First Class Lacrosse Podcast

Deemer Class and Matt Dunn host Ryan Wellner, Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator and recruiter, to discuss connection, coaching, recruiting, and defense. Wellner reflects on a LinkedIn post arguing real connection isn’t transactional, discusses phones and socialization, and shares how mentors at Chaminade shaped his values. He outlines his playing and early work experiences, coaching start in England, operations work in the NLL, and a career path through Chaminade, Merchant Marine, Stevens, Washington and Lee, Stony Brook, Navy, and Notre Dame, including sacrifices required in coaching and the need to stay professional because coaches are always evaluated. Wellner explains his defensive approach as confrontational, predictable, and simplified, emphasizes on-ball defense and movement/IQ, and addresses recruiting strategy, advising families to prioritize being coached by college staffs, targeted camps/events, demonstrated interest, and preparation for accelerating timelines and limited roster spots.Timecodes0:00 - Connections10:45 - LAX Journey43:00 - Coaching Thoughts50:45 - Defensive Mindset1:03:00 - Building IQ1:12:30 - Recruiting Thoughts--Checkout more from FCL!Coaches Corner: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fcl-coaches-corner.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Thought: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://1stclasslax.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠On the Run: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://on-the-run.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Deemer Class and Matt Dunn host John Galloway, Jacksonville University men’s lacrosse head coach and highly decorated former Syracuse goalie, to discuss his playing and coaching journey and how he builds program culture. Galloway shares what he’d do outside sports, his Syracuse recruiting and freshman transition, and lessons from West Genesee mentors, including responding to adversity after not making varsity as a sophomore. He reflects on the 2009 national title comeback vs. Cornell, what he learned in pro lacrosse and with Team USA, and balancing playing while coaching. Galloway explains how Duke and Providence shaped his coaching, Jacksonville’s identity (toughest, most connected, best conditioned), methods like no phones and constraints-led drills, and how counseling training informs his communication and leadership, plus advice for goalies on differentiation beyond saves.Timecodes0:00 - Intro3:00 - Early Influences10:45 - Syracuse & Pro Career25:00 - Masters In Coaching29:00 - Building Jacksonville40:45 - State of Student Athletes50:45 - Shooting Rules & Communication1:02:00 - Goalie Recruitment Advice--Checkout more from FCL!Coaches Corner: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fcl-coaches-corner.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Thought: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://1stclasslax.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠On the Run: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://on-the-run.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Deemer Class and Matt Dunn welcome Tim McCormack, head women’s lacrosse coach at Johns Hopkins, and review his path from UMass All-American goalie to Northwestern assistant under Kelly Amonte Hiller, Arizona State head coach, and Johns Hopkins leader since 2022, where the Blue Jays set a program-record 17 wins and reached championship weekend. McCormack describes the steep learning curve transitioning into the women’s game, emphasizing authenticity, relationship-building, and confidence-building differences he observed versus coaching boys. He recounts growing up on Long Island, becoming a goalie at age five, and developing broad stick skills through constant play. The conversation focuses on his coaching evolution: creating decision-heavy, principles-based practice environments, using constraints and point systems, leveraging trust and player ownership, managing accountability through core values and principles, embracing “messy” gameplay, and offering recruiting advice around strengths, comparisons, and social media.Timecodes0:00 - Intro6:15 - Growing Up A Goalie27:45 - Coaching Journey46:30 - Coaching Principals1:00:00 - Leadership Trust1:06:00 - Recruiting Landscape Today--Checkout more from FCL!Coaches Corner: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fcl-coaches-corner.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Thought: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://1stclasslax.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠On the Run: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://on-the-run.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Deemer Class and Matt Dunn host Coach Dave Pietramala, UNC’s defensive coordinator and former Johns Hopkins head coach, reviewing his accolades as an elite defender and championship coach. Pietramala recounts starting lacrosse late, switching from midfield to defense using basketball footwork principles, developing stick skills through constant reps and watching others, and his favorite over-the-head check. He discusses what drives high-level success—compete level and working through discomfort—then reflects on guarding Gary Gait and why Gait changed the game. Pietramala explains translating playing experience into coaching through fundamentals, adapting to personnel, and teaching defensive approaches with game-like drills and coordination with strength staff. He outlines his coaching path, key mentors, emphasis on gratitude and relationships, first head-coaching challenges, and critiques early and current recruiting while emphasizing relationship-based recruiting and finding the right families.Timecodes0:00 - Intro7:30 - Player Journey16:00 - Desire To Compete27:00 - Transition To Coaching34:30 - Gratitude & Asking For Help46:30 - Nerding Out On Defense52:00 - Player Development & Recruiting--Checkout more from FCL!Coaches Corner: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fcl-coaches-corner.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Thought: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://1stclasslax.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠On the Run: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://on-the-run.beehiiv.com/subscribe

On the First Class Lacrosse podcast, Deemer Class and Matt Dunn interview Army West Point head coach Michelle Tumolo, covering her path from starting lacrosse just before ninth grade to becoming a Tewaaraton finalist at Syracuse, Team USA World Cup gold medalist and 2017 All-World selection, pro player, and coach at Florida, Syracuse, Oregon, Wagner, and Army (hired June 2021). Tumolo explains how basketball and soccer shaped her vision and passing, her rapid development through camps and club, and key Syracuse memories, including early physicality and a comeback win vs Florida, plus the program’s coaching tree. She details her coaching philosophy of authenticity, communication, belief, and high standards, including supporting cadet-athletes’ demanding schedules. Tumolo also discusses practice structure, daily stickwork, skill development, X usage, two-man game emphasis, man/zone defenses, and learning from other sports and Sixes coaching, plus playing pickup hockey at West Point.Timecodes0:00 - Sports Journey5:00 - Syracuse Experience12:15 - Coaching Philosophy27:00 - Coaching at West Point33:30 - X's & O's45:45 - Player Development55:40 - Keep Learning & Ice Hockey--Checkout more from FCL!Coaches Corner: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fcl-coaches-corner.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Thought: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://1stclasslax.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠On the Run: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://on-the-run.beehiiv.com/subscribe