First Class Lacrosse Podcast

First Class Lacrosse
  • 5.0 (26)
  • Sports
  • Updated Weekly

The official podcast of First Class Lacrosse! Checkout our newsletters Coaches Corner: https://fcl-coaches-corner.beehiiv.com/subscribe Weekly Thought: https://1stclasslax.beehiiv.com/subscribe On the Run: https://on-the-run.beehiiv.com/subscribe Make sure to SUBSCRIBE to First Class Lacrosse for more highlights, breakdowns & more: https://www.youtube.com/@firstclasslax?sub_confirmation=1 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/firstclasslacrosse/ Shop the latest FCL Merch here: https://www.1stclasslax.com/store

  1. 2d ago

    Dave Pietramala: Coaching Philosophy, Defensive Insights & The Desire To Compete

    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. Timecodes 0:00 - Intro 7:30 - Player Journey 16:00 - Desire To Compete 27:00 - Transition To Coaching 34:30 - Gratitude & Asking For Help 46:30 - Nerding Out On Defense 52:00 - 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

  2. Sep 25

    Michelle Tumolo: Navigating Coaching and Culture at Army West Point

    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. Timecodes 0:00 - Sports Journey 5:00 - Syracuse Experience 12:15 - Coaching Philosophy 27:00 - Coaching at West Point 33:30 - X's & O's 45:45 - Player Development 55:40 - 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

  3. Sep 4

    John Odierna: Embracing Change at Fairfield & Obsessing Over the Details

    Deemer Class and Matt Dunn welcome John Odierna, newly appointed head coach of Fairfield men’s lacrosse, formerly Syracuse’s defensive coordinator after back-to-back Final Four runs, with prior stints at Manhattan, Stevens, and Colby. Odierna describes a whirlwind summer of a lengthy interview process, rapid onboarding, recruiting and scheduling demands, concurrent staff searches, and becoming a father to son Brooks. He recounts starting lacrosse late after his father’s death, switching to defense, developing at Gettysburg, and learning coaching through multiple programs and mentors. The conversation emphasizes player-led culture, consistent standards, and Fairfield’s notable zero transfers after the coaching change. Odierna outlines staff-building priorities—connection and communication—and his CEO-style head coaching role. He also discusses man-down “Junkyard Dogs,” defensive fundamentals (approaches, trailing, communication), multi-sport benefits, and recruiting advice on avoiding comparisons and communicating appropriately. Timecodes 0:00 - New Baby, New Job 7:00 - Lacrosse Journey 35:00 - Taking Over At Fairfield 50:30 - Defensive Talk 1:05:00 - Multi-Sport Athletes 1:12:30 - Practical 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

  4. Aug 28

    Kyle Hayes: "The Big Time Is Where Your At" + The Recruitment Landscape In 2026

    Deemer Class and Matt Dunn return to the First Class Lacrosse podcast for the fall and welcome new FCL team member Kyle Hayes, a Long Island native and former college coach who most recently served as LIU’s offensive coordinator. Hayes recounts learning lacrosse late in high school after playing basketball and baseball, his college experience including the MCLA and its administrative responsibilities, and his decade-long coaching path from part-time roles to full-time positions at Misericordia, Babson, Manhattanville (as head coach), and LIU at the Division I level. The group discusses beginner challenges centered on stick skills, the benefits of multi-sport decision-making, and coaching lessons about networking, trust, and preparation. They also examine recruiting amid five years of eligibility and roster caps, emphasizing fewer spots, parity, evaluation stages, authenticity on visits, and the importance of fit and open-mindedness. 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

  5. May 29

    Jamie Munro: Constraints-Led Coaching & The Importance of Pickup Sports

    Deemer Class and Matt Dunn host Jamie Munro, former Brown player, longtime college coach (including Yale as an assistant and Denver’s first Division I head coach), founder of 3d Lacrosse, and current head of JM3 Lacrosse. Munro recounts discovering lacrosse as a child, favoring soccer and pickup sports before choosing lacrosse late in high school, and stumbling into coaching through Australia, Colorado, and then Yale. He discusses Dom Starsia’s player-development emphasis and freer play models, plus the influence of Dave Huntley and box lacrosse on his box-field hybrid philosophy. Munro defines the constraints-led approach (ecological dynamics) as intentional, variable, game-context training that develops lacrosse IQ through reading “what are we doing, what are they doing,” using constraints, accountability scoring, and co-design, while balancing limited practice time and isolated skill work. Timecodes 0:00 - Intro & Background 8:45 - Pickup Games 13:30 - Dave Huntley & Box 17:05 - Constraints-Led Approach 38:00 - Accountability Drilling 52:00 - Practicing With Intent 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

