Lafayette College Women’s Soccer – Coach Mick Statham

On today’s episode, I speak with Coach Mick Statham from the Lafayette College Women’s Program. We talk about how he is almost always at tournament games looking for players he has already talked to. He describes their small school with a prime location. Lastly, we discuss how he likes to keep their roster small so that everyone has a chance to contribute. Learn more about Lafayette.

[00:00:00] Matt: Hi, everybody. Welcome to discover college soccer today. I’m lucky enough to be joined by coach Mick from the Lafayette college women’s program. Coach. Welcome.

[00:00:08] Coach: Thanks for having me. I appreciate

[00:00:09] Matt: it. Yeah, no. Thanks for being here. I’m excited to talk to a nice Patriot league division one women’s program. Um, you you’ve been there quite a long time, which is awesome.

[00:00:20] Uh, so you’ve got some great insights for, uh, for us here. So let’s talk about recruiting, you know, I mean, there’s so many people who, you know, kids that are just, oh, I really want to play D one. I really want to play D one. And they, you know, they’re, they’re really focused on that. So. So to help them understand the process.

[00:00:38] So w when is it that you really start looking at players? You know, what year in high school are? They obviously can’t talk to them, you know, uh, before June 15th. It’s a rising junior year or you’re going to be junior. So, but when you start looking at players and really kind of focusing on a class,

[00:00:56] Coach: yeah.

[00:00:56] Usually we start looking at players, um, from, uh, uh, you know, what you might call a serious aspect. Um, the second. Semester of their sophomore year. So once, once the new year strikes. So for example, you know, if we use 20, 22, then of course we’re working with the current juniors, uh, to finish that class out.

[00:01:27] But we also, um, At the start of 20 10, 22 really started looking seriously at 2020 force as well, even though, like you said, we can’t talk to them or communicate with them or email and, and, um, it really starts, you know, right at the tail end of 21, beginning of 22 is where we really started. Really start to put together, you know, information, um, dedicate time to watching games.

[00:01:59] Um, so that’s, that’s usually the timeline for us, uh, with, uh, you know, the, with the two, with the crossover of the two classes, which inevitably of course there always is. Um, it’s usually the tail end of the year and the beginning of the new year that we start working with the sophomores. And of course, That’s been ongoing with the, with the 20, 23 class, you know, since, uh, since the beginning of 21.

[00:02:28] So, so

[00:02:30] Matt: how does, you know, one thing that all the coaches I seem to talk to these days really talk about is the transfer portal, because it’s really kind of changed how, how things go, how, how much are you guys looking at it to bring in players versus, you know, how many seem to. To go into it, maybe from Lafayette, just how does the transfer transfer portal fit in?

[00:02:53] Coach: Uh, it, it, it fits in, um, certainly in the last two years, it’s up until two years ago. We’d never had a transfer in my time here. Um, which of course is, you know, somewhat unique, um, since, uh, You know, post COVID, you know, the transfer portal is of course it’s, you know, the amount of players in those significant, um, And when we currently have two transfers on the roster now, um, the, of both, you know, both done very well, uh, since I’ve been here.

[00:03:37] So that’s been encouraging. I don’t, I certainly have friends that, uh, college coaches, uh, uh, I have one friend that always says, yeah, we hit refresh every 20 minutes. Um, uh, that’s. The world I’m living in, to be honest with you. Um, but it is something that I pay attention to. Um, I don’t know, on a daily basis, do I do that?

[00:04:04] Um, you know, but once or twice a week, I certainly look at it are the appropriate times that it’s a part of our, our recruiting. Um, way more so than it ever was a, but I can’t say it’s a significant piece, to be honest.

[00:04:22] Matt: I mean, that makes sense. Now when you’re going out and, and looking at players, um, you know, what are the tournaments that you, you know, kind of make sure you get two every year, uh, that are, that are definitely on your, on your hit list.

[00:04:37] And, and, and when you’re at those events, how much of it is you’re going specifically to see recruits versus. You know, watching games, hoping to find somebody

[00:04:50] Coach: I’d say pretty much. Most of it is going to see recruits. Um, there are. Certainly a times way, you will be watching recruits and you will see other pliers that you like.

