S2 E2. Reunited & It Feels So Good, Coaches Lars Tiffany and Kevin Cassese, Part II.

In this interview these two lacrosse legends, Lars Tiffany & Kevin Cassese, discuss how their twenty year relationship started back in 2004 when the two coached together at Stony Brook.

They describe how their bond has grown stronger as the years have passed, culminating in Cassese electing to join head coach Lars Tiffany as the associate head coach at the University of Virginia for the 2024 season.

In this second installment of our three part series, Coach Cassese discusses what it was like to work with Coach John Danowski following the Duke Lacrosse scandal, as he helped the team get to the national championship game once again, coming up just one goal shy of tying what was naturally an extremely close tilt v. Johns Hopkins. 

Coach C also reviews his experience playing for Team USA in 2002, 2006, 2010, and as an assistant coach in 2016. He notes that the 2010 experience was especially gratifying as he was able to play again for his former coach at Duke, Mike Pressler, leading the team to gold as their captain, all done while being the head lacrosse coach at Lehigh!

Our co-hosts inquire about Coach Tiffany’s own experience at the World Games, coaching the Haudneshoenee National team in the 2019 games in Israel as an assistant and then as the Head Coach in 2023. 

It’s another memorable episode that you won’t want to miss! 

If you enjoy this episode and want to hear more, you can support the show by subscribing, telling a friend, and writing a review, we’d really appreciate it!

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Transcript

Jay: 0:00

it's time for get the La Scoop, a podcast bringing you all the people and stuff you should know. In the game of lacrosse, we take LAX seriously, but ourselves, not so much. Join hosts, big Dog and Jaybird, and the biggest names in the game. Brought to you by Jay McMahon lacrosse. That's J M L Skills, mindset, and LAX IQ training. Ron Doish, the big dog, was a collegiate football and lacrosse player at Brown. He was also an assistant lacrosse coach and the executive director of the sports found. and Jay McMahon, the Jaybird, a three time All-American Midfielder Brown. He was a captain of the US Junior National team and is the founder of J M L. And joining us in the studio, Steve gfi, who's collegiate lacrosse career statistics equals one goal against Dartmouth.