  6. May 15

    Scott Stuber: Hollywood Producing Meets Athletic Scouting and Locker Room Mentorship

    Deemer Class and Matt Dunn interview film producer and former chairman of Netflix Films Scott Stuber, discussing his career from Bluegrass Films to leading Netflix’s award-nominated film slate (2017–2024) and his 2024 move to Amazon MGM Studios to relaunch United Artists. Stuber shares how lacrosse entered his family when his wife steered their son from tackle football, and describes his relationship with Class as a mentor to his son. He recounts starstruck moments with Denzel Washington and Martin Scorsese, explains producing as a GM-like role blending creative taste with business realities, and emphasizes authenticity over purely commercial thinking. Stuber details breaking into Hollywood through persistence, highlights the value of mentors, communication, and individualized leadership, and reflects on modern youth-sports pressures, travel-team economics, early recruiting, and helping kids develop grit while navigating social media and over-parenting. Timecodes 0:00 - Starstruck 13:05 - Process vs Taste 17:30 - Foot In The Door 28:30 - Entrepreneurship 33:00 - Strategic Decisions 38:30 - Youthful Success 47:00 - Psychology 53:40 - Youth Sports 1:07:00 - Team Experience 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

  7. May 8

    Pat Carney and Dan Krikorian: Offense Wins Possessions. Principles Win Seasons

    First Class Lacrosse hosts Deemer Class and Matt Dunn welcome Pat Carney and Dan Krikorian of Slapping Glass to discuss how their basketball podcast and coaching resource began during COVID after a long friendship, driven by curiosity and self-improvement. Carney and Krikorian describe their coaching paths, their willingness to experiment and learn from “micro-failures,” and how they iterate on podcasts, newsletters, and film content without getting too narrow too soon. The conversation shifts to coaching principles: building culture and selflessness, teaching spacing, advantage creation, adaptability, and shared cognition, and using a “slice of the pie” approach to blend on-air reps with constraints-led methods depending on context and time. They cover attacking zone defenses, shot selection hierarchies and role-based green lights, and modern screening concepts (ghost screens, angles) plus defensive approaches. They close with how they balance content creation with coaching and family, emphasizing routines, saying no, quality, and being active coaches to stay relevant. Timecodes 0:00 - Background 12:00 - Trial & Error 14:30 - Core Coaching Principals 20:30 - Where To Start 30:00 - Zone vs Man 34:45 - Start, Sub, Sit 42:00 - Shot Selection 54:30 - Picks & Screens 1:13:00 - Time Management 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

  8. May 1

    Torre Kasemeyer: The Shooting Coach Who Turns "Paranoid" Players Into Legends

    Watch "How To Become An Accurate Shooter with Coach Kasemeyer over on the First Class Lacrosse YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/33uK-JiLgj8?si=8bOaDN5ruS5ziJ5y Deemer welcomes Torre Kasemeyer to the podcast. Torre and Deemer go back, first discussing a 17-year relationship, beginning after a Loyola–Calvert Hall championship loss when MIAA restrictions initially prevented them from training together. Kasemeyer describes joining Calvert Hall in 1997, launching Got Skillz Lacrosse around 2002 with help from Sean Burke, and developing a teaching style rooted in work ethic, competitiveness, resilience, and helping players reach their potential. He explains how playing with Mount Washington’s star-studded club team (including the Gait brothers and others) shaped his standards, and highlights training elite shooters like Ryan Brown, whom he calls the best lacrosse ball shooter ever. He credits Dave Huntley’s influence on principles, teammate culture, and “honest” fundamentals like shot selection and getting to high-value scoring areas, emphasizing open-mindedness, individualized coaching, analogies, and protecting reputation and relationships. 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

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About

The official podcast of First Class Lacrosse! Checkout our newsletters Coaches Corner: https://fcl-coaches-corner.beehiiv.com/subscribe Weekly Thought: https://1stclasslax.beehiiv.com/subscribe On the Run: https://on-the-run.beehiiv.com/subscribe Make sure to SUBSCRIBE to First Class Lacrosse for more highlights, breakdowns & more: https://www.youtube.com/@firstclasslax?sub_confirmation=1 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/firstclasslacrosse/ Shop the latest FCL Merch here: https://www.1stclasslax.com/store

Information

  • Creator
    First Class Lacrosse
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    54
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © First Class Lacrosse
  • Show Website
    First Class Lacrosse Podcast

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