[00:05:05] I know that that definitely happens. I, I, I don’t think I really ever go to games with no one on my list, you know? Um, there’s, there’s too many. Uh, this there’s too much contact from players beforehand, not to, uh, for us to have a significant amount of players. So we, that we need to see that. And to be honest with you, we can’t even see all of them, uh, a tournament.

[00:05:34] So, you know, we do, we don’t have. Um, you know, resources to, you know, take us to all the tournaments. Uh, we, we try and, you know, do a good amount of the ones and, you know, one or two of the GA ones. Uh, but we also do a decent amount of. Uh, lead games, you know, we do, uh, I, I like doing that as well. I think there are benefits to that also.

[00:06:03] Um, but you know, we try and do we try and do as much as we can with the. Tournament’s, you know, we’re obviously the bang for the book type of thing. Uh, but I also do like watching select games, you know, within region, uh, within the Northeast region. Uh, I like going out to games and just watching players when perhaps they’re a little bit fresher when the sleeping in their own beds, we’re not playing, I’m not a big fan of the three games in three days.

[00:06:36] Um, type of thing, which is what, you know, a lot of the events are understandably so, but you know where you can see a lot of players in a short space of time at those things. I do think there are also disadvantages for the players, uh, day two and day three. Um, I usually never stay till day. Uh, for that reason.

[00:07:00] Um, but you know, so it’s a, it’s a combination of all those things, I think. Uh, but usually I’d say almost a hundred percent of the time we go with targeted, targeted recruits. Right.

[00:07:14] Matt: Um, what about camps? How to camps figure in whether they’re your own camps or your staff working other camps?

[00:07:23] Coach: It’s not massive for me.

[00:07:25] I’m not a big camp guy. If I’m honest, um, we do one or two ID camps here. Um, but, uh, and they are helpful. There’s no question about it. We’ve we have players on the roster now that I think benefited from. You know, being at our ID camps, because the best thing you can do is legally, you know, stand next to someone and coach him and talk to him.

[00:07:55] Uh, and, and you do get some things out of an ID camp that I think are important personality wise, and the closeness of it. But of course it’s a lot of random players together. They’re not with their teams. A lot of the time the, you know, the competition is within, uh, the Campo ID campus, you know, massively varied.

[00:08:21] Um, so it, it’s definitely something that, that I, I do use. Uh, but I don’t. I don’t put loads and loads of emphasis on it. Like I don’t, I don’t go out myself. You know, work are the ones. Uh, I’ve I, you know, I’ve done that in the past, but I, I don’t, um, you know, that’s not something that, that I, that I do a lot of.

[00:08:48] Um, so I I’d say the camps for me, they have a place, but not as significant, you know, no significant place in, uh, in the recruiting efforts.

[00:09:00] Matt: So. Within the camps or primarily going to look at players, uh, you know, tournaments or wherever. Um, what, what is your kind of hierarchy of, of things you’re looking at?

[00:09:11] You know, whether it’s on the field attributes or off the field stuff.

[00:09:15] Coach: Yeah, it’s a good question. Cause I think this is where I’ll. Coach’s uh, a unique cause everyone, as you know, better than anyone is looking for something a little bit different, um, and all of it’s. Okay. Because it’s all subjective.

[00:09:29] Anyway. Uh, I think for me from a plane standpoint, You know, I like, I do like play as I’m going to say with good technique and the have good brains. Um, you know, I think the modern day player as a little bit of everything, regardless of position. So, you know, whether it’s athleticism, whether it’s understanding of positional play, whether it’s, uh, technique, uh, whether it’s, you know, psychological profile, you’re looking at that a little bit, particularly if things aren’t going the teams.

[00:10:03] You know, that’s often a good time to see what a players’ reaction may be. Um, so from a plane standpoint, I’m looking at all the different facets that it takes to be, you know, a good player, um, and certainly display and things that I value in what I’m doing. Coach here, you know, style-wise um, off the field, you know, personality, uh, warmth.

