Coaches Calls

One of the NLL's unsung heroes. A man behind the curtain. Jeremy Tallevi, an assistant coach alongside Derek Keenan for over two decades, is an unsung personality in the league. His career began as a young scout during the Toronto Rock's Les Bartley dynasty era. He then coached the Western Mustangs in the CUFLA for 20 years, winning multiple Baggataway Cup national championships. His coaching experience spans all levels—tykes, minors, juniors, seniors, and pros—culminating in the insightful leadership he demonstrates today. He's also been instrumental in growing the sport in less traditional lacrosse hotbeds like London and Wallaceburg.His second stint with the Saskatchewan Rush began in 2018 as defensive coordinator. He's worked closely with his young, talented roster to help the team try and return to the postseason and restore winning ways in Saskvegas.In this podcast, we discuss his approach to film and game preparation, defensive strategies, offensive and defensive players to emulate, and the importance of positivity within the team.Follow on Instagram @BradChallonerX @BradChallEmail coachescallspodcast@gmail.com

Every team has its unsung heroes. Its people behind the curtain. Its secret weapons. Sean Ferris has been one of those guys since the 90s! The NLL's International Man of Mystery, and that's part of the reason this podcast exists: to shine a light on some of these legends, pick their brains, and tell their stories, honoring their impact on the game. Sean Ferris started as a scout in the NLL during the Les Bartley-led Toronto Rock dynasty and carries Bartley's coaching legacy into the game today. Usually linked with his bestie, Eddie Comeau, he's been an assistant coach alongside Comeau in the NLL for over 20 years! Together, they've coached the Rochester Knighthawks, New York and Orlando Titans, Colorado Mammoth, and currently the Georgia Swarm. This Burlington native has won six championships in total with the Rock, Knighthawks, and Swarm. He's also a multiple World Championships, working behind the scenes with Team Canada as their Team Supervisor—a role as mysterious as it sounds. If you've ever met Ferris, he's one of the most outgoing and personable people in the game—but he absolutely loves flying under the radar and hates talking about himself. I'll try to get some nuggets out of him. What I hope comes across is that he's a guy who pays attention to detail. Sometimes it's just as important to take care of players and teams off the floor as it is on the floor. He lives by that: take care of your players, and your players will take care of you. He was a Presidents Cup champion as a player, specializing in defense, and is currently the defensive coach for the Swarm. Follow on Instagram @BradChalloner and X @BradChall Email coachescallspodcast@gmail.com

It’s always fun talking to the O and D coaches in the NLL. The real lax rats. They always bring a very open and honest dialogue about what they’re up to, all in an effort to grow the game. They’re passionate and they see the game from a unique angle. Today is one of the goods guys of the game. NLL superfan as we’ll learn, but always one of the just the nicest dudes to see at the arena, O coach for the NLL 2022 Champion Colorado Mammoth, Jason Bishop. He’s also the head coach of the legendary New Westminster Salmonbellies in the WLA. Bishop is heading into his fourth season with the Mammoth, and what magic he’s brought to the team so far. Since joining the Mammoth in October 2021, he’s helped lead them to incredible success, including a 2021-22 NLL Championship win and two trips to the Finals in just three years. Bish has been instrumental in transforming the Mammoth’s identity, turning them from a defense-first team into a dynamic offensive powerhouse. His innovative ideas and ability to motivate and elevate his players has made him a real weapon on the bench. Before stepping into coaching, Jason spent five seasons as the Mammoth’s western scout, honing his skills in analyzing players and breaking down opponents. And if that’s not enough, he’s got over 20 years of coaching experience in Canadian lacrosse, where he’s guided teams to multiple provincial and national championships. The move to the WLA in the summer of 2024 was to take on a new challenge and get even better as a coach, we’ll talk about that here. As a player, he was a career D guy, competing with the Nanaimo Timbermen and New Westminster Salmonbellies, where he played in the Presidents Cup and the Mann Cup. On this podcast we’ll dive into some of his offensive principals, and how he’s helped shape the Mammoth into one of the most exciting teams in the NLL. Follow on Instagram @BradChalloner and on X @BradChall Email coachescallspodcast@gmail.com

