Walax.com had an opportunity to get an inside look at the brand new coach at Bellevue High, John Baumann, to see what makes him “tick”. 
Not only has John been out to Seattle over a period of time to gauge the level of improvement, but has had a successful career as a DI player and coach.  We asked some questions of John to get to know the newest addition to a robust coaching corps in Washington and to get perspective related to the rest of the country’s hotbeds as he saw it.  John has a lot of passion for the game and a focused coaching regimen which will surely garner success.  Enjoy!

WALAX: When did you Start playing Lacrosse?

JB: I started playing in the 6^th grade in Long Island, NY. I was always involved in other sports like hockey, football, and wrestling. I think my involvement in these sports helped me develop my lacrosse skills as a younger player. By the 8^th grade I was hooked on the game. I would go to the local school and hit the wall every night with both hands until I was sore. I still played other sports throughout my high school career however the spring and summer were dedicated to lax. I always attended summer camps and I can remember getting a lot out of it every time.

WALAX: When you were a young player, who were your role-models, your motivators? 

JB: My motivation as a younger player was the pure love of the game. I loved the combination of speed, hand-eye skill, and hitting. I also loved the fact that anyone, any size could play and succeed in lacrosse with hard work and that each player could develop his own style of playing lacrosse and be successful at it.

I was always a smaller undersized player, which gave me motivation to prove myself on the field and play with a lot of heart and determination.

I realized that playing with better players would only make me better so I always tried to play with older kids and improve from it.

JB: As for idols, I grew up when Paul and Gary Gait were hitting the scene. They revolutionized the game and brought national attention to the sport. They were the only players to get such attention back then, and therefore were looked up to by all lacrosse players at that time.  I also looked up to players in my hometown. Brian Piccola a two-time first team All-American and leading scorer for John Hopkins in the early 90’s played for my high school. I looked up to him and he was an inspiration to a lot of younger players in the area. He was the real deal and I got to watch him play on a regular basis.

WALAX: Tell us about your High School Lacrosse experience…

JB: In my high school varsity program, I did not have standout scoring statistics as a player until my senior year. I had to work hard as an underclassman, being undersized and playing behind a heavily recruited standout player. I got my chance as a senior and provided 23 Goals and 21 assists receiving All County honors.

WALAX: How about College ball?

JB: After high school I still wanted to play lacrosse at a high level so I tried out and made the Nassau Community College lacrosse team. This is where I began to really develop as a player. Being coached by the staff at Nassau CC really helped me develop as a player.  I realized my dream of playing at a four-year school was possible so I decided to make the jump and go away to school. I transferred to the University at Albany and became a three-year starter on attack. I was named team co-captain my senior year, and was one of the top three scorers all three years.  I was awarded the “Best Attackman” award my senior year.

 WALAX: So can you sample some of your statistics?

JB: Career Stats for the three years at Albany: 70 Goals, 54 Assists.

Senior year 32G - 22A, 54 points

Among the all time top 10 in school history for most points in a single season. 

WALAX: Quite a career!, tell us about what coaching experience you bring to Seattle…

JB: I coached and was Co-Director of summer camps in Seattle this past summer. I have worked for many notable camps in New York State since 1995 and also coached youth travel teams in Long Island NY during the spring.  I was the head coach for my high school’s summer league program during 1999. I also assisted my former college coach with his high school program, in Upstate NY.  I took a brief hiatus from coaching while I was living and working in New York City. While working in Manhattan I always knew that my love and my passion was lacrosse and coaching.  Now as the director of Bellevue Lacrosse I have the opportunity to pursue this passion.

WALAX: What inspired you to move out here and what do you think about the Lacrosse scene?

JB: I have been traveling to the Seattle area since I was a little kid. I have family in the area and I think it is a beautiful part of the country. I always wanted to move here and lacrosse has given me the opportunity to make the move.

JB: I started looking at the Seattle lacrosse scene about three years ago when my friend took over a local high school team. I have noticed the lacrosse talent getting better each year. The kids are starting to put in the time and hard work and are starting to catch up with other lacrosse hotbeds in the country. Coaches are doing a good job teaching the fundamentals of the game and elite teams in this area are starting to be competitive with other elite teams across the country.

WALAX: What do you feel your biggest challenge is as the New Head Coach?

JB: This area certainly contains the athletes necessary to be a hotbed of lacrosse. A big challenge that I see is that the sport is growing so fast at the youth level and there doesn’t seem to be enough coaches or facilities to absorb the growth of the sport. I think it is important to have coaches teach the right things at an early age so by the time Seattle kids are in high school they will not be at a disadvantage against established programs. I think this area will overcome these challenges in the coming years and that we will see players from this area playing in the NCAA tournaments before you know it.

WALAX: I have to ask, Bellevue Lacrosse? Your Thoughts on the Bellevue program and the potential for success?

JB: I think the Bellevue program has a lot of potential to be a successful program. We have a large number of kids who want to play, parent involvement and participation are there to help the program, and there are good athletes in the area that have the potential to be great players. Focused practices, team structure, hard work and dedication from the kids will give us success in the future.