[00:10:33] Um, I like, uh, players, uh, you know, I feel a gonna, you know, contribute to, I call it the story of us with our players, um, with the current players here. Plays, uh, going to contribute to the, you know, the story of Lafayette women’s soccer in a way that, you know, uh, the way that I value. So that could be, you know, like I said, uh, personality, warmth, kindness, um, also willingness to, you know, uh, be part of.

[00:11:10] Be part of a group. Um, so there’s a lot of different things that, that we try and look for. You know, of course the families, um, the, the that’s, uh, you know, quite a big part of it, even though families aren’t coming to school with them, there are massive, they can be, you know, massively supportive to any coach or not.

[00:11:33] So, you know that that’s, that’s a piece of it also, um, And then, you know, understanding as we start getting down the road with the processes, you know, understanding what Lafayette and being a division one player, a highly academic school is all about, um, you know, that’s, that’s, uh, kind of the next stage, but the initial stages, you know, playing style personality, you know, psychology slash emotional, uh, ability, uh, and then take it from.

[00:12:07] Okay.

[00:12:09] Matt: Um, The, the one thing that every recruit and their families always want to know about is the financial side of college. Right. So I mean, what, and I’m not asking for any specifics here, but in general, what is the financial aid situation look like at Lafayette with regards to both athletic, academic, other scholarships grants?

[00:12:32] Just, just, what, what would a typical recruit be looking at when they walk through the door?

[00:12:36] Coach: Yeah. Possibilities of all of that. Um, again, of course the athletic is always subjective, you know, uh, I’ve had this conversation with coaches inside our building here, that coach of the sports and, you know, whatever value, um, is placed on a place, just, you know, subjective, you know, it could be money available at that time.

[00:13:04] Um, Or it could be what that coach’s specifically looking for. So athletically yet there, uh, you know, w we have, we have scholarships academically is, um, is a possibility too, that one of the things here that’s, um, is part of the process with academic scholarships, it’s you with, uh, everybody. Applies here.

[00:13:35] So it’s not just, you know, specific to women’s soccer, no one else seats you are in the pool with the whole pool. Yeah. So, but it’s possible, you know, uh, if you, if you have, um, the kind of credentials that admissions, uh, think, uh, deserve, you know, a academic scholarship rewards. You know, then it’s possible, which is obviously a little bit different, um, than some schools are, uh, have specific academic awards, you know, perhaps for a certain sat score or some don’t have any academic awards at all.

[00:14:18] We have them, but they’re also, the credentials are somewhat unique to us. I think to Lafayette, the way they get awarded and, you know, financial aid is available as well. Uh, so there are, there are possibilities along all, three of those, um, those avenues, um, you know, we’re no different than any other program where, uh, the.

[00:14:41] Of course, but where there are possibilities. Okay.

[00:14:45] Matt: Well, let’s, let’s talk a little bit more about the school. Um, you know, folks may not be familiar with Lafayette. I mean, you guys are in Eastern, Eastern, Pennsylvania, not the, although that is somewhat the Eastern side of Pennsylvania as well, but, um, yeah, so, uh, you know, we can click around the website and learn.

[00:15:06] Different things about Lafayette, but you know, you’ve been there quite a long time. So, so kind of give us the behind the scenes. What makes Lafayette great that, that maybe I’m not going to learn just by clicking around the website?

[00:15:17] Coach: Yeah. I, I mean, it’s a little bit of a cliche answer, but the people are, uh, very, uh, very nice and that’s part of the reason.

[00:15:27] I’ve enjoyed my time here, um, is, you know, some really great people here. Uh, we only have undergrad, uh, so we have no masters degree programs and we have no PhD programs. So everything, everything, every dollar, every resource, every person is here for the undergrad. Um, so I, I feel. That’s you know, somewhat beneficial, uh, to all the undergrads were also went a little native.

[00:15:58] So, uh, you know, it, it’s got a real nice community feel to it. And even though we’re a pretty small school enrollment wise, one thing that surprises everyone when they get here is how big the campus actually is. You know? Uh, that’s something, again, you can’t really see on the website, but when people get here, here all the time, wow.