Dan Carey is the first and only General Manager and VP of lacrosse operations for the NEW incarnation of the Rochester Knighthawks of the National Lacrosse League. A role in which he oversees all aspects of lacrosse operations, including team services, player acquisitions, and personnel development. He was named the NLL’s GM of the Year in 2023. The team has made back-to-back playoff appearances in 2023 and 2024. Carey previously spent three years with the Colorado Mammoth, serving as general manager. Before becoming GM, Carey was the Mammoth’s director of player personnel, managing scouting and player development. He joined the organization as an eastern scout following a standout five-year playing career with the Mammoth. Drafted seventh overall in 2005, Carey earned NLL All-Star honors in his first three seasons and was pivotal in the Mammoth’s 2006 Champion’s Cup win. He concluded his career with the Toronto Rock in 2012, retiring with 89 goals and 147 assists in 60 games. In his home and native land Carey won three Mann Cups with his cherished Peterborough Lakers and was named MVP in 2006. Internationally, he earned gold with Team Canada at the 2007 World Indoor Lacrosse Championship and now serves as GM of Canada’s national men’s field lacrosse programs, earning a silver medal in 2023. The man has had some of the coolest jobs lacrosse has to offer. We’ll talk about that and what he brings to the organizations he’s been involved with, what it was like coaching a young Jeff Teat and his vision for building a winning team. Follow on Instagram @BradChalloner Email coachescallspodcast@gmail.com

Merry Christmas! We just passed our one-year anniversary, so thanks to everyone who has downloaded, subscribed, commented, and listened to an episode. I appreciate you, thanks for an amazing year. It’s that time of year when stockings are filled with lacrosse balls, and kids are unwrapping awesome new gloves and shafts from under the tree. Most years, we get a little mini-break from the NLL, but because Christmas falls mid-week this year, we're keeping the momentum going full tilt. There were games last weekend, and there will be games this weekend! So hopefully, you can reset and get a little mini break with your family and friends before jumping back into work or lacrosse. I hope 2025 is your best year yet! As we look back on 2024, one of the biggest stories in the lacrosse world was Curt Malawsky coming home. The reigning Head Coach of the Year left his longtime love and a championship calibre roster, the Calgary Roughnecks, for a bigger purpose: to grow the game of lacrosse in BC by trying to establish a tradition of excellence at the helm of BC's pro lacrosse team, the Vancouver Warriors. I'd say it was a great first season. They won 6 of their final 8 games, finishing with an 8-10 record, and were mathematically eliminated from the playoffs only by a million different tie-breaking scenarios. But he did a lot of what he set out to do: turn Vancouver into a winner, give the fans some hope, and give the kids in the crowd something to aspire to. Curt was on the show last Christmas Day… he's a real family man… so I wanted to have him again at the same time of year as we reflect and then look forward, hopefully providing you with some inspiring Mouse-isms to start the year. It's the second annual Christmas with Curt on Coaches Calls. A big thanks to the people who support the show each week and allow it to arrive on your phones for free. Follow on Instagram @BradChalloner Email coachescallspodcast@gmail.com

With his long stride and familiar gait, it's hard to miss Robert Hope on a lacrosse floor. He also gets loud and takes it as a compliment like any good defender should. He's an NLL champion, World champion, multiple Mann Cup champion and one of the longest serving captains in the NLL today. He's been one of the league's best defenders for a decade. He's also the head coach of the Peterborough Junior A Lakers, a role he took to give back to the community that's given him so much. On this episode we ponder "are the Mammoth back?" After going to back-to-back NLL Finals, the Mammoth missed the post season for the first time in Hope's career last season. What does this refreshed group need to do to find success again and what hard lessons were learned. We talk about Sidney Crosby, the importance of constant improvement and how that differs from improving as a coach and a player. I always thought Hopey was Captain Serious on and off the floor but he really brings an energetic intensity that's pretty contagious. Thanks for listening to Coaches Call on the Lacrosse Culture Daily Podcast Network. Follow on Instagram @BradChalloner Or email coachescallspodcast@gmail.com