0:51

You have a great regular season at number one seed in the NCAA tournament. And then you guys get to the finals again and looking at the stats, it was over a hundred thousand people. Witnessed that Final four and over 48,000 people at the championship game. So that, I mean, what a rollercoaster ride that must have been. Is there a question coming Sometime in our future, I'm setting the stage. What we do, sorry, excuse me, in journalism, get with it. So anyway, as a follow up. You know, I would imagine all those experiences had to leave a mark and then you go forward the very next year to be a head coach. So just, I don't know what you can tell us about that. I mean, holy cow, that's an incredible, incredible series of years, right? I mean, holy cow, the the experience playing at Duke was, was life changing for me and one of the biggest reasons the biggest reason was Mike Pressler and being recruited by coach Pressler and then having the opportunity to play for him and be a two time captain for him. And I learned so much just about how to how to lead. You know, I was kind of look at coach Pressler and his coaching style and, you know, say that he was the ultimate CEO. Just the way that he ran his program and incredibly organized and you know, really focused in on, on leading, leading men and helping them to become leaders of each other. So I learned a ton playing for him. I also. Opportunity just to, to get an inside look at going back and coaching for them and obviously spending time and becoming a coach myself and learning what, what is necessary to, to run a championship caliber program. And I quickly learned a couple of years after that. When we were at Duke the, we, we were playing from behind a little bit. We, we, we didn't have the full compliment of scholarships when I was playing there. Mm-Hmm, we never had the opportunity to, to, to kind of get to the, the final four. We had the opportunity to do it. We never made it. You know, we. Made it as far as the quarterfinals twice but we were doing all that. And coach Pressler was doing all that with eight scholarships in the program. So 4. 6 short of what what everybody else was doing out there. And you know, when you're a player, you have no idea. You don't, you don't know that. That's it. That's, that's a thing. You know, you just look around and say, Hey, we were, we're just, we have, we're on a level playing field with everybody else out there. And so when you look at the success that coach Pressler had in his time at Duke, And then you factor things like that in and some of the challenges that he was dealing with there. It's pretty remarkable what he was able to do. So I was able to get a, a new found respect for the way that he operated and how much success he had and how he led us on the verge of a final four you know, very much shorthanded compared to a lot of other teams. So that was impressive. And then the the experience of, of coming back and coaching for him, that, that was really, really special. And obviously we went through some tough times together, so. I'm grateful that I had the opportunity to do that with him and, and, and kind of learn from him through, through all those tough times through the Duke lacrosse scandal. And obviously it was very very difficult times, but the way I always look at it is it's something that I wouldn't wish upon my worst enemy to have to go through because it was really, really tough and really hard. But I'm grateful that I was there during that time because I felt like. As an alum and someone who is still connected to the players, those seniors that were on that team they were freshmen when I was a senior. So a very special bond with those group of guys and and obviously the, the alumni and young alums and, you know, very, a lot of connections there. So I, I, I'd like to think that it was helpful that I was there to help bridge the gap between coach Pressler and coach Danowski. And, you know, that, that, that 2007 year was a wild year. Yeah, you know, having, you know, John Banowski come in and, you know, going through a season where there were trials going on simultaneously and, you know, it was there was a lot there and, you know, obviously to make it to the final four and, and be in the championship game, there, there was a lot of interest around our team and a lot of interest around college lacrosse and. And I think that's a big part of the reason why you, you saw such such great crowds and, you know, fortunately we came up a goal short, but you know, the, the, the life lessons that, that were learned through all that you know, the, those, those men still talk to them today and they're doing amazing things and very proud of all of them and, you know, happy for, for having the opportunity to be with them. And if you kind of sit back and look at it, you know, sandwiched in all of that. My first year in coaching was, was with Lars. So had the opportunity to play with coach Pressler or play for coach Pressler coach with Lars. And my first year as a coach, go back and coach with coach Pressler. And then in the next year coach with John Donowski. I had in three short years of coaching it was around three legends of the game. So you wonder, Hey, and also by the way, it went through the, one of the biggest crisis in college athletics history. So. Yeah. I, I was ready, I felt ready as a coach. Right. So 26 you were really 36. Exactly. You like Exactly. Had 10 years in one year. That 2006 year, what, what else could I see? So it was I, I learned a lot. I learned a ton, you know, thanks to those, those great men, and felt like I was, I was ready to be a head