[00:16:19] It’s much bigger than I thought it was. Uh, even though we’re a school of just a shade under 3000. It’s pretty big. Um, we’re only just over an hour outside of New York city, which, you know, I can walk to New Jersey from, from here in five minutes. So we’re right on the border. Um, but I, I do think that the community, uh, the people here, um, and you know, the alumni are.

[00:16:47] You know, pretty significant pieces of Lafayette. Um, they are heavily involved, not just, they do write checks and a lot of them, uh, but they are heavily involved with the experience of the current students, uh, whether it’s internships, externships, uh, speaking engagements, um, there’s a very, very big emphasis.

[00:17:11] On alumni at Lafayette, which I think is also a, it’s really good for anyone that is currently here that not only do all the resources go towards them is, you know, people are through, through the school and doing very well. Also come back in droves. Yeah to continue that process. So I think location is great.

[00:17:33] I think the campus is beautiful, but I do think there’s a lot of really great people here. Okay. Well,

[00:17:40] Matt: give me a little bit of, uh, About how your players are able to balance academics and athletics. You know, what support systems does the school offer? How can we make sure that the, you know, the players that are coming are really getting both sides of the coin?

[00:17:57] Right?

[00:17:58] Coach: Well, I think there’s that there’s actually a couple of different ways that it works is number one. It’s what the players wanted before they go. So I think that’s an important thing for anyone that is lock-in, uh, any school, whether the highly academic schools, big schools, small schools, you know, far away from home is you’ve really got to ask yourself, you know, is this what I want?

[00:18:28] I think that’s an important question for anyone to, to ask themselves because a lot of the time, I think, you know, we all can get sucked into. You know what we think people want for us or what we think we should be doing when it’s important to get to the heart of it. So I do think number one, how the players, uh, do well with academics, rigorous academics, and a division one schedule.

[00:19:00] That’s what they wanted. That’s why they came here. Um, not that it’s easy. It isn’t, uh, we do have lots of support with inside the, um, athletic department. We have a person in the department here called Kali. Who’s just outstanding with, uh, and she has a team, uh, but she’s outstanding. Uh, with helping all the student athletes, whether it’s academically, whether it’s internships, whether it’s scheduling, um, she’s just, she’s really good at what she does, which is helpful.

[00:19:35] Um, all the teams have a, a faculty mentor, um, that helps almost as a. Uh, a second opinion, everyone, obviously as an academic advisor in their major, but all the teams have a faculty mental, which provide, you know, a second opinion for all the student athletes. Um, but we also have, you know, so many different things as far as support within even certain classes, we’ll provide a supplemental, uh, instruction, you know, tutors, all those kinds of things.

[00:20:09] They’re all available. Um, but I do think it starts with, uh, the decision of the student athlete to commit to both. Um, so to be honest with you, balance is not even a word I use when I’m in the recruitment process. I always say it’s a hundred percent of both. Like it doesn’t balance to me conjures up, you know, this like, it’s our, okay.

[00:20:37] It’s not that kind of experience forum. Um, it’s, it’s hard. It’s not for everybody. Um, and it needs, it needs a commitment, um, for sure, but to be fair, all our players do very well because it’s exactly what they wanted and they commit to it and they work so hard. Uh, They, they focus on the essentials. Like we don’t have, what I’ve noticed over time is our players don’t have a lot of non-essentials, you know, in that overall experience here.

[00:21:18] Like they don’t, they don’t do, they don’t focus on tons of, you know, little stuff. Uh, they focus on the essentials on as far as. You know, like one of our seniors, Lindy Gibbs is, is going to go into law school and that’s what she’s focused on it, you know, she’s focused on into law school and now she’s going to law school.

[00:21:43] So, uh, I think that that’s the best part I can say is the player commitment to it is what helps it, rather than you all the support is there. But if you’re not fully committed to it, we can support y’all, you know, all, all you want. Uh, you number one, the player has to be fully invested in their own education and their own sports.

[00:22:08] And then everything else is, is absolutely there for them. Like I talked about before, where there’s been just undergrad, we got everything, we got everything you could possibly want. Well, the student athlete has to make that decision that both are important to them and to commit to both. And then everything else is, is.

[00:22:27] Matt: Well, and I’m guessing, I’m guessing you might have something to do that coach. I see that sign a above your bookcase there, keep the main thing. And I’m guessing the bottom of that says the main thing.

