OT: Changing times; Replacing a legend

[Hedge]

Mike Messere retired from coaching West Genesee Lacrosse after a spectacularly successful 42 years. The article raises a lot of interesting questions:

How do you replace a legend?
How do you keep or change a successful system after a transition?
What is the balance between team structure and individual creativity?
What demands can be made in a culture that glorifies individual "expression/emotion" vs "act as if you've scored before".

Mike Messere on West Genesee lacrosse coaching change: I knew the bottom would fall out (7 questions)

The Wildcats are in the market for a new coach after Messere's replacement, Shaun Smith, resigned last week.

www.syracuse.com

I hope the link works because the article is thought provoking

 

[oldude]

I married my wife in 1981. We moved to the Syracuse, NY area to start new jobs. We lived there for about 5 years. It was a hotbed of lacrosse at both the college and HS level. West Genny was a powerhouse 40 years ago and obviously remained so for many years under Coach Messere. But in the end, everything changes sooner or later.

 

[Cornell Lt]

West Genesse's lacrosse program is matched by their hockey program. Both programs were built and maintained by coaches who stuck around for 40 years or so. Multiple state titles for both programs and more than a few division one athletes came out of the programs. Nothng lasts forever, but that school has had a very long record of sucess in athletics.