A record-setting lacrosse participant at Syracuse. World Cup champion on the U.S. nationwide group. Assistant coach for the 2024 champion U.S. Ladies’s U20 nationwide group. The 2023 Patriot League Coach of the 12 months. Proud dad or mum of a one-year-old daughter. A staunch advocate for LGBTQ rights. There isn’t a lot the top girls’s lacrosse coach at West Level, Michelle Tumolo, can’t do.
Born and raised in Harrison Township, N.J., Tumolo led the Military Black Knights to their first ever NCAA Match bid in 2023. She has a 41-19 report in her first 4 seasons, together with a school-record 15 wins in 2024. Earlier than coming to West Level, Tumolo went 29-13 in three seasons at Wagner, main the Seahawks to the 2019 NCAA Match. Previous to that she honed her craft as an assistant coach at Oregon, Florida and Syracuse.
Michelle Tumolo: It’s 50% lacrosse and 50% every part else. It’s all about getting buy-in to our younger program from the gamers and employees. Once I got here right here in 2021, we had by no means defeated Navy, by no means been to a playoff, by no means had a championship. So, I needed to be in on the record of “firsts” and make historical past at West Level. The gamers in our locker room consider in themselves, with a excessive customary of excellence, development and household. When you might have a decent knit group that loves and trusts one another, that can switch to the sphere. And I can’t say it’s all me. I’ve had unimaginable assistant coaches which have led us to new heights.
DN: Are you a “pat on the back” or “kick in the butt” coach?
MT: (laughing) I’m each. My mother and father have been arduous and supportive in a great way. My mother knew my strengths in highschool have been extra athletic than educational. So, she’d push me on my research and pat me on the again once I performed sports activities. I’ll put my arm round my gamers and inform them I like and consider in them, however I’m additionally going to inform them once I assume they are often higher. I’m a really vocal coach. That is how I’m.
(Courtesy of Military West Level Athletics)
Michelle Tumolo
DN: Are you able to “coach up” a very good participant into an important participant, or is all of it simply expertise?
MT: Nicely, that’s my job. Now we have naturally gifted gamers, and we actually care about them. We “coach them up” beginning with expertise within the fall and constructing them into the system within the spring for everybody to have the ability to play at a highest stage. Fall is for group chemistry; the spring is to implement the system.
DN: I watched your latest recreation towards Fairfield (Military gained, 18-10). Your gamers appear to like one another. Possibly it’s not an issue, however how do you deal with egos and poor sportsmanship?
MT: Now we have such unimaginable younger girls. That is one of the best 33 sturdy I’ve ever coached. My core worth that I stress is to be an important teammate. Not only a good teammate, however an important one. It builds confidence on the sphere when that each teammate has your again. The gamers on the sidelines continuously cheer the group on. It makes my job a lot extra satisfying. And it’s one thing I take pleasure in. Every week we hand out a “Baller of the Week” award to a participant who practiced particularly arduous and put it up on our Instagram. It’s principally the constructive angle that they create to apply and the sphere.
DN: Has the sport modified because you final performed in 2016?
MT: A lot. It’s nonetheless a stupendous finesse recreation, however it’s a lot sooner. Extra bodily. It’s enjoyable to look at. The stick expertise nowadays…cradling the ball, behind the again pictures on objective, it’s superb what these girls can do on the sphere.
DN: You have been a fury on offense at Syracuse, posting the best single season totals in factors and assists for a freshman in this system’s historical past and named Large East Assault Participant of the 12 months in 2013. Military is thirteenth within the nation on protection for objectives allowed. Have you ever modified your method as a coach to be extra defensive minded?
MT: I like this query. I’ve to provide credit score to our (second yr) defensive coordinator Charlotte Sofield. She was an unbelievable defender at UNC (successful 4 ACC Championships and the Nationwide Championship in 2016). She is so passionate for protection. Once we maintain opponent scores to beneath 8, 10, or 13 objectives, that’s the way you change into champions. I coached protection the yr we made the NCAAs (2023). I used to be so proud, as a result of I used to be so offensive minded as a participant. Protection is black and white in comparison with offense. You power gamers this fashion or that. However Charlotte has taken our protection to new historic heights. It takes a lot stress off the offense to not have to attain on each possession. Our objective each recreation is to power our opponents have a shot clock violation (90 seconds). It’s very deflating for an offense to endure that violation.