[00:22:36] Coach: So I’m a bit of a Stephen Covey now and, um, he’s, you know, so anyone that knows me well, uh, You know, kinda laugh of this, but, um, you know, I use a lot of his teaching, some work, you know, his core principles of the program and that’s, you know, the essential, uh, stuff is, it’s the same thing.

[00:23:03] It’s exactly the same thing. And that’s what I try and guide the players with. There’s not to get sidetracked by nonsense. Um, but they’ve got to know what their main things are, you know, in the first place. And of course the core of it all is, is the academic piece. Okay. Well, let’s

[00:23:23] Matt: talk more about the soccer and the team side of things.

[00:23:25] Um, do you have an ideal roster size that you try to hit every

[00:23:29] Coach: year? I do. I try and keep around 24, um, know, plus, so minus one or two, uh, I’m a believer in. A little bit of a smaller roster, you know? Uh, I like the everyone to feel involved, even though everyone’s not playing the same amount. I like the intimacy of a smaller roster where everyone feels like.

[00:23:56] You know, the part of it. Um, of course the other side to that is, you know, you pick up a few injuries and, you know, you could, uh, you could end up with a little lake on your face, but, um, but that’s generally what I try and target right in that, uh, you know, uh, 24. I like, I like that number. Um, but it’s, it’s never 24 exact, but that’s, that’s kind of the philosophy behind it.

[00:24:26] Like I don’t, I don’t have a, a giant, a giant roster, um, for those. And that’s the main reason why.

[00:24:35] Matt: No that’s understood. Yeah. I appreciate that. There’s, there’s a lot of schools out there who, you know, they require them to carry 30 or, or craziness like that. So it’s good. It’s good to hear that you’re able to keep it a nice tight number.

[00:24:48] Coach: So, I mean, it’s, it’s, um, you know, again, I’ve been in a couple of different spots and been fortunate enough to. You know, be around some really good coaches and be friends with some really, really top, top coaches, you know, some of the best coaches of what I consider some of the best coaches in college soccer currently.

[00:25:13] Um, you know, I’m, I’m pretty friendly with, and you know, everyone everyone’s got their own. Their own thing, whether it’s, you know, um, title nine stuff, whether it’s even philosophically, like in a bigger roster, you know, all of it’s, all of it’s. Okay. Just for me. Um, I’d like, uh, a, like a tight knit squad and, um, I like everyone to feel that their experience here is meaningful.

[00:25:42] Um, so I, I try. And keep a little bit of a smaller roster to try and achieve that. Um, if I can, you know, but like I said, this, you know, this downsides to that too, but sure. I’m committed enough to it, to, you know, to recognize that. Okay. I understand that if we pick up a few injuries, I, I, I get it, but I’m not gonna.

[00:26:06] You know, sacrifice the reason I’m doing it for, you know, so that’s my thing though. I got. Gotcha.

[00:26:13] Matt: So you talked about your roster size. What about your coaching staff? How many staff do you have? What role does everybody play there?

[00:26:21] Coach: Yeah, I have one full-time assistant. Um, I have one part-time assistant, uh, full-time trainer full-time strength coach.

[00:26:28] Um, so you know, pretty, pretty good. Uh, they’ve been with me. All of them have been with me, uh, over 10 years now, all for, uh, some, you know, as long as I’ve been here. So, you know, we have a pretty consistent, um, staff as well. Uh, which is, I think, uh, You know, for the players is, is helpful to have that familiarity with, uh, with the staff.

[00:26:55] And, uh, so, but that’s what, that’s what we have. So it’s pretty, we have good, good people involved. So I’m pretty, pretty lucky from a staffing standpoint.

[00:27:05] Matt: Yeah. That’s great. So, well, how would you describe, you know, Your style of coaching, the team style of play, kind of the overall culture of the team. And I, you know, you don’t need to get into, you know, we’re always in a 4, 4, 2, and, you know, w whatever, whatever you want to kind of give us, uh, with regards to the soccer side of things.

