Who has the best coach in Seattle Lacrosse?

Taking a ~30 mile radius of the ever-expanding Seattle area, from what I've seen this year, the nominations should go to Bellevue and Snohomish coaches. I see nothing but class and momentum from both of those organizations both physically and "spiritually".

More points than your opponent, and win loss record is critical but a very SMALL part of the criteria that should comprises a best coaching staff nomination. Consider the win loss record at an equal level to Integrity, Trust, Inspiration, Accountability, Thought Leadership, and the OUTPUT of the team. A team is a FUNCTION, so in addition to winning games, the overall character, class, and integrity of the team should also count.

Winning is much like the word Happiness. Winning isn't a station you arrive at, it's a mode of travel.

Winning is a philosophy, is multi-dimensinal, and inter-disciplinary, and essentially amounts to honesty & leadership on and off the field, and even in your sleep. It is about trusting your players, and providing as many opportunities as possible to your players to be better today than they were yesterday-- better now than they were 5 minutes ago.

Just like back in the day, the best coaches/chiefs have players that would probably die for them if they had to, but would rather choose to cleanly outplay their opponents instead.

For the last two years the same two teams have made it to the championship game. Issaquah is a relatively new program compared to BI and MI and they still manage to keep progressing year after year. This is obviously due to a good coach who took new players and turned them into a 2nd place DI team. MI was said to have lost all their talent, and had a so-so middle portion of their season, but Coach O'hearn worked with what he had and made a championship team. I say O'hearn and Fortier.

Fortier's coaching at the senior showcase

My vote is for Jack Visco. He has an amazing understanding of the game. He was never my coach, but whenever he reffed at indoor games I felt priviledged.

I have a feeling you won't go to an MI practice and confront O'Hearn mano-mano with your comments. He is a just a little guy and you are so big and strong. He is so lucky you won't go.

From their records and coaching styles, Visco and O'hearn come out as the best coaches in Seattle Lacrosse.

I think you gotta give Hawley some love. He is in a developing area right now out at Klahowya but you've seen what he did at lakeside all those years.

It seems like much of the argument in here is whether or not a coach can be accredited with developing a program if they already have a youth program. The most improved program is OBVIOUSLY bellevue, espeially since they will only graduate a handful of impact players next year. Aside from that, I will have to say that Garfield and Issaquah have had the best coaching staffs. Both of these teams started 5 years ago, without any feeder programs. Garfield almost immediately acquired QAMS along with Prep, and Issaquah developed youth and MS programs. This is largely due to the influence of the coaching staffs of the HS programs. BI and MI, both of which are perennial powers, have had the infrastructure already in place so that when they develop new varsity players, most have already been playing lacrosse for over 3, 4, or even 5 years. Coming from Garfield's program, I can say that many of Garfield players (in particular their 2nd line middies and their defense) started playing within the past 3 years. Developing players at such a late stage in their pre-college careers can be attributed to the coaching staff, and the individual efforts of the players of both of these schools, Issaquah and Garfield.

Let's not even bring up Baumann's name on here till he wins something. And please don't give him credit for developing Bellevue's program, there was a youth program growing and improving for three years before he showed up, and those players are the core of his team now. He didn't develop those players. Maybe in another 2-3 years his name can enter a discussion like this, but so far his biggest accomplishment has been shiny new uniforms.

Having coached against both MI and BI at several different levels it is easy to see that there is a prevailing culture at both programs, and it is pretty obvious that one program is all about winning at all costs, and the other is about teaching, and respecting the game. This is made even more evident by the comments coming from each program. I also don't agree that either of these 2 coaches is the best coach in the state. I think the best current coach in the state is actually Anthony Spinelli at Skyline. He took over a new program, and up until last night they were undefeated. Watch for them in the DII playoffs, and future years probably in DI.

You can't knock success. Visco and Bainbridge just shut down a pretty good Garfield offense yesterday. Add that to the mix. I think he might get another state championship this year to make a case for the best.

It was the best thing MI did when they got rid of Visco. A good coach isn't just about winning state championships and may I say he's only won one! A good coach is an individual that not only teaches players how to play lacrosse but also teaches life lessons and values.

Although MI isn't doing too well right now, Coach O'hearn has won 2 championships to date and has a more well rounded approach to being a head coach.

MI had the best coach then let go of him. Lets hope Bainbridge doesnt do the same thing...Coach Visco is the best coach and has the championships to prove it.

How is this even a debate? John Baumann LONG ISLAND REPERSENT

Lakeside's Women's Varsity coach is fantastic - Jamie Asaka. Keep an eye on this team this year!