Don Koharski is one of the most respected and well-known officials in the history of professional sports, with a career that spans over four decades. He built a reputation for his no-nonsense approach, deep understanding of the game, and ability to manage high-pressure situations on the ice. After an illustrious 32-year career in the NHL, Koharski transitioned to a key role in the National Lacrosse League as Officiating Supervisor, further cementing his legacy as a master of officiating. The coach of the refs. Over the course of his career, Koharski officiated more than 1,800 regular-season NHL games, 262 playoff games, and 11 Stanley Cup Finals—a testament to his consistency and excellence. His tenure coincided with some of hockey’s most dramatic eras, from the physical play of the 1980s to the skill-driven game of the 2000s. Koharski witnessed firsthand the careers of legends like Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, and Sidney Crosby. He was known for his consistent demeanor and ability to control emotionally charged games, earning the respect of players, coaches, and fans alike. The Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, native has been a longtime lacrosse supporter, as a player helping the Nova Scotia team to a silver medal in the Canada Summer Games in 1973 and coaching the Hamilton Bengals midget lacrosse team in 1980 and 1981. He is a member of the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame, inducted in 2007. The NLL’s Officiating Supervisor since 2021, he’s been instrumental in launching new officiating mechanics in the NLL and has had an instrumental voice in the competition committee. Follow on Instagram @BradChalloner

The greater the man, the shorter the bio.  Derek Keenan is the GOAT. The winningest coach in National Lacrosse League (NLL) history, he's coached the most games and won more championships than anyone else in the league. He's been a part of nine championships: two as a player in Buffalo, four as an assistant coach in Toronto, and three as head coach with the Rush. He also won two Minto Cups as head coach with Whitby. His accolades include multiple Les Bartley Awards for Coach of the Year and multiple GM of the Year awards.  He's built expansion teams, dynasties, and winners. And he's still at it! He tried to retire twice but was drawn back to the game in both 2022 and 2024.  He's the greatest, and I hope you'll understand why in this episode. We'll discuss his biggest challenges, toughest decisions, and the most important part of the mental game. He's thoughtful, clear in his messaging, caring, and smart. Derek Keenan is the co-head coach and general manager of the Saskatchewan Rush of the National Lacrosse League.  Follow on Instagram @BradChalloner

“I’ve forced myself into very uncomfortable positions,” brand new head coach of the Philadelphia Wings being one of them, Ian Rubel is a three-time NLL Champion and a Constable Instructor in the training unit for the Niagra PD. He’s a low-key bad ass. He’s the only new head coach heading into the 2024-25 NLL season. Rubel joined the Philadelphia Wings as the Defensive Coach prior to the Wings return to Philadelphia in 2018 and was promoted to Head Coach ahead of the 2024-25 season after General Manager Paul Day stepped away from coaching. His playing career saw him patrolling the back end for the Columbus Landsharks, Toronto Rock, Minnesota Swarm and the Rochester Knighthawks. With the Toronto Rock, Rubel played on three championship teams; 2002, 2003, and 2005. Along the way he also represented Canada in a Heritage Cup game. As a use of force and ground tactics police instructor, Rubel pushes himself daily outside of lacrosse to become a better communicator and teacher, skills that have helped him become a better coach. He recommends the Blood Sworn Trilogy of fantasy novels by John Gwynne. Listen to Season 1 of Coaches Calls wherever you get your podcasts. Follow: https://www.instagram.com/bradchalloner/ or email coachescallspodcast@gmail.com

