AUBURN - If Steve Crosby needs a new coach for Auburn's ever-growing boys lacrosse program, he doesn't have far to look.
Angela Kershner / The Citizen
Assistant coaches for the Auburn varsity lacrosse team Mike Losani, left, and John Montone look on during the Maroons' game against Corcoran at Holland Stadium on Thursday.
Assistant coaches for the Auburn varsity lacrosse team Mike Losani, left, and John Montone look on during the Maroons' game against Corcoran at Holland Stadium on Thursday.
All he has to do grab an old yearbook.
Of the 16 boys lacrosse coaches in the Auburn system, modified through varsity, only one didn't graduate from Auburn High School - and that includes head coach Crosby.
This season Crosby shares the reigns with longtime assistant Mike Losani and former Cayuga Community College men's program coaches Matt Smith and John Montone.
“We're all good friends, and we all can contribute something,” said Smith, who played under Crosby while he was a Maroon. “We have four coaches here who are able to put their egos aside and do what's best for the kids.”
Besides four varsity coaches, recent graduates such as Travis Tarr (LeMoyne), Seamus Rhodes (Herkimer), Nick Musso (Hobart) and Brian Dautrich have returned to coach the modified and junior varsity levels.
Losani, an assistant to Crosby for more than a decade now, believes it's a bonus to have former local players coaching the new local talent.
“It's important because there is tradition here - not just in lacrosse but in a lot of sports,” he said. “We can pass on some of the traditions that we learned, the hometown pride that we learned. We've lived it and now they're living it.”
Each coach brings something different to the table. Losani, a Cortland State grad, played with Crosby and graduated with him in 1985.
“Mike has a great knowledge of the game,” Crosby said. “He has a great fire, a great passion for everything he does. Mike knows the game of lacrosse inside and out. He has a great rapport with the kids.”
Smith juggles a full-time job, family and Auburn City Council duties. He had two undefeated seasons as the Maroons' junior varsity coach before coaching the Spartans to the playoffs for four years.
“Matt is an outstanding student of the game,” Crosby said of Smith, a Liberty College graduate. “He made some substantial changes to things we've done defensively over the years.”
Montone focuses on the other end of the field.
“Since I started coaching I've taken more of a liking to the offensive side of the game,” Montone said. “It allows the kids to be creative - letting them see the field visually.
“That's what I love about lacrosse. There can be a set motion, a set offense, but the majority of the game you're scoring off turnovers in transition.”
Crosby believes having multiple coaches is almost required now for a successful lacrosse program, especially in one of the state's toughest regions.
“There's many other teams around the league that have three, four, five coaches at the varsity level,” he said. “There's so many different things that you need to do and you need to be prepared for. We're identifying those things and it's tremendously helpful.”
According to Losani, Auburn lacrosse is much different than it was 20 years ago with the addition of summer day programs and the box league.
“When we graduated here in '85, [lacrosse] was one of those things that you picked up a stick in March and you put it down in May,” he said. “Steve has just recruited so many kids and now the program is going year round.”
Losani gives Crosby the lion's share of the credit.
“He's the one who did all the dirty work - the summer jobs, getting the kids involved.” he said.
“He's the one that's really got this program where it is, and I think we're a very respected program in Central New York and in New York State.”
Crosby credited Auburn athletic director Tam Ray for her work, especially since the program has expanded to include two modified teams.
“She has really been instrumental in the success that all of the sports teams at Auburn have had over the years,” he said.
“She allows us to grow, she's there for us and she does whatever she can to support ourselves and our programs.”
Smith and Losani plan to keep coaching for a long time. Smith, a teacher like Losani, believes they can offer something different than educators.
“You can be more open with them, they can be more open with you,” Smith said.
“Sports are so emotional and it's another way you can connect with kids in a positive manner.”
It's that kind of attitude that makes Crosby confident that any of his assistants can take over an entire program.
“Any one of the three would be an outstanding head coach and have been through the different things they've done,” he said. “Any one of them could easily leave what we're doing and lead this program.
“The opportunity to work with three guys of that caliber is just a dream come true for someone such as myself and a tremendous opportunity for our program.”
