Q&A with Rosemount boys lacrosse coach Lance Kuehn
ROSEMOUNT, Minn. — A Q&A with Lance Kuehn who is the head boys lacrosse coach at Rosemount High School.
How long have you been coaching?
Lance Kuehn: 17 years.
What is your background in this sport?
Kuehn: Lacrosse didn鈥檛 exist officially when I was in high school in Minnesota. As a hockey player growing up in Farmington, I had a love for sports. In college, I looked for a team to be a part of while attending St. Olaf College. Seeing another student walking across campus with a lacrosse stick, we starting talking and I joined the team later that week.
What is the biggest life lesson you鈥檝e learned from being a coach?
Kuehn: Care about everyone. As a program director for players U6 through U18, I need to care about the experience about everyone in the program. I strive to help, mentor, teach, train, and listen to all the players and families in my program from the youngest to the oldest players. I want them to enjoy their time playing lacrosse. If you show that you care about someone, they will work hard for you, listen to you, and care for you as well. Life would be a little better for everyone if we all just cared for each other.
What are one or two things that the team does in training that are keys to their success?
Kuehn: We have a dedicated group of players that practice 2-3x a week in the winter for captains practices in the Irish dome after school. This gives us an incredible advantage over other programs with having access to a free dome after school and captains willing to put in the time. The other part of our success is our summer training program in combination with Irish gym, our players work together 2-3 nights a week to continue to develop those skills we learned in the regular season.
How do you encourage the team after a disappointing loss?
Kuehn: We describe losses as learning opportunities. A loss shows your area of growth. After losses we review the film and see where we need to improve individually or as a team. Then we can hopefully fix it for the next game.
Describe your proudest coaching moment.
Kuehn: Every summer at the end of July we host an alumni game in which all former players can come back and play against our current team. Every summer we have 30 or so alumni come back to play. It is a great event. I am proud to see how all of these young men have grown up to be successful in college, careers, husbands, fathers, and positive members of their community. It makes me proud to know I was a positive impact on their life.
What legacy do you hope to leave as a coach?
Kuehn: 17 years ago I started this program at Rosemount. There was no lacrosse team here before I started teaching at Rosemount. We began with nearly 70 players who had never played before. Over the years we have managed to become successful, grow to over 14 boys teams, nearly 200 athletes, over 30 college players, and a top 10 program in the state of Minnesota every year since 2010. As I approach my last few years, I hope that this legacy continues on and that for years to come, Rosemount Lacrosse is the best program in the state of Minnesota.
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