D3 Showcase Primer: An Interview With Gettysburg Asst. Coach Dan Sharbaugh

The D3 Showcase will return to the Indoor Sports Pavilion in Randolph, New Jersey on January 20, 2014.

In advance of the event, LRNews will be running interviews with coaches from schools that have indicated they will be attending the event.

Today, we catch up with Gettysburg College Assistant Coach Dan Sharbaugh. Check the video below for highlights from last January’s D3 Showcase, and keep reading for our Q&A with Coach Sharbaugh.

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Gettysburg has consistently been a Division III power. What makes the program so successful?

Gettysburg has always been a program that has prided itself on the work our team does all year round, not just at practice. The willingness of players to work on their game in the gym and the field house during the “offseason” has equated to success in games. It’s very rare to walk around the Gettysburg athletic facility without seeing lacrosse players playing wall ball, shooting around, lifting weights or running. It’s a culture of hard work and success.

What kind of player are you looking for when recruiting?

Obviously we are looking for a player who has talent – you can’t win without talent. But more than talent we look for student athletes who genuinely want to succeed in everything they do on and off the field. You can usually tell which recruits are motivated and will be willing to make the sacrifices necessary to be successful on the field and in the classroom. The level of talent you have when you get to college rarely allows you to be successful at the next level – there is a lot of work that must be put in if you plan on being an elite college player. We are looking for type of student athlete who isn’t afraid to put in the necessary work.

What would you recommend players interested in Gettysburg should focus on both on and off the field?

First and foremost would be academics. You have to get it done in the classroom if you plan on playing lacrosse at most Division III schools. We tell high school recruits to take challenging classes and do well in them as well as score highly on your SAT or ACT. This will make you a more attractive candidate for the admissions department.

On the field there are a few things that I would recommend for lacrosse players. The first is stick work. It is impossible to do anything on the field without good stick skills. You can never have good enough stick skills – it’s something that players should never be satisfied with.

Lacrosse IQ is also very important. We are looking for kids who make the smart plays consistently. Last is overall athleticism – size, speed, and strength. Players can improve year-round in getting faster and stronger.

You played Division III lacrosse yourself. What made the experience an attractive and rewarding one for you?

Personally I liked the idea of a small school with a good student to teacher ratio – I needed as much extra help as I could get. The opportunity to get involved in more than just athletics was very attractive to me, and I felt it would make me a more well-rounded person. When I first visited Eastern University’s campus, I fell in love with the school and the overall feel of the campus. I knew it was a place I would like to attend. I truly felt it would give me the opportunity to better myself not just on the athletic field, but also academically and personally.

What were the things you enjoyed most about the D3 Showcase last year, and what makes the event successful for students targeting the DIII experience?

The recruiting events that you get to coach a team and interact with the players seem to be the ones that coaches are drawn to the most. It allows you to evaluate the players on a different level than just on field skill level. For the players I think it’s obvious that the event has all DIII coaches working and evaluating so it’s a perfect opportunity to be seen by coaches from all over the DIII spectrum.

Thanks so much to Coach Sharbaugh for his time!
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Click here for more information on the D3 Showcase and to apply.

For more from the D3 Showcase Primer series:

D3 Showcase Primer: An Interview With Salisbury Assistant Coach Chad Surman

D3 Showcase Primer: An Interview With Vassar Head Coach Marc Graham

An Interview With: D3 Lacrosse Showcase Co-Director Chris Meade

Coaches in Attendance at the 2013 D3 Lacrosse Showcase

Bard College
Babson College
Connecticut College
Dickinson College
Drew University
Franklin & Marshall
Gettysburg College
Hamilton College
Hiram College
Mount St. Mary’s
Muhlenberg College
Oneonta State
Salisbury University
Vassar College
Washington College
Western New England
Wesleyan University

D3 Lacrosse Showcase Schedule

Check In: 7:00 AM – 8:00 AM
Recruiting Seminar: 8:15 AM – 8:45 AM (Parents Encouraged To Attend)
Games: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Rosters will be sent out Thursday before the event.

Coverage from the 2013 D3 Lacrosse Showcase

Event Recap of the 2013 D3 Lacrosse Showcase

LRNews All-Star Team from the 2013 D3 Lacrosse Showcase by position:

Attack

Midfield

Defense

SportsRecruits.com Video & Highlight Packages Available

SportsRecruits.com will be designing special recruiting packages specifically for 2015 participants. All games at D3 Lacrosse Showcase will be filmed in High Definition.

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