Editor's Note: This is the first in a series of articles that will feature a variety of people who work behind the scenes of sports programs throughout the community. The articles will appear each Monday in The Citizen
Of the 16 boys lacrosse coaches in the Auburn system, modified through varsity, only one didn't graduate from Auburn High School - and that includes head coach Crosby.
This season Crosby shares the reigns with longtime assistant Mike Losani and former Cayuga Community College men's program coaches Matt Smith and John Montone.
“We're all good friends, and we all can contribute something,” said Smith, who played under Crosby while he was a Maroon. “We have four coaches here who are able to put their egos aside and do what's best for the kids.”
Besides four varsity coaches, recent graduates such as Travis Tarr (LeMoyne), Seamus Rhodes (Herkimer), Nick Musso (Hobart) and Brian Dautrich have returned to coach the modified and junior varsity levels.
Losani, an assistant to Crosby for more than a decade now, believes it's a bonus to have former local players coaching the new local talent.
“It's important because there is tradition here - not just in lacrosse but in a lot of sports,” he said. “We can pass on some of the traditions that we learned, the hometown pride that we learned. We've lived it and now they're living it.”
Each coach brings something different to the table. Losani, a Cortland State grad, played with Crosby and graduated with him in 1985.
“Mike has a great knowledge of the game,” Crosby said. “He has a great fire, a great passion for everything he does. Mike knows the game of lacrosse inside and out. He has a great rapport with the kids.”
Smith juggles a full-time job, family and Auburn City Council duties. He had two undefeated seasons as the Maroons' junior varsity coach before coaching the Spartans to the playoffs for four years.
“Matt is an outstanding student of the game,” Crosby said of Smith, a Liberty College graduate. “He made some substantial changes to things we've done defensively over the years.”
Montone focuses on the other end of the field.
“Since I started coaching I've taken more of a liking to the offensive side of the game,” Montone said. “It allows the kids to be creative - letting them see the field visually.
“That's what I love about lacrosse. There can be a set motion, a set offense, but the majority of the game you're scoring off turnovers in transition.”
Crosby believes having multiple coaches is almost required now for a successful lacrosse program, especially in one of the state's toughest regions.
“There's many other teams around the league that have three, four, five coaches at the varsity level,” he said. “There's so many different things that you need to do and you need to be prepared for. We're identifying those things and it's tremendously helpful.”
According to Losani, Auburn lacrosse is much different than it was 20 years ago with the addition of summer day programs and the box league.
“When we graduated here in '85, [lacrosse] was one of those things that you picked up a stick in March and you put it down in May,” he said. “Steve has just recruited so many kids and now the program is going year round.”
Losani gives Crosby the lion's share of the credit.
“He's the one who did all the dirty work - the summer jobs, getting the kids involved.” he said.
“He's the one that's really got this program where it is, and I think we're a very respected program in Central New York and in New York State.”
Crosby credited Auburn athletic director Tam Ray for her work, especially since the program has expanded to include two modified teams.
“She has really been instrumental in the success that all of the sports teams at Auburn have had over the years,” he said.
“She allows us to grow, she's there for us and she does whatever she can to support ourselves and our programs.”
Smith and Losani plan to keep coaching for a long time. Smith, a teacher like Losani, believes they can offer something different than educators.
“You can be more open with them, they can be more open with you,” Smith said.
“Sports are so emotional and it's another way you can connect with kids in a positive manner.”
It's that kind of attitude that makes Crosby confident that any of his assistants can take over an entire program.
“Any one of the three would be an outstanding head coach and have been through the different things they've done,” he said. “Any one of them could easily leave what we're doing and lead this program.
“The opportunity to work with three guys of that caliber is just a dream come true for someone such as myself and a tremendous opportunity for our program.”
Editor's Note: This is the first in a series of articles that will feature a variety of people who work behind the scenes of sports programs throughout the community. The articles will appear each Monday in The Citizen
The Citizens' Say
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Matt wrote on Apr 30, 2007 7:59 PM:
A lacrosse mother wrote on Apr 30, 2007 4:22 PM: