John Edeler was recently announced as the new Head Coach at Bishop McDevitt High School. He was kind of enough to take some time to answer questions about his experiences with the game, prior coaching positions, and plans for the Crusader program.
How long have you been involved in the sport of lacrosse?
I have been involved for about 13 years. I started as a player and went all the way through college. I began coaching in 2011 after graduating from college.
What drew you to the game?
The main thing was to keep me in shape for soccer. I wasn’t originally that interested in playing lacrosse at my high school, but after my first year I was hooked. The speed and finesse of the game really kept me interested.
What are some of your fondest memories of playing lacrosse?
My best memories have to deal with playing in college. The friendships that are formed on the lacrosse field last a lifetime, even if you weren’t great friends, there is something about sharing the field with your team mates that makes a lasting impression. However, my best memory has to be traveling with my team for my first National All Star Game at the University of Virginia. Spending a weekend away with some of my team mates was great.
How long have you been coaching?
I’ve been coaching something since 2009 when I graduated college, but began coaching lacrosse in the spring of 2011. So this will be the start of my 5thseason.
What are some of your previous coaching positions?
I previously only coached girl’s lacrosse. I coached at Red Lion Christian Academy in Bear, DE and at Trinity High School in Camp Hill, PA. I was the first coach at Trinity High School, but I’m very excited to transition back to the boys game.
What made you want to start coaching the sport of lacrosse?
I began coaching lacrosse as a favor to some of my students and the athletic director at Red Lion Christian Academy. After that first year, similar to my playing experience, I was hooked. The community around the sport is really great, and the excitement of coaching such a fast paced and fast growing sport is wonderful.
What would you say your main philosophies are as a coach are?
I think that coaching is so much more than teaching skills about a specific sport. The best coaches I had taught me life skills and that is my main philosophy as a coach. Wins and losses will come no matter how great a player you are, but how you deal with them as a person is the true test of character.
What are some of your goals headed into the 2016 season?
Bishop McDevitt’s program hasn’t been a powerhouse in the lacrosse world. My goal for the 2016 season is to continue building the program until its recognized as a dominant presence. Without getting too much into what I want the players to be able to do, overall I want to start some excitement at McDevitt about the sport of lacrosse.
What would you say are your strongest qualities are as a coach?
I am a special education teacher also, and I have to say that my greatest strength as a teacher is patience. I think that translates to coaching also. Being patient with the players as they learn new systems and learn how to adjust to their new coaches is a huge asset.
Care to share any thoughts or predictions on the upcoming season?
I have to get my feet under me quickly as I transition from the girl’s game into the boy’s game. I think that we will continue to increase the skill at McDevitt, drawing from the past coaches transformation of the culture.
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