Phi-Lacrosse-ophy Podcast Ep. 40 - Harvard Women's Head Coach Devon Wills

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