DN: How ticked off have been you shedding at your alma mater Syracuse final yr?
MT: Enjoying within the Dome is such an expertise. It’s elite. It’s historic. We needed to play towards a excessive caliber group to discover ways to be a champion. It was arduous. And I hated to lose by a lot (18 to 7), however it confirmed our ladies what it takes to be one of the best. It was an important studying expertise.
DN: How thrilling was it taking Military to the NCAAs for the primary time in 2023?
MT: The entire season was a fairy story. We beat ranked groups for the primary time to get within the high 20 after which went on a 10-game win streak, together with beating Navy for less than the second time ever. For our gamers to achieve the NCAA Match is unimaginable. Once we watched the choice present, the enjoyment was… look, we’re a army establishment. In the summertime the gamers don’t get to play a lot lacrosse like different collegiate packages do. They may have every week or two off, however for probably the most half our gamers are within the woods for army coaching all summer time. They’re not in cleats, they’re operating in boots, and since they have been in boots actually the day earlier than, I don’t put them on the sphere for a velocity check when our coaching begins up in August. We slow-roll it. They haven’t been capable of bathe recurrently, they’re getting yelled at, they’re drained, they in all probability haven’t eaten appropriately. However truthfully, their army coaching offers our gamers a psychological toughness that transfers to the sphere. So, for me it’s a tradeoff. I notice they’re being skilled by the best officers within the USA. I’ll educate them lacrosse once they come again.
DN: Does the brand new NIL (Identify, Picture, Likeness) coverage have an effect on West Level?
MT: It’s not a factor for us. We’d lose recruits due to it, however the way in which I have a look at it’s in the event you’re into NIL, you’re in all probability not proper for the army. As a result of it’s not all about you. I’m joyful for the scholars who receives a commission, however I simply need an athlete that wishes to play lacrosse right here at a excessive stage, get an schooling on the most interesting establishment, and change into a frontrunner themselves. It’s such an honor to educate people who need to try this.
DN: How do you method recruiting at a army academy?
MT: I used to try to get one of the best of one of the best children even when they didn’t present an curiosity in West Level. However now I’m far more selective about who I’m going after. They must know what they’re moving into, as a result of we have now to recruit them earlier than the summer time of their senior yr in highschool. It’s a giant dedication for a 16-year-old lady. I’m very thorough in my communications with the gamers. I speak to their membership coaches and ensure they’re not simply placing a “like” button down as a result of we’re a very good group and employees. They need to actually need to serve within the army. And play lacrosse at a high program. I discovered my (recruiting) groove, and I’ve discovered that the women who need to serve both had a grandfather or a dad or a cousin that served. To them, it’s extremely vital.
DN: You have been a celebrity as a participant. Do the youngsters you recruit know who you’re?
MT: This era watched me and my groups play, however I may be getting phased out a bit as a result of I’m a little bit older. It’s such an honor to assume that individuals need to play for me. It offers a deeper connection. I went to Syracuse as a result of I needed to play for Gary Gait, the best lacrosse coach and participant of all time. When a lady desires to play for me and my employees, that’s a connection you possibly can’t break. Once they decide to me, I’m additionally committing to them.
DN: The schedule will get more durable. No. 15 Loyola. No. 7 Stanford. No. 19 Navy. Ideas?
MT: I like it! That’s how we win championships. I’m so excited. I respect Loyola and their coaches a lot. Navy is simply traditionally good. They have been within the remaining 4 in 2017, inside one objective of a nationwide championship. They’ve a stage of excellence, and I like to play them and proceed our unimaginable rivalry. And I’m glad Stanford is taking part in properly, though I hope they lose to Syracuse later at present. I’ll be watching. (Syracuse gained 14-13 in double extra time).
DN: What was a much bigger rush; successful as a participant or as a coach?
MT: Such a very good query. As a participant, there was a lot blood and sweat I put into my recreation. I used to be joyful for me. However with my new lens as a coach, I’m joyful for my gamers. I like seeing them succeed collectively. It’s their effort that wins video games. I’m simply there teaching, however they’re bodily doing it.
DN: What was one of the best recreation you ever performed?
MT: It was back-to-back video games my junior yr (2012) at Syracuse. I scored with 5 seconds left to defeat UNC which took ‘Cuse back to the Final Four. And in the next game, we were down by seven goals against the No. 1 team in the country, Florida. We came back to win in double overtime to advance to the championship game. We all said to each other that there was no way we were losing, and we didn’t. Greatest instances ever.
DN: OK, now for the actually vital query — how’s it really feel to be a dad or mum?
MT: It’s one of the best! Nell (nearly one yr previous) simply discovered to say “no no no” to the canine. I’m within the honeymoon stage together with her now. My job permits me to spend time together with her and permits my spouse Lara to journey to town (New York) 3 days every week for her job as a PA. She works extremely lengthy hours, whereas my commute is three minutes. We’re very lucky the group at West Level units me up for achievement.
DN: You’ve been overtly vocal in your sexuality, emphasizing the necessity for girls in roles of energy in sports activities and past, and a proud voice for LGBTQ. Have you ever confronted any challenges talking out now that you just’re at a Navy Academy?
MT: Once I bought the job I didn’t find out about “don’t ask don’t tell” till I learn up on it. I mentioned to the college that that is who I’m, is that this an issue? They usually mentioned, “Absolutely not. We’re not hiring you for diversity. We are hiring you because you’re a great coach.” So, I’ve by no means felt extra supported or beloved. From my boss, my group. There may be underlying issues within the army, however it could possibly be in all places, too.
DN: I counted about 20 followers on the Fairfield recreation final week. However how do you enhance attendance for girls’s lacrosse?
MT: It’s undoubtedly an issue. The scholars (at West Level) don’t get a lot day without work, so weekends are valuable. Plus, it’s a winter sport and it’s chilly exterior. So, they won’t need to attend. Nevertheless it’s obligatory for cadets to attend the soccer video games within the chilly. We want a few of that for lacrosse. It’s additionally concerning the historical past and the realm. B.C., Northwestern, Navy and SU actually do such a very good job getting folks in seats and selling their lacrosse packages, however these are additionally huge lacrosse cities.
DN: Lady’s lacrosse will probably be an Olympic sport in 2028. Would you might have favored to have performed within the Olympics?
MT: Oh my God sure! However guess what? I’m on the teaching employees for the 2026 nationwide girls’s group, and if we hold doing properly, I’m hoping I’ll be retained, and get to educate within the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. We simply must hold doing a very good job. It could be actually actually cool. I’ll hold you posted on that.
DN: Your accomplishments in girls’s lacrosse over your profession as a participant and coach would take up this complete interview. Should you needed to decide a couple of stuff you’re most pleased with, what would they be?
MT: I take into consideration my path in life and every part that led me to this. I’m most proud to be the top coach at West Level. It’s the largest accomplishment of my life. It’s been very eye-opening. I prefer to replicate about my mother. She at all times mentioned to be pleased about the items God’s given to you. And I’m very grateful I used to be given the athleticism that made me an important lacrosse participant that then helped me change into a profitable coach. I beloved beating Navy for the primary time ever. I beloved being a part of a nationally ranked group as participant that made it to a primary ever nationwide championship recreation for Syracuse. I’m additionally very proud to have the ability to put on the crimson, white, and blue to symbolize my nation. And I’m so pleased with the gamers that I’ve coached, not only for recognition for his or her lacrosse success but additionally as profitable officers in the US Military. I spoke with a few of my gamers who graduated, who at the moment are officers stationed in locations in Europe and Iraq. To assume that I led them in some type in mentorship, is only a great reward for me. These girls make me a greater chief and mentor. It’s such an honor. They’ve had success in lacrosse, lecturers and the army. I’ve among the best jobs within the nation. My different best accomplishment is being a dad or mum to Nell and having Lara as my spouse. Please point out that. I’ve the best help system and household anybody might ask for.