coach. That was cool. Now, what was Coach Chenowski like in comparison, say to Coach Presler? They're all different. Yeah, all different. Coach Stanowski and that year was wild. You know, he was less of a lacrosse coach in that year. And, and more of he had to do everything else. Counselor. Yeah, there was a lot going on on campus. And, you know, so he was very, very distracted. So I thought he did a good job of, of keeping his eye on the prize and, you know, also being able to manage everything that was going on around him, which was difficult. And you know, he also, he had a son on the team, Matt was on the team and. You know, so there was you know, definitely that dynamic that that helped knowing him and all knowing the players. So but he was he did a great job throughout that year, a very difficult situation to walk into. And you know, he let us let us right there to the doorstep. It's amazing. Good stuff. Okay. Now, Lars, we love to hear about the relationships that people have through the sport of lacrosse and, you know, as Coach Casiz was just saying, you know, you were his first head coach as far as his first coaching job. So what was it like when you first tell us when you first met Kevin and then what that year was like coaching with him? Sure. I'll I'll answer that, but let me segue what Kevin was talking about a couple of years later. He's down in Durham. It was it was miraculous what such a young man was able to do when Mike Pressler was, was removed from the Duke lacrosse program and the first assistant, you know, stepped aside, wasn't able to handle. the media responsibilities of carrying the Division One team. Here's, here's Kevin, and he's the face of the program. Kevin was part of an interview. I mean, he was, what was it? What was it, Kevin? 50, 60 reporters in the room, and he's, he's the voice of Duke lacrosse. It's such a young age, but it was the interim head coach. I didn't have that in there. He was. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, but to have the points and the strength and the, I mean, literally the backbone to be, you know, and this isn't just a normal lacrosse conversation where maybe 50, 000 lacrosse nuts are listening to you. You got millions of people across the country. Like, Oh, what's going on with this Duke lacrosse candle. Yeah. Those guys in the public guy, they were guilty until proven innocent, you know, and who's speaking for them. And I mean, I remember Kevin saying, you know you know, it's just as he prepared for that. I've seen him do that in so many things in so many ways. It's lacrosse coach 20 years, you know, he sought out, you know, expert help. He went out and he told me, talk to coach Shishovsky. You know, and Coach K came and talked to him like, okay, this is how you handle the media and this is how you present yourself. And, and I've seen Kevin do that, you know, and I chuckled now because those first few years, Kevin, he probably did have some things to learn X's and O's wise. But then a couple of years after that, Kevin was still coming to me and other coaches like, Hey, I really don't understand this. Can you help me out here? He honestly did know what he was talking about. He did understand what we were doing on our ride, or he did understand what our man up play was. But he wanted like one little or two little pieces because he wanted to make his own man up, continue to be the best in the country, he wanted to make his ride continue to be one of the best, I mean it was just, he's, he's got a way of you know, a little bit of a schnooker, but he's got an open mind. Suck that extra piece of information out of you. But because he's got that personality, he's so engaging with other people. And he's disarming he's very intelligent. And he's just a lot of fun to be around. So people give up the, give up the moths and get dirt. And but it's, but it's, but it, but it is true. It's it's real in terms of relationship. I see him doing it with our men already. He's making me have to become a better man and have better relationships with him because I've seen the relationships he's already building with the UVA lacrosse men. And I'm like, okay, well I gotta get better here because look, you know, this is true. This isn't transactional, what he's dealing with, with his offensive players and face off men. This is, he's really, really building some relationships. Okay, let me segue back. You know, it's Kevin was introduced to me by, I think there's some, some brine representatives. They were saying, Hey, you know, this, this guy, Kevin, he's from Long Island. He's from 10 miles away. He would love to be a part of your new program. I became a head coach in 2004 after being at Penn State for four years and I needed to build the staff out. And you know, I was, all right, who, who wants to, who wants to join this unproven head coach who wants to do this? And so I got some great recommendations from him. Obviously it's seen him play as an elite player. There does tend to be, we do give people a little bit more rope when you've been a great player. We assume you can coach, but you know, I've, you know, you never quite sure, but it certainly gets your foot in the door. And and so from that first meeting with Kevin. And just the real, just the humor, the you know, here's this guy with this incredible resume, you know, a monster of an athlete and, and yet he, he's not telling all that byline when you started off this interview, he's not going to talk about all that. He's not going to share those types of stories, try to one up your story. That's not who Kevin is. He's, he's an incredible listener and he's, he's an