Beyond X’s and O’s: Winning With Passion - Mike Daly

To follow is the the latest article from our Beyond X's and O's series at Inside Lacrosse:

Mike Daly loves his family, loves lacrosse, loves learning, and loves Tufts. This passion fuels his success. In 1998 he took over a struggling program that had won 3 games in two seasons. He brought a passion for his alma mater and coaching young men, and went to work. Tirelessly, he built up a national championship program, and keeps his sites on getting better. In what may be one of the most stunning turnaround stories in the history of game, Tufts is now in the record books with only six other Division III teams to win a national championship, and Daly is among only two other active DIII coaches who have won on Memorial Day weekend. While the larger story of going from NESCAC doormat to national champ will likely seep into lacrosse legend, Daly’s formula for success is inspiringly simple.

LOVE YOUR FAMILY
Following their national championship win, Daly grabbed Mark Doughty, Tufts’ longtime athletic trainer, and hugged him. He hugged his assistant coaches and hugged his players. When he showed up at the after-party he hugged alumni and friends. When you play at Tufts you play for a family, a dedicated and proud fraternity of loyal and hardworking guys who take their bond seriously. And for Daly the bond starts with recruiting, finding players who fit in with the larger culture. “We don’t recruit a player until we talk with his high school coach,” Daly said, and he has a similar philosophy about the hiring of assistant coaches. Only alums are considered for graduate assistant positions, and the other members of the staff are close friends or come highly recommended from the inner circle. It might seem insular, but Daly’s okay with this approach; after all, you don’t take anyone into your family.

Love Lacrosse

Daly says that “athleticism is the first thing we start with when looking to recruit a player,” but after listening to him talk there seems to be an even more fundamental starting point. In order to put on the brown and blue jersey of Tufts you have to love lacrosse. Tufts players love the game, and they watch it, read about it, and practice it constantly. Daly fosters the emotion, and welcomes convert hockey and football players who may have never played but express an interest and desire to learn. Similarly, if you’re dedicated and hard working, Daly is happy to recruit you even when no one else is. For Daly, success is born from a passion for what you do, and he knows that less experienced players will improve if they’re committed to improving at the sport they love.

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