May 15, 2008
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Swezey is in her 11th season as head coach of Vanderbilt’s lacrosse team. In 2007, the team played host to an NCAA Tournament game for the first time in school history.
How much has having a team at Vanderbilt helped the growth of lacrosse among girls in Nashville?
I think Vanderbilt has played a huge role in that. There was boys lacrosse here before our sport being added to Vanderbilt, so I’m sure girls were drawn to the sport because seeing boys playing it made them more interested. I think having the opportunity for people to see girls play the sport and see the differences between the boys and girls play made a difference. We tried to get out into the community early on. We ran different clinics, and we like to think that we had a big part in getting it started in this area.
Why do you think lacrosse has grown so much in Nashville and nationally?
I think it is the culture of the sport. You see it in a lot of adolescent movies, and people seem to be drawn to that. It is very fan-friendly, it is fun to play and it allows for a lot of creativity.
You played lacrosse and field hockey in college, why did you choose to coach lacrosse?
It was truly just a pure sport preference. When I was playing (field) hockey, I loved it, but I always loved lacrosse. Year round I thought about when I was going to get to step out onto that field again. With (field) hockey, I dreaded it and then when I was in it, I enjoyed it. I think it is the freedom of the sport and the creativity. There is so much strategy that can be coached, which makes it really exciting.
How important of a step was it to host an NCAA Tournament game last year?
It is big. I felt last year was a step for us back in the right direction. I’m also highly hopeful that it is the beginning of consistency where we don’t have down years or rebuilding years.
What is the best advice another coach ever gave you?
I’m not sure if it is the best, but something came to my mind immediately. “You have to hate losing more than you love winning.” – Sharon Pfluger, lacrosse coach at TCNJ (Trenton College New Jersey).