incredible friend and and I'm really lucky that he's part of our staff. Beautiful. This is fun. I'm going to do this every week. So, so Kevin, how about, how about you? Like, you know, you're a young coach and what are your first impressions of of this guy, Lars Tiffany? As a head coach, as you're learning to, you know, you're, you're obviously a great player, as Lars said, but now you're learning how to be a coach. And what are your impressions of coach Tiffany during that time in Stony Brook? Well, first impression was we met at a Chili's that was where the job interview was. I'll never forget this as long as I live, but I met at a Chili's right in Stony Brook. And, you know, we instantly started diving into X's and O's and. I remember Lars breaking out some sugar packets and salt shakers and, you know, doing, you know, a couple of different diagrams right there on the table and, you know, and just dove right in and, and, you know, that's That was kind of my introduction. My first impression was, man, this guy is really smart. He's a really smart lacrosse coach. He's really inquisitive. He's, and, and that, that became so true as, as I dove in with him. And we had that incredible year together at Stony Brook. And, you know, I felt like I, I had so much to learn when it came to how to play the game and how to coach the game. And you know, and, and I, I learned all that from Lars. I also learned the work ethic that that is required to be a champion at the coaching level in the coaching profession. And you know, I. Really had I had learned the work ethic from my parents, both of them were teachers and my dad was, I said earlier, a high school football coach and both my parents were always the one saying, Hey, you're gonna, you're gonna be the first to show up and the last one to leave. And I remember that was really hard to do with Lars because he was in the office. all hours of the night. So I would be sitting in my office oftentimes with nothing to do. Is he still in there? I would just wait him out. I'd be sitting in there. My office was the size of a closet. He's sitting in that closet for hours. I'm not leaving. What that, what that turned into was this incredible friendship where, you know, we would eventually it would be dinner time or even later than dinner time and we were both still there and say, all right, let's go grab a bite to eat or let's go watch a high school lacrosse game or, you know, let's let's plan to go and, and, and watch a college lacrosse game because you could do live scouting at the time. And we, we just, you Spent so much time together in that year. It was it was awesome as a young coach to be able to, to tag along and be with him and all those experiences. I really learned what it took to be successful as a coach at this level. Hello, everyone. We're so glad to be back. And we're so glad you're joining us for season two of the, get the lack scoop podcast. Due to popular demand. We have put together a Patrion page for the show. This will allow those interested in supporting our efforts. To do just that and to get exclusive access to unedited interviews. Big discounts on JML online courses. And merchandise from our new online store. Big additions to the JML course catalog. Now we have a defenseman's course taught by none other than UVA head coach, Lars, Tiffany, and a goalie course taught by former two-time All-American and UVA assistant coach. Kept Turner. You can check out our Patrion page with the link that is listed in the description, as well as taking a look at the online store again, with the link listed in the description. We're super excited to get back to our interview and you will find that interview in progress. And were you just kind of deciding on the coaching profession? Like you just graduated from college, like, all right, I'll take this first job, where you're like, I'm. I'm feeling this college, lacrosse coaching thing out. Or had you decided like I'm doing this for the rest of my life? Yeah, I decided that that coaching was something that I was going to to go after and dive in headfirst on. I didn't know if that would eventually be college coaching or potentially high school coaching like, like my father. But I knew that coaching was something that I wanted to do. My first year out of school, I went and actually worked at Bryan, the lacrosse company up in the Massachusetts area. And I was close to the game but there was something missing and that interaction with the team and players and, and competition. I missed that in my, my year you know, just out of school. So this was a great opportunity to. To get to get into it and and see if college coaching was was for me. And obviously it was and a big part of that was was was being there and working for Lars and and learning from him. That's great. Nice. So Kevin mentioned earlier. I mean, you're in pretty elite company. Haven't been a three time. You know, world team player for Team USA. And it's been pretty neat for us, you know through this podcast, like we had on some of the people who are in that company with you, like a guy, John DeTomaso, who was a big sort of a hero of mine growing up in Maryland and watching him play at Hopkins. And then our teammate and yours on Team USA in 02, Darren Lowe. And of course, you know, those are the players that young players aspire to. I want to be that. How do you get there? As you talk to young kids, you know, you're all over the country talking to players of all ages. What would you tell them were the keys to your success at the simple level? What do you have to do? To, to get to whatever level you want to be at. What are