There is quite the buzz about the “lax bros” here at Mizzou. This season, the men’s lacrosse team is taking its reputation to new heights as they tear up team after team. Her Campus Mizzou sat down with the new Mizzou men’s lacrosse coach, Keith Euker, to get the scoop on the sudden success after years of tough losses. Whether you’re interested in the sport or want to check out the cute lacrosse players on the field, don’t miss the action of this winning team.
Her Campus Mizzou: What is your team’s goal this year?
Coach Keith Euker: The last time Mizzou went to the National Championship Tournament was in 2004. The winner of the Conference Championship, which is what the Great Rivers Lacrosse Conference competes for, goes to the National Championship tournament in Denver. Ever since 2004 up until recently, the team hadn’t been doing well. Last year, we finished 8 and 7 above 500, which was our goal of the 2010 season. Our goal this season is to improve in numbers and as a team even further, and we’re certainly off to a great start.
HCM: How exactly have you helped the team become stronger and improve so significantly?
KE: The first thing I realized when I became the coach was that the team needed an attitude adjustment as well as a culture change. Team members need to feed off of each other and work as a single unit in any sport. In order to create this change, mentally or culturally, everyone must work together. I really tried to bring out specific team members who I felt have a lot of potential and helped them take on more of a leadership role within the team. I’ve delegated them more responsibilities. Once I established team leaders, they were really able to get the team to believe in themselves and make it possible to improve.
A typical lacrosse team has 35 to 40 members, and last year the team had only 18 guys. This year, by adding a lot more freshmen to the team, we currently have 30 members. I make the men do teamwork drills that involve working with each other rather than individually.
Our team is definitely climbing the ladder, and I’ve added more managers who really help out so much with behind the scenes stuff. Our entire program is growing. Our PR team is fabulous and helping us become even more well known. When we weren’t doing so well, not that much attention was given to our team. However, this year, as soon as things started to turn around, more people wanted to get involved right way. Confidence is certainly a key aspect in what it takes for a winning program.
HCM: It’s one thing to coach the team on the field, but how did you bring the team closer together off the field?
KE: Captain Josh Nelson made a great suggestion to me about a team bonding exercise that I think really worked. Lacrosse originated from the Native Americans. The game was important to Native Americans because it was very spiritual and helped them prepare for war and settle disputes. A lot of the team members weren’t familiar with the history of lacrosse, so Nelson thought it would be really cool and interesting to have a Native American shaman come speak to the team about the origin of lacrosse. So, we had a ceremony, and it certainly brought the team closer together. A different perspective really gave the boys a new appreciation for the game.
HCM: What provoked you to take charge and turn the team around?
KE: I was hired last year. I’m from Maryland. The opportunity seemed great here at Mizzou. I really wanted to help lacrosse grow in the Midwest and take a program and change it for the better while also helping the sport grow in general. Lacrosse is so large in the East and is spreading rapidly.
I started playing lacrosse when I was 5 years old, and I played in college at Loyola University in Baltimore. It was NCAA Division 1. After college I didn’t do much with it, and I took a break. I had been playing for almost 20 years! About five years ago, I was an assistant coach for a high school golf team and realized that I really have a passion for coaching. So I decided I’d try and go for being a lacrosse coach. I created an athletic resume and sent it around, and Mizzou hired me. I’m so grateful for this opportunity to work with the students here and see what an improvement they’ve made in such a short period of time. I couldn’t be more proud.
Photo credit: Marissa Ruszkowski