From the podcast: Wheaton coach Kyle Hart on the D-3 grind

Head coach Kyle Hart of Wheaton College is the guest on this week's episode of the "Chasing The Goal" podcast. (Courtesy)

On this week’s episode of New England Lacrosse Journal’s “Chasing The Goal” podcast, hosts Kyle Devitte and Jack Piatelli were joined by Wheaton College head coach Kyle Hart.

Hart is entering his seventh year in charge of the men’s lacrosse program at Wheaton. Last season the Lyons won 10 games, their highest total since 2015.

A Long Island native, Hart played both football and lacrosse in high school before committing fully to lacrosse in college at Muhlenberg (Pa.). Hart came to Wheaton after coaching stints at Muhlenberg and Augustana (Ill.).

With a diverse roster full of New England talent, Wheaton is one of the region’s top liberal arts colleges. The Lyons have competed in the NEWMAC since it was known as the Pilgrim League more than 20 years ago.

Though they have never won a league title, Hart believes that they are on the right track to being more competitive in one of New England’s best leagues.

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Kyle Devitte: So, you’ve been a full-time coach for over 10 years. How did you do that? Because coaching at the Division 3 level, that’s hard to do.

Kyle Hart: It’s a great question. I think starting out those first three years at Muhlenberg … it was part-time pay, but it’s full-time work, so, you really got to kind of grind and just scrape by. I was really lucky because part of my compensation was a free place to live that was really close to campus. So I had a place to live. I had a meal plan and a $5,000 stipend.

So I really had everything. I had a roof over my head, food, and a little bit of extra money. I kind of just scraped by for about three years there. And then there was an opportunity out in the Midwest at Augustana. I’d never been to the Midwest before, never really spent any time out there. But I interviewed for that job and was fortunate enough to get that job and, and kind of earn my first full-time living at the collegiate level.

Jack Piatelli: Kyle, you were a multi-sport athlete in high school. You wanted to pursue football. Didn’t work out for you. What are your thoughts on multi-sport athletes and how many of your players on your roster are multi-sport athletes?

KH: I think playing multiple sports is phenomenal. I certainly encourage it. Last year we had a swim and lacrosse student-athlete who was a terrific terrific player for us. We don’t have any current two-sport guys on the roster this year, but we’re always looking. 

JP: But were they multi-sport athletes prior to coming to Wheaton? 

KH: Oh, yes, a number of them were two-sport athletes in high school. I feel like it’s a real value add, playing multiple sports. I’d definitely encourage it.

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