Conry Excited for New Facility, Tough Brand of Lacrosse
6/28/2017 1:12:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
Kevin Conry was tabbed as the second head coach in the history of the University of Michigan men's lacrosse program last Wednesday (June 21). Conry spent the last five seasons at the University of Maryland -- the last two as the associate head coach -- and helped lead the Terrapins to four NCAA Final Fours (including the national championship in 2017) and five Big Ten Conference titles.
MGoBlue.com sat down with Conry to discuss his coaching background, his family and his vision for the men's lacrosse program.
Q: You've got a pretty diverse background in the Big Ten. How do you foresee that experience helping at Michigan?
A: Well, the Big Ten has some of the best lacrosse coaches in the country. If you can pick up different aspects from what make others successful and incorporate them into your own philosophy, that's a tremendous asset. As a head coach, you have to pick and piece what works and what doesn't so that at the end of the day you have a successful program. I think that's the most appealing attribute to working with all those great coaches.
Q: Maryland is obviously a top-flight program -- great offensively and defensively, solid in the cage and in faceoffs. What type of identity do you envision your new team having?
A: I want to make sure we play the toughest brand of lacrosse that we can, and not just from a physical standpoint but from a mental one as well. You have to be able to handle the ebbs and flows, and we have to bring it to every game, every practice, every weightlifting session, every individual workout. I think having that mental and physical toughness is something I feel proud of being able to build off in the different places I've been.
Q: What were your impressions of Michigan while on the opposing sideline?
A: From year one to last year, I've seen a tremendous amount of growth. The first couple of years when they were getting their feet wet, they were competitive and the effort was there. Obviously there are certain things to work on just like every program, but I feel pretty comfortable that the cupboard isn't bare. I'm excited about the athletes and the skill that's in the locker room. I will say that John Paul deserves a lot of credit for taking this program to where it is. He created the foundation, and there wouldn't be a program without him.
Q: Going along that, what stood out to you about the university and the Big House when you visited?
A: The thing that was most apparent to me was the quality of the facilities. I've been to a lot of different places and seen their set-up. Facilities at Michigan, whether it's Michigan Stadium or the new facility that's on its way, it's something that's second-to-none. Whenever you walk into one of those venues like the Big House and get a chance to see the history and tradition that surrounds it, there's a chill that goes up your spine. You know the type of student-athlete that's come through there, whether it's football or lacrosse, and you walk out with a new appreciation for the high standards that Michigan has set.
Q: Speaking of the new facility, how important will that be for the future of the program?
A: It's a game-changer. Not many programs have a set-up like this. It's not just a building that looks good from the outside. It's a functional place that will build and direct our student-athletes to meet their peak. I'm certainly excited to get myself in there.
Q: Talk about your family. What have the last couple of weeks and days have been like for you?
A: It's been a whirlwind. One thing that's been great has been the overwhelming support that I've received from not only my former Maryland guys but from the coaching community and, of course, my family. Most importantly, I'm anxious to meet the newest member of our family. We're coming down to the end! It's pretty special to have a child, and this'll be our third. We're starting our lives in a great place. Ann Arbor is a beautiful city and a great place to raise a family.
