobs.

Several times a day, I race over to Laxpower vacancy listings and the NCAA lacrosse section hoping for a fresh opportunity to coach at the NCAA level.

Phrases like part time and full time are critical in my search.

I fall asleep mumbling, “this graduate assistant position offers a full tuition waiver.”

When a head coach doesn’t return my email or phone call within fifteen minutes, panic sets in.

Have the already found a candidate?

Is my resume not even worth a call back?

Did another candidate notice School X’s unbelievable D3 facilities before I did?

Who else would really apply for this job?

Why would they want to live in that town?

Are my references good enough to make up for zero awards?

Is an NCAA program really going to take an MCLA player with zero post season accolades?

What about an MCLA player who is a vice president and handles budgetary and program building concerns? Is that something a first year NCAA program might be interested in?

What about an MCLA player who coached high school lacrosse for two years and sent players on to Villanova, Penn State, Stevenson, Stevens Tech, RIT, Oberlin, and Seton Hall?

But, why would a head coach want someone with off the field experience when they  have been doing that themselves for a year to get the program ready?

Don’t they want a decorated athlete who can teach the first year team how to play at a high level?

What if its not a recent college graduate but an adult?

Why would an adult want to be an assistant coach at D3 school?

I don’t know. But, what if he did?

Are all great athletes good coaches?

Does the head coach believe you  have to be a great player to be a good coach or am I informing my opinion with my own experiences as a player and coach?

I gave myself heart burn during a play off run in my second year of coaching.  Do I really want to do this professionally?

Watching a player you coached succeed on the field using something you taught him is far more rewarding and enjoyable than achieving success as a player. Of course I want to get back into coaching after this spring.

This is me second guessing everything.

This is me going crazy until the options are exhausted or a head coach says you’re hired.

I have no idea who else is competing for these jobs.

In all likelihood, if the candidate is a NCAA player, he is probably a better lacrosse player than I am.

Nothing I can do about that. I left my NCAA playing career behind a long time ago.

Does  he have two years of high school coaching experience? Well if he graduated in four  years, chances are no.

Has he run his own youth clinics and given private lessons? Maybe.

But has he run his own youth clinics and given private lessons in two different time zones? Unlikely.

Has he been a lacrosse director at a 7 week overnight camp in the Poconos? Maybe.

A friend of mine didn’t locate his assistant job until later in the spring. I am counting on more opportunities to surface in the coming months but admittedly, I’d like to know as soon as possible. With each new position that becomes available I grow attached to the program, the school, and the high school scene.

To date, I have been in direct contact with two head coaches regarding their assistant position. I have yet to receive a call back from an athletic director regarding a part time head coaching position.

This afternoon I was on the phone with a head coach for a lengthy discussion.

Everytime he said “we,” I got excited.

We hit the recruiting trail hard this weekend. We need kids in this academic bracket. We have great facilities.

I thought I was already hired. Then I remembered we often talk in the plural first person.

The coach went on to talk about the hiring process continuing the shrinkage of my joy levels.

We’re going to look at as many applications as we can.

Then, we’re going to narrow down to three or five.

Then, we’re going to bring you in and grill you.

Sounds like the hiring of an assistant coach is a big deal. I’ll  have to exercise some patience because this isn’t going to be over any time soon.

Penn State Photos

We are anti white for no reason. But Penn State’s colors are white and navy and they are looking absolutely right this season despite an 0-2 start.

Thankfully they made some changes since the Robert Morris game and played Notre Dame tight.

Wish the helmet number had been placed on the back panel.

Old State visits Ohio State this weekend for their third game on the road this season.

True Lacrosse Tip of the Week

It’s really a tip every 7 weeks on Vimeo. This particular video covers elementary skills but we’re positive there is something MCLA players can find useful, if only because the video is 4 minutes long.

[vimeo 9835363]

All 412 Gear Reviews Will Now Be Done Like This

Real life name.

Minnesota Duluth Gloves for Sale for a Cause

A state trooper with very close ties to the Duluth lacrosse program is facing steep medical bills after her worker’s compensation was canceled following an accident.

During an October snow storm, the trooper was a first responder to a car accident and while she was assisting the victims, an oncoming car lost control of their vehicle and collided with the trooper’s car which in turn hit her.

The extent of her injuries have unexpectedly lengthened the recovery process despite her worker’s compensation being cut off.

The trooper is also struggling to help her mother who is battling cancer.

The lacrosse community is small and does a wonderful job to help each other. This state trooper served as a mentor to a former Duluth lacrosse player who has since become a state trooper himself. Now, Duluth is hoping to give something back to this woman who has been so active in her community.

Please think about helping her by bidding on their sick 2010 King IIs on ebay.

Notes

Tennessee Wesleyan’s goalie made 30 saves in a win against Indiana on Sunday

Lacrosse Playground has more news on the STX Professor’s legality

New Yardbarker effort from Kyle Harrison