The World Lacrosse Box Championships are upon us. Every four years since 2003, the world has come together for this tournament, in which Canada has never lost a game, let alone a gold medal. The tournament has swelled to 28 teams, ranging from Puerto Rico to Poland, Hungary to Hong Kong, and Australia to Austria. But none of these nations would be here if it weren’t for the Haudenosaunee. The people who created this game for the Creator. The people who view lacrosse as more than just a game or sport; it is a way of life—the medicine game. A celebration of health, strength, courage, fair play, and spirituality, as stated by the Haudenosaunee Nationals. This is a game from which they were once banned from international competition—a game they created and continue to exemplify with some of the most creative and electrifying superstars in the sport today. Still their participation in the 2028 Olympics remains a possibility, not a certainty. So what lies ahead? What can we control right now? That’s the World Box Championships. In this tournament, the Haudenosaunee have finished second all five times, earning five silver medals, including a heartbreaking one-goal overtime loss to Canada in 2007. The lacrosse world would love nothing more than to see a Haudenosaunee gold medal. It would be more than validation; we already know how skilled and entertaining they are to watch, and they’re the fan favorites at these tournaments. For General Manager Landon Miller and the Haudenosaunee Nationals, it would mean an inspirational story for every Indigenous person from coast to coast about what is possible. He’s the General Manager of the Haudenosaunee, the man who helped construct the roster that will represent them in their quest for a gold medal. We’ll discuss the weight of that gold, who he chose to represent the team, and what kind of lacrosse they need to play. He’s an expert team builder and manager, having won four Minto Cups in a decade with the Six Nations Arrows. He assisted Curt Styres in managing the Rochester Knighthawks' historic three-peat—the only three-peat in NLL history. When the Philly Wings relaunched in 2018, one of Paul Day’s first calls was to Landon, seeking his expertise in building that expansion team in a crucial NLL market. Landon is also a revered business leader—President, founder, and advisor of many successful and groundbreaking ventures. In 2016, he opened the largest free-standing Tim Hortons on First Nations territory in Canada, which was considered one of a kind for being Native owned, operated, and situated on Native soil. We’ll discuss his business experience and how he manages teams off the lacrosse floor in this episode. Raised in Six Nations, Landon now lives in the beautiful Westbank First Nation in the Okanagan. Purchase; The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Joseph Murphy Support; Haudenosaunee Nationals Lacrosse Follow on X: @BradChall Instagram: @BradChalloner

Glenn Clark returns! This time to talk about coaching Team Canada at the upcoming World Lacrosse Box Championships. A tournament where Canada has never lost a game, and has won all 5 gold medals. Glenn Clark has been a part of almost all of them as a player or coach. We’ll talk about Canada’s responsibility to exemplify lacrosse at the highest level, educate developing nations and grow the game all the while chasing gold and the perfect record. We’ll also talk about roster construction and the players selected to represent their nation.   Since the last time we spoke, Clark won another Les Bartley award for NLL coach of the year and GM of the year after leading a young Albany team to the NLL Finals with an energetic and entertaining brand of lacrosse. We’ll talk about their magical run as well as thoughts on the recent PCLC dispersal draft.   Thanks for listening. Follow on X: @BradChall Instagram: @BradChalloner

Walt Christianson is Head coach of England’s men’s box lacrosse team. And though current NLL fans might faintly only recall his 48 games coached in the National Lacrosse League over 3 seasons, he’s a hugely influential legend of the game that needs to be talked about. We talk a lot about the Les Bartley coaching tree. But what about the Chris Hall coaching tree? Island style! There might be no stronger limb or branch than Walt Christianson. Chris Hall, the NLL Hall of Fame head coach who won NLL championships with two different teams and helped West Coast Canadians like the Gait brothers head south to the NCAA for the first time, is one of the greatest minds the game has ever seen. Walt played with and for Chris Hall. He coached with and against Chris Hall. They were neighbors, friends, and when Chris Hall passed away in 2014, it was Walt who announced the Chris Hall scholarship fund at his service. A two-time Mann Cup winning player with the Victoria Shamrocks. And a two-time Mann Cup champion coach with the Victoria Shamrocks. A student of the game who didn’t find lacrosse until he was 19 – to one of the greatest teachers of the game for countless players from Victoria and beyond. A retired school teacher at Vic High, he now mentors and coaches coaches literally worldwide as the head coach of England’s national box team. A role he inherited from… Chris Hall. A love of basketball connected them and influenced both their lacrosse coaching methods, and we’ll talk about that on this episode. We’ll talk about where England lacrosse is at on the world stage, how players travel hours for 6-hour marathon practices on Sundays and only Sundays. Walt’s 3 seasons in the NLL were short but wild. Those San Jose years had rookie Matt Vinc, goalie Paul Dawson, young Ryan Boyle, kinda still prime Colin Doyle, and a handful of players that paved the path for the 2010 championship team. He’s coached Gaits, Dawsons, Crawfords, Jenners, and left an indelible mark wherever he’s been. We’ll talk about his greatest moments, his biggest challenges, and his vision for the future of lacrosse. Follow on X @BradChall Insta @BradChalloner

