A Conversation with Chris Kidger from Mount Ida College

Introduction

We caught up with Mount Ida Men’s Lacrosse Coach Chris Kidger for a discussion about the Mount Ida lacrosse program and what he looks for when recruiting student-athletes.

The Conversation

What are you most excited about with regards to your program?

I am excited about the mix of young talent and veteran presence around our program.

How would you describe your coaching style?

Differentiated – I look to push every individual to reach their own potential. The road map to that potential and the motivation to get there differ for each player, and each player should be treated accordingly.

What jumps out at you when recruiting? What do you look for in a player?

Competitive drive, intensity and being being a good teammate jump out pretty quickly.

What are your “pet peeves” when recruiting?

“Palms up” Attack-men not riding and players arguing with refs.

What is the best way interested student-athletes should get in touch with you?

Email and “Recruit me” questionnaire

What should student-athletes avoid in their messaging to college coaches?

Having parents reach out. I want the young man who is taking initiative in his process.

Walk us through your timeline when recruiting a student athlete

Our timeline can go up until spring of a players senior year if we still have space available. When it comes to individual communication, after identifying a player, I work to find out if they are a good fit to the program. This is where the majority of work takes place. The process culminates with campus visits and interviews with the school and coaches.

What kind of players succeed at your program?

Character is number 1. After that, players need to be versatile, hard working and coachable to be successful.

Tell us about your transition from lacrosse player to lacrosse coach.

Coaching has always been a love of mine. I began coaching club and youth teams after my freshman year of college. During my senior year I knew I was going to be joining the coaching staff at Mount Ida, so only a few days after my final game I began working with other members of the staff.

What’s your recruiting strategy going into an event? After an event?

I first look at academic information if available and locate the players who fall into our academic range as well as track down the players who have contacted me ahead of time. After an event the real work begins. Talent can be seen quickly, but finding out if a player is a good fit for our program takes time in following up with coaches and meeting players in person.

Once again, thanks to Chris for his time, and best of luck to Mount Ida this season!

Coach Kidger is one of the many coaches to recruit at our premier events. Click below to see the full list of coaches attending our events. Register today!