Michelle Tumolo: Navigating Coaching and Culture at Army West Point

<p>On the First Class Lacrosse podcast, Deemer Class and Matt Dunn interview Army West Point head coach Michelle Tumolo, covering her path from starting lacrosse just before ninth grade to becoming a Tewaaraton finalist at Syracuse, Team USA World Cup gold medalist and 2017 All-World selection, pro player, and coach at Florida, Syracuse, Oregon, Wagner, and Army (hired June 2021). Tumolo explains how basketball and soccer shaped her vision and passing, her rapid development through camps and club, and key Syracuse memories, including early physicality and a comeback win vs Florida, plus the program’s coaching tree. She details her coaching philosophy of authenticity, communication, belief, and high standards, including supporting cadet-athletes’ demanding schedules. Tumolo also discusses practice structure, daily stickwork, skill development, X usage, two-man game emphasis, man/zone defenses, and learning from other sports and Sixes coaching, plus playing pickup hockey at West Point.</p><p><br></p><p>Timecodes</p><p>0:00 - Sports Journey</p><p>5:00 - Syracuse Experience</p><p>12:15 - Coaching Philosophy</p><p>27:00 - Coaching at West Point</p><p>33:30 - X&#39;s &amp; O&#39;s</p><p>45:45 - Player Development</p><p>55:40 - Keep Learning &amp; Ice Hockey</p><p><br></p><p>--</p><p>Checkout more from FCL!</p><ul><li>Coaches Corner: ⁠⁠<a href="https://fcl-coaches-corner.beehiiv.com/subscribe">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fcl-coaches-corner.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li><li>Weekly Thought: ⁠⁠<a href="https://1stclasslax.beehiiv.com/subscribe">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://1stclasslax.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li><li>On the Run: ⁠⁠<a href="https://on-the-run.beehiiv.com/subscribe">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://on-the-run.beehiiv.com/subscribe</a></li></ul>