Q & A

            •           Hey Tom Congrats on the being the first ever Coach of the NALL’s Charlotte Copperheads.  What made you so eager to take this position?

This league was designed to give American players a chance to play box lacrosse.  I believe strongly in that.  I think Charlotte is a perfect city for a professional indoor team and so far the support from the lacrosse community has been encouraging.

            •           With this being a new team in a new league, what can we expect to see from the Copperheads this year?

We have assembled a team that includes some of the best indoor players in the game.  Ryan Hotaling was a member of the US Indoor Team this past May and has played professionally with the Boston Blazers.  Greg Rogowski has been the leading scorer for USA against the Iroquois Nationals in the last 2 Bowhunter Cups.  Players like Ryan Flanagan and Brett Schmidt who will be playing for the Hounds (MLL) are stud field defensemen who are perfect for the indoor game.  I expect the Copperheads to compete for a championship this year.

            •           As a former player and now coach, are there times that you wish you could suit up and get back out there on the field?

I loved playing as much as anything in this world.  Unfortunately I have had too many concussions and can no longer play.  Coaching allows me to pass on what I have learned while staying connected to the game.  Being apart of a team is something I cherish very much.

            •           When you were growing up, who had the biggest influence on you in regards to lacrosse?

Hockey was my favorite sport growing up.  If it wasn’t for my high school coach Dave Bradman I would not be where I am today.  I owe a lot to him.  His son Sam Bradman plays at Salisbury and was D III Player of the year last year.  As far as players go I became obsessed with lacrosse after watching Gary and Paul Gait play at Syracuse.

            •           You have a lot of coaching experience at so many different levels of lacrosse; what do you believe are the core fundamentals that are key to success no matter what level of lacrosse you’re coaching. 

First of all you have to believe in yourself.  Confidence comes from being able to perform the skills of lacrosse effectively and consistently.  It is the guys and girls that spend time on their own to perfect their skills that move on to the next level. 

When I am putting together a team whether it is USA or the Charlotte Copperheads I look for athletes that play with unrelenting effort.  I love players that take pride in ground balls. Guys that will do anything they can to help their team win.  Attitude and effort lead to success at any level.

            •           Going into the season, are there any players on the roster you’re really excited about?

Ryan Hotaling, Greg Rogowski, Matt Smalley and Ethan Farrell are all guys that have gone out of their way to learn the box game.  On top of that they are great guys.  Personality is an important factor on my teams.

            •           How has the move to Charlotte been so far for you and your family?

I moved to Charlotte this fall with my girlfriend Sherry and we have both enjoyed living here so far.  After living in Boston for a couple years we are loving the weather.  The people have been very welcoming especially the lacrosse community.

            •           How do you like to spend your downtime, when you’re not coaching?

My two hobbies outside of lacrosse are music and poker.  We try to go see live music once a week.

            •           If you had to pick one, what is your favorite lacrosse memory?

Winning a World Championship with the Philadelphia Wings in 2001 is something I am very proud of.  It was an amazing team effort.  I spent 7 years of my life devoted to winning a NLL Championship.  When you are devoted to something for that long and finally reach your goal the feeling of confidence and gratification stays with you forever.  Lacrosse is the most amazing gift I have ever received.

            •           Have you thought about growing the dreadlocks back out?

I started growing my hair out when I was a sophomore at Bowdoin College.  Before that I had a buzz cut.  Over the course of 14 years my hair grew into some crazy thick dreds that got past my waist.  They were a part of me.  My hair is very curly and when it gets long it tries to dred up on its own.  I don’t think  I will ever grow them out again, but you never know.

            •           Any message you’d like to send to the local fans?

For those who are new to indoor or box lacrosse, it is a fast and physical version of the game.  Most of the best players in the world play both.  Playing within the tight confines of a hockey rink force you to refine your skills.  You must learn to be more accurate and deceptive in order to score.  Watching indoor lacrosse at the professional level is inspiring and it opens your mind to new possibilities in the game.