July 14, 2010
Hangin' Out With ... Mike Pressler
by /
Bryant University head coach Mike Pressler has been through a lot in the game of lacrosse. The Wilton, Conn., native has had big ups – a spot in the Connecticut Sports Hall of Fame, a gold medal as assistant coach of the United Statesteam at the 2002 FIL World Championships, Bryant’s success moving from a Division 2 program to Division 1 – and big downs, most notably the 2006 criminal allegations against his team at Duke. After watching the last group of players he recruited at Duke finally win the national championship, Pressler also appears ready to cast aside past shadows; he’s the head coach for the United States team in this month’s world championships in England. When he returns home, Bryant in 2011 will, for the first time, be eligible to receive an at-large bid into the NCAA tournament. — Phillip Shore
Q & A
You coached Duke for 16 seasons. You compiled a winning percentage of 65% and had a 100% graduation rate, essentially the epitome of an NCAA coach. Looking back, how do you feel about the school parting ways with you? Is there any bitterness on your part? Quite honestly, no. It’s been four years and I think time is a great healer. We’ve moved on to Bryant University. It’s a great opportunity. The people I’m working for and with are great and I’m being reunited with New England for the first time since college. It’s almost 30 years later, but I’m back in New England coaching and having a lot of fun doing it.
What was it like watching Duke — and especially the fifth-year seniors — finally win the Division 1 National Championship? Well there are the fifth-year seniors and also the four-year seniors that we recruited but never got to coach. Those 17 guys we recruited to Duke, we’re very fond of them and to see them finally pull through and win was exciting. Since ’05, Duke University has been right there. ... You would think they were due. To see them finally pull through, my excitement for them was at another level, but also for all the alums from ’91 -- my first year there -- and since then. It took 16 years to get that program to a high, high level. I have nothing but excitement and happiness. I’m absolutely thrilled for them.
Was co-authoring “It’s Not About the Truth” more for the team, so the world knew the truth, or was it a therapeutic exercise for yourself? Absolutely not was it for me. I’ve never written a book before, nor will I probably ever again. I made a promise to the team during that dark time to tell the world the truth, all of the truth. It was me fulfilling my promise to those players.
What was the first impression the players at Bryant had of you? I think you would have to ask them. They were probably scared to death, a little nervous. We decided to overhaul the entire roster immediately. Everyone had to try-out. We had about 70 guys try-out and we kept 37. Anybody and everybody who wanted to try-out had an opportunity. That was the first thing we had to do. We had to bring in a D-1 mindset: How we handle ourselves in the classroom, our off-field conduct, character, integrity, and to make it a very positive atmosphere in every shape and form.
Pop culture, etc.
Dinner:I love a good Chinese dinner when I can get it. Italian is right behind that.
Junk food: I shouldn’t eat them but I do enjoy a batch of well-done Buffalo wings once in a while.
Vacation spot: It goes back to our time at Duke and that’s Block Island. It’s been a favorite of ours for many years.
Musician/group: The oldies just in general.
Song on iPod: “One is the Loneliest Number” by Three Dog Night. Right behind that I’d say “We Are the Champions” by Queen. That’s been on a lot of highlight tapes we’ve made over the years.
Actor/Actress: My favorite actor is John Wayne. My favorite actress is Katherine Hepburn
Movie: That’s an easy one. It was made in my birth year of 1960. “The Magnificent Seven.” I’ve watched that a couple hundred times.
TV show: I don’t really watch TV shows, but I’m certainly an evening news guy. I like the 6:30news after I get back from practice. The History Channel is also one we like. And any kind of sport, whatever’s on.
Book: I just read it recently: “The Lone Survivor.”
Sports idol growing up: In football, it would Dick Butkus and Joe Namath.
Sport other than lacrosse: Football. I played three sports [football, ice hockey, and lacrosse] in high school, and in college I was a much better football player than lacrosse player.
School other than Bryant: I’m a closet Notre Dame football fan. And then right behind them is Michigan football. My wife’s a Michigan grad.
