Podcast: Assistant coach James Foote on Flagler’s incredible D-2 run

Flagler College assistant coach James Foote is the guest on this episode of the "Chasing the Goal" podcast. (Courtesy)

On this episode of New England Lacrosse Journal’s “Chasing The Goal” podcast, hosts Kyle Devitte and Owen Hart are joined by Flagler College assistant coach and offensive coordinator James Foote.

A burgeoning Flagler program has rapidly ascended the ranks of Division 2 and owns a 14-2 record. Foote shares stories about overcoming early challenges, the significance of building relationships with players, and integrating various tactical philosophies learned from different influences.

The guys also discuss the broader Division 2 landscape, and sheds light on the dedication and passion required to build a successful lacrosse program from the ground up.

And golf carts.

Watch the full podcast below on YouTube. It’s also available on all major podcast platforms. If you enjoy it, please leave a rating and a review. Watch more episodes on the Chasing the Goal podcast channel.

Here are some excerpts from the pod.

Owen Hart: We’ve talked about coaching at the JV high school level and the little small things that I teach my kids, like, “Hey, you’re stepping with your wrong foot here. When you’re moving, you’re planting, you’re shifting your weight here, or your power’s not coming from here, shoot this way.” We get a lot of those moments at the lower levels, but what are some of the rewarding moments at the higher level when you’re coaching “Mr. Florida Lacrosse” and guys like that?

James Foote: That’s funny. He just said “a higher-level program.” We’re still trying to pinch ourselves here.

We have a guy who’s on extra man and his shooting percentage is in the dumps, and against Lander in the Peach Belt championship he found the back of the net. He changed one little mechanic. He hit it. Scored the goal and then immediately looked over to me on the sideline because we had talked about exactly that. We locked eyes on the field in that moment. Both sets of hands up in the air, celebrating, and it was just me and him in that moment. We were the only two people on that field.

He’s a senior in college. He’s got all this stuff going on. Where am I gonna get a job in a couple of months? I gotta move out my apartment before graduation. But in that moment, there’s nothing else going on — that’s one of those special moments that you have with a guy.

Kyle Devitte: What is your other job? You alluded to it. 

JF: Let me go backward. When I started, I knew I wanted to coach. But I don’t have a Division 1 pedigree, and there were no graduate assistant opportunities for a guy like me coming out of an MCLA school back then. So I got into the sales gig. I was like, “Oh, yeah, I’ll be a team sales rep. That’s gotta be easy. Just talk to coaches.”

KD: That’s the trap, brother! That’s the trap, dude! They sell you that trap. It’s the worst. 

JF: You’re not wrong, and 20 years later, your dude is still in sales. But now I’ve gotten away from the apparel stuff. I actually got over into private label apparel for a long time and did like some really cool stuff, and made really good money doing that. And then … thanks, COVID, for shutting that down because no one needs a T-shirt when the world’s coming to an end.

So now, it sounds funny, it’s a golf cart dealership down here in St. Augustine Beach. I sell the utility equipment that colleges and universities, and local municipalities, local government use at state parks and warehouses. So I do B2B sales for stuff that helps people move other stuff around.

@TheKyleDevitte
kyle.devitte@laxjournal.com

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