The main definition of extroversion is simply gaining energy from engaging in social interactions. People who are high in extroversion get energized and refreshed from certain interactions. That’s definitely how I felt after this next conversation, and I hope it’s how you’ll feel too.   Darryl Gibson brings the energy! As the offensive coach for the Albany FireWolves, he helped lead the youngest and smallest team in the NLL to the finals in 2024. It was a magical season and one of the best single-season turnarounds in NLL history, with an 8-win increase year over year.   His approach is super current, always evolving, and even a little unorthodox at times – pushing the boundaries of what an NLL offense can be with his young, malleable roster. It’s what’s going to make him a great head coach with the Jamaican men’s national team at this fall’s World Box Lacrosse Championship.   Energy, pace, experimentation, and how about FUN? We’ll talk about how he got that gig, his expectations, and what makes him the right fit to help take Jamaican lacrosse to the next level.   Gibson played 12 seasons in the NLL as a shutdown defender. From Albany, San Jose, Arizona, Chicago, Minnesota, Buffalo, he won 2 championships with the Toronto Rock under Les Bartley. He’s another one of over a dozen NLL players who played for Bartley and went on to coach in the NLL. He was an NLL all-star and also won 5 Mann Cups in the summertime. He’s seen it all.   His son Tyson is now an NLL champion with Colorado, and we’ll talk about how raising a number one draft pick and rookie of the year helped keep his coaching approach fresh and relatable to the young guys in the league.   We’ll get deep into his offensive principles in this episode as well.   Thanks for listening. Follow on X @BradChall Instagram @BradChall Or email coahcescallspodcast@gmail.com

Reilly O'Connor is a good dude. He's a great teammate. He's mentally tough. He's a leader, and he's the Head Coach of the Toronto Beaches of the Ontario Junior Lacrosse League. He walks the walk as a coach. The actions match the words, so much so that he's also still a player in the National Lacrosse League with the new Ottawa Black Bears. He's also-also a coach with Beast Athletics in Toronto and its offshoot Leadership Project. Dude is a full-timer. And it's super important to note that Reilly O'Connor's life is lacrosse, leadership, and coaching. Helping people get better. He's a seven-year NLL vet, played college lacrosse at Georgetown off a recommendation from Brodie Merrill, he won two Minto Cups with the Whitby Warriors, he's also the youngest guest I've had on this podcast so far. He's 31. And we'll talk about how being that close to today's game – he's still playing today's game – gives him an advantage behind the bench and a connection to his players that sets him apart and gives him a fresh perspective. He will be a coach in the National Lacrosse League when his playing days are done. On this episode, we talk about the differences in preparing for a game as a coach versus a player, knowing when to push someone to go harder, and the skills that define being a good teammate. Follow on X @BradChall Instagram @BradChalloner Or email coachescallspodcast@gmail.com

"Champions are never satisfied.” That's the mindset of the back-to-back NLL Champion Buffalo Bandits, and in over an hour of conversation with their General Manager and Assistant Coach Steve Dietrich, we barely spoke about their electrifying on-floor product. Dietrich is relatively new to coaching and devours film to improve his craft, soaking up everything he can from the GOAT—his head coach, John Tavares. What he was truly born to do is manage a professional lacrosse team. Trades, contracts, future-proofing, and cementing the Bandits' legacy are where the Hall of Fame goaltender shines, ever since his days as a kid playing Madden and building his own teams. It's in his blood. His eye for talent, knack for seeing several steps ahead, and general likability set him apart from his peers. He's fair and honest. In this episode, we discuss his unique approach to scouting, how to welcome new talent to the Bandits while chasing a three-peat, and how he transformed the culture from the big, bad Bandits that no one wanted to play against, to the top team in the NLL that no one still wants to play against. Managing the league's flagship franchise since 2012, they've appeared in the NLL Finals five times, winning twice. Dietrich has won the GM of the Year award on three occasions, only the second GM in history to achieve this. He played 18 seasons in the NLL, was a four-time All-Pro, won a championship, and was the first goaltender to win a league MVP award in 2006. Follow on X @BradChall Instagram @BradChalloner Email coachescallspodcast@gmail.com