Jacksonville University Head Coach Kerwick offered up instruction as a guest coach at the IMG Lacrosse Academy
A should-be celebrity in the world of Florida Lacrosse visited IMG Lacrosse in mid-August: Jacksonville University’s Head Lacrosse Coach Matt Kerwick. Kerwick coaches the state of Florida’s first ever Division 1 Lacrosse program. The program represents the sports impressive growth and viral spread throughout the nation. Lacrosse is more recently reaching the sunny hotbeds of sport and training such as California and Florida and Coach Kerwick’s program should serve as a catalyst for exponential growth in the Southeast.
Prior to the season’s commencement, Kerwick spent over 6 months recruiting and hand selecting 39 incoming freshman which would compete in JU’s inaugural season. The young team ended the season 6-6, competing against teams such as UNC and Duke. Kerwick’s recruits hailed from places like Florida, Virginia, Maryland, New York, and Canada. Kerwick recognizes the sport is rapidly growing in Florida, attributing its delayed success to its slow adoption by Florida high schools as a sanctioned sport. But once schools got behind it, the rapid growth began.
“The sport is a perfect fit for down here. It’s a spring sport so the season runs opposite of football and basketball. It’s also an incredible sport, fun to play and attracts all types of athletes from the aggressive football players to the soccer players attracted to its fast pace. The weather down here will also foster its growth.”
When faced with the rare opportunity to start the JU program, the former Hobart Head Coach couldn’t pass it up. Not only was he attracted to the year-round climate that will foster the sport’s growth, he was excited about the opportunity to lay a foundation of success for a new program. He also recognized that JU would be an easy draw on the recruiting trail. “The opportunity I had to come into JU is similar to what [Academy Director Kevin] Finn[eran] is doing down here. The weather allows you to train year-round and it’s great to be able to build a program from the ground up.”
Finneran had plenty to say about his former opponent. “I have known Coach Kerwick for a long time. For starters, I played against him 20 years ago when Ohio-Weslyan and Hobart played for the National Championship. It speaks for the Lacrosse World; it is growing rapidly but it is still a small, close-knit community. There is still a lot of room for growth. JU going D1 is huge for lacrosse in Florida and all over the country. It’ the first outside-the-box program to be added in a long time and all of the Lacrosse World is behind JU, wanting the program to succeed.”
While at IMG, Kerwick got a taste of what the athletes get daily and year-round at IMG. “The opportunities the student-athletes have here are incredible. From the facilities to the attention to detail, the strength training and mental conditioning- this is so unique for a Lacrosse camps. It’s a unique place and second-to-none.”
Coach Kerwick brought his own unique approach to the Lacrosse Academy too. “Coach Kerwick offered a fresh approach which is great in general but especially to long-term campers. It is a different approach but he still preaches to focus on the fundamentals and elevate intensity,” said Finneran.
Post-departure, Kerwick returned to the recruiting trail. His goal for the 2011 season is simple: “Build on the success of our first year.”
