When you are the preeminent university in the world, success is the standard. However, as of late, Harvard’s lacrosse program hasn’t matched the university’s illustrious education. Enter Gerry Byrne.
Well known in the lacrosse world as a defensive guru and elite recruiter, he’s more than ready to right the ship. Coach Gerry Byrne spent the better part of two decades molding some of the nation’s top defenses at Notre Dame.
I don’t know if he has a green thumb, but his fingerprints are all over the PLL Redwoods and its defensive identity.
Why Harvard, and why now? Gerry always seemed to be a candidate for any high profile job over the past decade, but a combination of things kept him in South Bend. Now that all of the Byrne children are post-university, it made the most sense to pursue a head coaching position, and what better place to start than at Harvard?
To compare Gerry Byrne to his Harvard predecessors would be unfair. I don’t know how they built their cultures, how they recruited, or their coaching styles, but I do know his. Byrne brings a relentless passion and intensity to his mission of elevating Harvard lacrosse to the top – a culture that places importance on the weight of a Harvard education, a coaching style that teaches the why and promotes simplicity, and a recruiter whose ability to identify talent that fits his program that’s unmatched.
It was an absolute pleasure to learn about how the process of renewing Harvard Lacrosse had been thus far, despite monumental speed bumps with COVID-19 essentially cancelling his first two seasons. It was also incredible to learn the intricacies of how he teaches defense and the value he strives to provide his players off the field.
I don’t know when Harvard will reach Championship Weekend, but I know I’m not betting against the Crimson.
How to Follow Harvard Lacrosse
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Twitter: @ByrneCrimson @ByrneMethod
IG: @byrnemethodlax @byrneirish
Last Week
CEO of Inside Lacrosse Terry Foy joined the podcast last week to talk Division I men’s lacrosse, conference realignment, the Ivy League and more. Check it out!
