Today is the third installment of "Voices of Lacrosse". Today we feature our first coach, Charlotte Copperheads coach Tom Ryan. Ryan was the coach for the Boston Blazers of the NLL for two seasons. Now he takes his talents down south to Charlotte, to try and win the first ever NALL championship with the Copperheads.
I asked him about the upcoming season and the NALL. As always, venture over the jump to hear what Coach Ryan has to say.
When did you first hear about the NALL, and what got you interested in the league?
I heard of the league back in the spring. Graham D’Alvia is both the President of the Copperheads and of the US Indoor Team. I love box lacrosse and feel strongly in helping grow the sport in the US. This league encompasses both of those passions in my life. But let’s face it…pro lacrosse is a tough business. The NALL owners are trying to create a business model that can sustain teams in the long run. That is something I want to be apart of.
What do you feel the NALL's role is in the growth of lacrosse in the states?
The NALL will give 100 players a chance to play lacrosse at the professional level. Watching the best players in the sport is inspiring and motivating for kids learning the game. It gives them new ideas about what is possible.
How has the talent at the combine looked? Are there players that stick out to you?
I was very pleased with the talent level at the Charlotte Combine. It is important for us to build the Copperheads with a solid base of relatively local players. There were at least a dozen guys that have a good shot of making our team. This past weekend was the Hershey Combine in Baltimore, and once again there were a couple dozen guys that can play. At each of the combines we have had players that stand out. Brian Caufield was one at the Wilkes-Barre Combine that resulted in him being drafted in the first round of our College Draft. I would rather not mention any other names at this point because they are still free agents until our National Draft and Combine December 10-11 in Richmond, VA.
What attributes do you look for in players to identify if they have potential to have success in indoor lacrosse?
First and foremost I look for athleticism and toughness. Those are a must. Next you look for raw skill and decision-making. We have been doing a lot of instruction at the combines. For guys who have limited box experience you look to see if they can incorporate what is being taught.
How do you feel about your first ever rookie draft? What do you like about first round pick Brett Schmidt?
We were very happy with the outcome of the College Draft. Our top three picks were all guys who will be living in North Carolina and have a good chance of making our team. Brett Schmidt had a great summer playing for the Denver Outlaws and I felt he was one of the top performers in the MLL Semifinals. Brett (Maryland), Ryan Flanagan (UNC) and John Galloway (Syracuse) were all dominant NCAA players throughout their college careers. Their athleticism and skill set make them outstanding candidates for the NALL.
How has the response to the Copperheads in Charlotte been so far?
The response from the Charlotte Lacrosse Community has been very encouraging. Lacrosse at the youth level has exploded here and I think lacrosse fans are psyched to support it at the professional level.
Will there be differences in your coaching style between the NLL and the NALL?
I don’t expect many changes strategically from the style we played in Boston. I have learned a lot over the past few years through my experiences in the NLL and coaching the US Indoor Team. I think I have matured as a coach and as a result my coaching style has evolved.
Do you have anything to say to the Copperhead fans about the team?
My personal mission statement in creating the Copperheads is to find quality people who are willing to make this organization a priority in their life for the next 6 months. Attitude and effort are huge with me. There is always a spot on my team for someone who is willing to do whatever it takes to make the Copperheads a success.
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As always thanks for checking out today's "Voices of Lacrosse" with coach Tom Ryan. Remember if you haven't yet, check out the previous two "Voices of Lacrosse" interviews, with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton forward Jeremy Boltus and Kentucky Stickhorses forward Brian Caufield. Look out for an article from me tomorrow about the NLL. Thanks for reading!
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