the things you talk about in terms of being a great player? Yeah. The first one's easy. It's you have to fall in love with the game. That that's, that's the number one thing. And if you fall in love with the game. Then you're going to, you're going to spend the time that's required to, to, to be great at it. And that, that was easy for me that it was kind of love at first sight when I when I got introduced to it as we spoke about earlier and so falling in love with the game is a big piece of it. And for me, I I didn't want to put the stick down and I wanted to continue to work and the competitive spirit in me was always there. That's something that I very much took from my parents. So yeah, I always wanted to be the best at whatever it was that I was doing. So therefore I would go and I would work for it. So I don't think there's any complicated recipe there. I think it's it's just doing, doing the small things, the simple things over and over and over again. I think it's also, you know, having some good fortune along the way. And you know, I, I felt like that was a big part of the first time that I made a team USA because it was a really interesting time, 2002. It was just at the beginning of the professional league, the MLL. And they didn't allow the MLL players to play in it. So they had to choose either to play MLL or to play for Team USA. So that's why we had this interesting roster of some older guys you know, that had to either decide not to play in the MLL or you know, decided that, or that they were just done playing at that level. And so we had guys, you know, like, like the Lowe brothers you know, and Timmy Schur and some other guys. And then. The rest of us were all college guys. So I just finished my junior year and yeah, exactly. So it was really interesting. So I you know, I got that experience. It was also kind of cool to, to be on a team USA team that was very much the underdog heading into it. And that was the first time that had ever happened. You know, because the guys on Team Canada, there, there wasn't such a rule that, you know, they had, they had all the studs playing for them. So it was interesting but I, I appreciated that opportunity. And obviously we we went in as the underdog and we ended up winning the championship. And it was it was the start of you know, a long period of time, either as a player, as a coach with Team USA. And. Really fun to be able to play on that team in particular, Mike Pressler was the assistant coach on that team. And, and Jack Emmer was the head coach. And, you know, so to, to have again, more experiences and exposure to these legendary coaches playing for Jack Emmer in 2006, it was John Desko. And yeah, then I got a chance in 2010 to play again for Mike Pressler. It was just really. really incredible and kind of surreal to be able to play at that level and, and continue it on. But that 2010, that was a big goal of mine. I was, you know, 30 years old at the time, which, you know, the most guys weren't, weren't still playing at the professional level at that age. And You know, it was my goal to go and be a captain of that team and be on that team. As soon as I heard that coach Pressler was going to be the head coach and really went and worked for it and, and, and had to, you know, also being a head coach at Lehigh at the time, it was it was, it was. difficult to devote the time that was required for both of those things to, to try and be as successful as I could in both endeavors. But I'm proud of the fact that we're able to do that and, and, you know, help help lead coach Pressler to to a gold medal after all he had been through with the situation at Duke to, to see him at the top of the mountain that was very, a very emotional experience for me and for him as well. And to share that with him was really special. That's awesome. Amazing. Amazing stuff. Alright, and now Lars, yourself, having coached at multiple world games with the Haudenosaunee Nationals once as an assistant, and then this past summer as a head coach you're there coaching players like Lyle Thompson, and likely the offensive MVP from this summer, Austin Stotts, and what is it, tell us a little bit about their approach to the game, and their commitment, and, you know, what that's like. Yeah, well, first of all, I'm focused on the stick. I'm going to steal a little bit of the question you asked, Kevin, you know, what makes this sport different, you know, certain sports, the big, the big money revenue generating sports, basketball height is so, so critical. Baseball vision, having better than 2020 vision. So the hitters can see the, the curveball versus the fastball or, or the splitter, whatever that is. Football yet the mass is so critical. Well, I mean, we love all that in lacrosse, but it's the stick. And so when you talk about hard work, focused, you know, training with purpose, it's, The sport of lacrosse actually gives you that opportunity because if you really, really develop great stick work and you can do it with both hands, now you can set yourself apart from others and has nothing to do with your genetics, right? Oh, you didn't just win the ovarian lottery. This is a sport where you can just drive it home, bam, bam, bam, getting that stickwork as best you can. And so when you ask the question about Lyle Thompson and Audie Stotts and the Native American players I was fortunate to grow up with and really, really lucky to be able to coach the last two world games in Israel and San Diego, the stickwork is amazing. And it's startling. I, I spend nine months a year with Virginia lacrosse players, elite division one college lacrosse players. When