By: Sierra Lynn
March 11, 2020
Tuscaloosa, Ala. - From far away, the University of Alabama men’s lacrosse players can not be differentiated from the coaches. They all have the same relative build and height. They have practiced as one, played as one, and ultimately become one. However, as you get closer each player, each coach, has unique qualities and talents. They each have brought something to the 2020 season and team.
However, there is one person that stands out among the rest because of the way he has led the team. He is not a player but a coach. Actually, he is THE coach.
Head coach Shane Ryan has been coaching for the UA men’s club lacrosse team for four years now. Ryan has been an assistant coach since 2017, where he mainly helped coach defense. This past year Ryan stepped into the position of head coach.
“It [transitioning from assistant to head coach] has been awesome. I mean, especially being out here with the kids for several years has been an easier transition, and our former head coach, I played with him while we were here. So the two of us, it was a(n) easy kind of share in the responsibilities and all of that so, but it feels good to have the title, I guess.” Ryan said.
Before becoming the leader of over 40 players, he was one of them and played on the same field they did.
Ryan played for Bama as a midfielder during his freshman, sophomore, and senior year. He graduated from the University of Alabama in 2014. During his time as a player, the Crimson Tide lacrosse team went 16-25 in the SELC. Ryan was a captain his sophomore and senior years.
“It [going from player to coach] is tough. I mean, I still want to be out there pretty bad, but I like it. Being a part of the program, playing here and then getting to help coach here has been really awesome just to see it grow and change and all of that. It has been really cool.” Ryan said.
Ryan took the place of former head coach, Craig Landru. Landru was also a player on the team from 2011-2014 and a captain both in his junior and senior year.
Aaron Cargas, a senior midfielder on the 2020 team, has had Ryan as a coach all four years and Landru as a head coach for three.
“Our old head coach, Craig Landru, we love him to death, but he moved away, and Shane has always kind of had the passion and fire to, like, be the head coach, and he finally got his opportunity. So I have definitely seen him kind of mature, if you will, into that role... So he has just stepped up a lot and he is ready for the position I think.” Cargas said.
Becoming a competitive, winning team, has been a priority for Ryan this season. He has accomplished this goal by demonstrating rather than telling. Ryan leads the team by example.
He has brought his stick with him to every practice.
During one practice, the team split into two groups. Ryan led a circuit work-out where the players did push-ups, knee-ups, flutter kicks, squats, and scissors kicks. The two groups switched once the exercise was completed. Ryan did the circuit twice with each group.
Not only does Ryan lead by example but has consistently made an hour and a half drive, there and back, from Birmingham, Ala. three days a week. This number does not include the driving time it takes to get to games.
Jake Little, a freshman on the team, said it means a lot to him to have a coach who is invested in the team.
“It definitely shows a lot about him as a person, and how much he really cares about this team because I mean none of us are doing that, and he is putting in more work than any of us, and so it is good to know that whatever you put in is going to be matched no matter what.” Little said.
Although new to the position of head coach, Ryan has earned the respect of his players. He also coached the team during a historical win this year. He led the team to its first victory ever against the University of Georgia men’s club lacrosse team, beating them 9-8.
“Shane definitely, he is strict but not to the point where it is too much. He definitely knows what he wants to get done at practice, and if we do not meet those standards then he is going to find a way to make us meet those standards.” Little said.
Ryan holds not only the team accountable but each individual player as well. This emphasis on discipline and pride in the team is the foundation of the 2020 roster. Ryan said the team has a lot of numbers which provides depth and dimension. He said that he was happy with the player’s consistency at practice.
“I would say honestly this year it is a team built off of heart. The culture of the team has been the focus over the last several years making sure everybody is bought in and they want to be out here and they are working hard. So I think, I mean their work ethic and their heart has been what has stood out the most this year.” Ryan said.
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