[00:27:24] Yeah. I

[00:27:24] Coach: mean, it’s what I always say is we’re trying to play. With the emphasis on the word training, you know, so it it’s certainly, uh, can always be better. It’s something we’re striving for, but. Um, you know, we value, I do a lot of positional play type of exercises. I do a lot of that. Um, I do a lot of transitional type of situations, you know, transition to attack or transition to defense.

[00:27:58] Um, the out of possession, possession stuff, you know, we, you know, we’re trying to be as organized as we can. Um, but everything, you know, I try and do all the training around the. And having the ball and then, you know, with the various tactical things, we do actually play more often than not in a 4, 4, 2, uh, in the document more often than not.

[00:28:26] Um, you know, we do have some flexibility with that, but if you had, you know, if I had to say, you know, one system over another that’s, that’s probably what we do more so than, than anything else, but, you know, we’re, I’m, I’m trying to get the team. Uh, to have a nice style of play, but that that’s effective, you know, and we, first of all, we’re trying to score more goals within our opponent, not out pass them.

[00:28:52] Uh, You know, I’m trying to, you know, implement a style that the players enjoy. That’s good to, you know, good to watch that is also enjoyable to coach. Um, but also, you know, gives us, uh, possession of the ball more often than not. Um, as far as coaching style. Um, I mean, I hope it’s evolved, you know, over the years, again, I was fortunate enough to be an assistant under mark Corian.

[00:29:26] I’ve, you know, I was also an assistant with, uh, Erica Dunbar at Penn state who I think two of the, two of the top coaches in the country. Uh, so, you know, I’ve been influenced by some, some good coaches though. You know, not screamers and yellers, the, you know, the thoughtful there, they push hard, they’re competitive, but they get their points across in a manner.

[00:29:54] You know, is, is more my personality as well. So, um, you know, uh, I think, um, I’m pretty pretty level headed. I mean, competitive. Yes. Um, but I think, you know, uh, hopefully somewhat thoughtful, hopefully a halfway decent communicator, you know, um, and you know, hopefully play a centered.

[00:30:22] Matt: I love it. I love it. Well, you know, you’ve, you’ve given us, uh, a lot of information here.

[00:30:27] I appreciate the time, uh, that, that you’ve given me. Uh, so we’ll just end it with one last question, which I do for all these, which is just my catch all. What didn’t we talk about? What did we, we miss or something you want to reiterate about? Whether it’s the school, the team recruiting, anything in general that you’d love to share with our.

[00:30:45] Coach: Yeah, no, I think, I think for anyone watching the is, you know, a going through the recruiting process, like I said, uh, you know, in the interview is I just think it’s important for everyone just to, you know, there, there is a place out there for everybody. There really is a, you just got to figure out what’s right for you.

[00:31:08] Um, for me, Clarity is, you know, an honesty. You can’t go wrong with it. So, um, I always, I have plenty of people tell me, no, I have people tell me. Yes. You know, we tell people no, we tell people. Yes. It’s, it’s all. Okay. I just think, um, you know, when you’re, when you’re looking around at schools and when you know, we’re looking at players and things like that, you know, honesty is always the one.

[00:31:35] It doesn’t always work out. No, no, no. And I understand that, but I just think, um, honesty and clarity are always, always the best, uh, the best way to go. It’s not an easy process for, for coaches or for, uh, for prospects, but, um, I think if you’re honest with yourself and the coaches are, are honest with you, then you can’t go on.

[00:32:00] Yep. Agreed.

[00:32:02] Matt: Well, coach, I appreciate the time. We wish you the best of luck, uh, coming up in the fall season. And if I swing through, uh, that part of the country, I’ll have to have to stop by and say hello and see your facilities.

[00:32:14] Coach: Yeah, yeah. Do it. I’ll take you out for, we’ll go. Nice. A nice coffee shop right here.

[00:32:18] I could take you and, uh, You know, show you all the hotspots of Eastern Pennsylvania.

[00:32:24] Matt: Well, I know I’ll be, uh, my mom’s down in Cape may New Jersey, so not too far from Philly in that area. That’s nice. If I get up your way, I’ll let you know for sure. So, all right. Thanks

[00:32:35] Coach: coach.