we then got into San Diego and did our first practice and a stick work. I was amazed and again, my bar is fairly high, right? I'm just watching these 23 guys zing the ball around, you know, just snapping off from the wrist and handling everything and just catching the release, the quickness of the release. And so that's the beauty of this thing. You know, we documented the four Thompson brothers in the backyard, you know, with their father putting a. You know, that the wood goalie with just little circles that the ball barely fits through. Oh, you got to hit, you got to throw the ball through that cutout circle for it to be a goal. Right. And you know, and again, they didn't, they didn't have TV, you know, and a lot of Native Americans electricity is throughout most of the reserves, but not all. And so this is the outlet you know, and there's a part of you want to wish it was more books and a more public library access. But, you know, it's, this is the reality that this game is part of their history. It's part of their roots, the story of the origins of the planet. the origins of the people, the game of lacrosse is filtered in through there for them. And so it's just natural for them to go out in the backyard, go out to the field, go to the box and play. But having that stick in your hand is so, so critical. And that's what you get to see. What I love also to build on top of the stick and the relationship is Zed Williams, who played for us at University of Virginia, Dom Starkey and Mark Henry. And brought him out of Silver Creek, the Catarugas Nation up in western New York area. I mean, to see Zed Williams get ready for a game. To see Zed Williams, what was it, a couple years ago in the PLL, he was the MVP? Yeah. I mean, to see him kiss the stick. To see him this summer in San Diego, how this relationship he has with the stick. To see him play with the stick that Alfie Jacques created, that my father gave to me as a gift. That every game this year in San Diego with the Haudenosaunee. Because that's type of stick, which is not legal in most other sports of lacrosse, but for the international game, it's not that Zed goes out there and played for the first two minutes with a six foot, you know, white oak stick. It's, it's the stick. It's this relationship with a stick that's so personal. And having that stick in their hands starting at age three, that to me is the key. That is cool. That is definitely a different approach. Kissing a stick and all that. Hey, Jay, I'm going to interject here. So I want to, I want to pick up on that Lars and both of your, you've both been deeply involved in the international game. So the Olympics, here we go. So I'd love to have each of you. Give your sense of how, you know, USA lacrosse is certainly preparing to have that be a key moment for the sport of lacrosse and the ongoing growth of the game. Lars, I'm, I'm interested if you have any sort of the latest information on the Haudenosaunee's being able to compete in the Olympics, which seems like it may still be up in the air. So obviously it's a huge moment for our sport and would love to hear you two reflect on it. Lars, you want to start off? I'll dive in and I'm going to give the the mixed emotional response, you know, certainly would be great to have the game lacrosse again. It obviously happened about 100 years ago to get again recognized and and not just be experimental, but be a part of the four year cycle to be in the Olympics. And and so we're thrilled about that. We understand that that would give other nations who are. Introducing the game of lacrosse to their, to their populace, to grow this game internationally, having it at the Olympic level really helps European and Asian and other continental nations, because that's sort of the, the, the measure. Are you in the Olympics or are you not? That would be amazing. And and how cool would it be for, you know people from this, this country, you know, Americans to be able to pursue a gold medal playing this game of lacrosse at the, at the Olympics. You know, my mixed response comes from, because I've been fortunate to coach and grow up and live with the Haudenosaunee people. And while it does look like 2028. In Los Angeles, the game of lacrosse will be a part of this. What will be the participation by the Haudenosaunee Joe Biden? Our president a month ago came out and made some, a bold statement, strongly encouraging that our people are allowed to play and participate. And but the IOC at this point has not. giving us the thumbs up. At this point, the IOC is saying, well, there's an international boundary. If you're south of that, why can't those aboriginal people play and try out for Team USA? And why can't those north of that boundary try out and try to participate with Team Canada? I can tell you at this point, the Haudenosaunee men would not try out for Team USA or Team Canada. They, it's, and, and, and it's, they're, they want their own people. It's a sovereign nation. And I don't admit that the Haudenosaunee the board, the leadership, the faith keeper, warlords they look at lacrosse, you know, a bit as a political football. They will use it to drive home the agenda of what we're all trying to get to, that the Haudenosaunee are seen as a sovereign nation and independent from U. S. and Canada. And so, and having been a coach with the Haudenosaunee now. I, and I'm in this close and personal with the leadership and the players, I actually completely get it now. I completely buy in at first, you know, five years ago, I'm like, look, I can solve the passport issue. If we have trouble getting Israel, you get an American