Phi-Lacrosse-ophy Podcast Ep. 40 - Harvard Women's Head Coach Devon Wills - a podcast by Jamie Munro

Devon Wills - Women's Head Coach at Harvard University

01:02 Coach Wills Coaching Journey
-LaxWorld store and friends youth league - Mark Foster
-Going to Dartmouth
-Being around friends with lacrosse
-U.S Coaches impact
-Playing with the boys in high school and Colorado High schools

05:47 The Mentorship at Dartmouth
-The appeal of Dartmouth
-Amy Patton and her impact
-Stepping in to help coach after graduation at Dartmouth

08:28 The Changes in Rules in Women's Lacrosse and Stick Technology
-The switch to the out of bounds rules
-The growth of the game in every area
-Olympic styles and evolution of the game
-Social media impact

10:42 Learning From her Denver University and USC Experience
-Learning a new passion for the game
-Showing the player relationship side
-Discussions and an open mind are good
-Getting into USC and starting a program
-Making the NCAA tournament as a new program
-The first class at USC
-Lindsey Munday and her imoact
-The creation of their Zone

19:25 Building the Culture at Harvard as a Head Coach
-Difference from USC
-Breaking bad mentalities
-Empowering the team
-Excitement for change and buying in
-How to increase buy in from the team and excitement

22:27 Philosophy on Player Development
-Using the fall for fundamentals
-Being creative being restricted by the Ivy League
-Teaching the basics constantly
-Drilling anticipation
-Physicality in women's lacrosse
-Progression of 1v1's
-The use of post ups
-Long dodges vs in tight dodges

33:52 Philosophy of 2 Man Game
-Growing more in the women's game
-Negative to putting the whole show on less players
-Different colleges who do it

36:15 Defensive Philosophy
-Depends on the personnel
-More footwork oriented
-Trying to take as much decision making out of it
-Starts with foundation and goes from there
-Working on uneven situations and rotations
-2 way middies
-Playing pressure behind the net

42:42 What Coach Wills Looks for Recruiting
-Good footwork
-Competitive spirit
-Position specific
-Evaluating IQ in defenders
-Evaluation environments
-Evaluating diversity in offensive players
-Evaluating goalies

48:49 Changes in 8 Merter Shots
-Hammering the ball instead of running in
-Depends on the types of goalies

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Website of Jamie Munro