passport cause you're south of the border. You get in a Canadian passport. We can solve this problem, you know, luckily two days late, but we finally got to Netanya. But now I get it. No, no, this, we are the Haudenosaunee people. And you know, having been a coach for the Haudenosaunee, I couldn't coach Team USA if I was lucky enough to be asked. It's the bond, the relationships, you know, being true to who you really are and to the people I really love. It's real. So that's why I give you the mixed answer on the the, the forthcoming opportunity for the world to see lacrosse in the Olympics. Lars, you talk about the political aspect. Are there things our listeners can do in terms of the realities of political pressure? Are there, are there any sort of. Advocacy campaigns underway for those who think the Haudenosaunee should be able to compete given, you know, given that they originated this great game. I, I do you know, at this point, you know, obviously we have the president behind it. I it's really the international level, the IOC the Olympic Committee. I don't know. I haven't really heard of too much at this point. Now, my gut feeling is that the Haudenosaunee will be allowed to participate in 2028. If I had to guess, you know, I'm not, I don't try to be a prognosticator or crystal ball seer. I just try to make Virginia lacrosse and Haudenosaunee when I can coach them better every day. But it's, I do see, I think it'd be difficult for the IOC to say, okay, we won't give the Haudenosaunee a you know, an experimental, an exhibition spot in 2028. What we're, what the Haudenosaunee people we're trying to do is get this permanent. So, so but I appreciate you asking. And if there if things like that come up, I will certainly broadcast and publicize efforts that can try to nudge IOC membership. Yeah. Nice. Great. Kev. Kev, how about, how about your persp? Oh, I'm sorry, Jay, please, please, Jay. No, I'm sorry I didn't, yeah, I don't, I don't let coach speak. Don't think I, I don't think I would. I I don't want to go about trying to answer that any differently than what Lars said. I, I. wholeheartedly agree with everything he just said and you know, would just be repeating his points. So ditto, I'll say that. Gotcha. Nice. Now we had a couple questions here that I think you guys already answered with those earlier answers. Like we get people from the audience saying, you know, what, what do kids need to do to, you know, what kind of skills should they work on before they go into team practice? What do they need to do if they want to pursue Team USA? And Coach Kassis, you were saying. Passion, right? Show up with great passion and coach Tiffany here was saying the stick skills, right? You got to work on your stick skills like the Lyle Thompson and his three brothers I mean the whole family is out there working on their stick skills. So we always kind of hammer that home You need to work between practices, you know and work on your skills So that that is one of the reasons why I think we all love the sport is that any size player can play You know, if they've got those stick skills, so let's jump ahead or jump back coach. Tiffany here, get back to the bromance a little bit between you and coach cassis and tell us you know, after you worked with him at Stony Brook, like why and how did you guys just, you know, you had that one year you're together and it's pretty amazing that you'd stayed friends and in such close contact for, it's like 20 years and now it culminates and you guys working together like, I don't know, just tell us how and why that happened. What do you think? And you just have the relationship developed over the years. Like, when would you see each other? I don't know. Give us the background. Yeah. I mean, it's, it's easy to see each other sporadically throughout the summer because of the recruiting events. But you know, do you maintain relationships during this, during the year with conversations and, you know, updates and how's your team doing? And, and, Hey, I saw this recruit, you know I think he he seems to be interested in. You know, your type of institution or, you know, just sharing of information. But that year we spent together, you know, it was crystal clear. Like, you know, you just some people on this planet, you click with and some people you just, yeah, we're not really compatible with Kevin and I, it was like, bam. I mean, I remember that first year, you know, Stony Brook's lacrosse stadium, Laval stadium there. They've got these it only seats about 9, 000. So we're not talking about a a power of five football conference. venue, but we would, we were running up and down every aisle up all the way to the top and then just going around the whole little, the whole stadium and just pushing each other, pushing each other, trying to see who's going to quit first, you know, and nobody was going to quit. It was just, it was just like this kindred spirit of someone who was a better looking and a better athlete than me, but other than that, it was just this, it was, there was a lot of similarities and you're, you're not going to get any argument here, Lars. A lot of people would have left you at the stadium stairs. And so we just like, Hey, Kevin, I got a problem here. Hi. Oh, coach. Tiffany's got a problem. Could this mean trouble in paradise? Could this young budding bromance beyond the rocks. Tune in next week to find out and hear the stunning conclusion to this exciting interview.

Ron: 32:58

until we meet again, here to, hoping you find the twine. We're signing off here at the Get the LAX coop. Thanks again so much. We will see you the next time.