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Suiting Up with Paul Rabil

Dave Pietramala: Johns Hopkins Lacrosse Head Coach

Suiting Up with Paul Rabil

Paul Rabil

Sports, Business

51.2K Ratings

🗓️ 23 October 2017

⏱️ 98 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Dave Pietramala is widely regarded as the greatest defenseman in lacrosse history. As a member of the U.S. National Hall of Fame, he’s the only person to have won an NCAA national championship as both a player and coach, and the only person to be named both the NCAA player and coach of the year. Incredible. Pietramala – "Coach Petro" – recruited me to play under him at Johns Hopkins University in 2005, where we competed in three NCAA national championships, and winning two. Coach taught me how to work hard, compete, be humble, and respectful. He always harped on “the little things” – like keeping a clean locker room, hustling in between reps, being the first in line, and making eye contact. Each of these learned tactics translate into professional sports, business, and relationships. On the show, we take a drive down memory lane, revisiting learning moments and major adjustments from my freshman year in college. I was fortunate to step onto the field with one of the best senior classes our sport has ever seen, and one that completed an undefeated season, going 16-0. Coach Petro shares with us his origin story, why he chose to play at Johns Hopkins, and what the one-on-one battles were like with our sport’s greatest player, Gary Gait. In 1990, Pietramala’s coaching career began, taking his first coaching gig as an assistant coach for Gilman high school. From there, he earned a part-time collegiate assistant coaching position that paid him $3,000. To supplement his lower wage, Pietramala worked at an aluminum extrusion factory from 6am to 2pm. His subsequent coaching positions took him through the University of Pennsylvania, Loyola College, and Cornell, where he was named the NCAA Coach of the Year. In 2001, Pietramala took the head coaching position at his alma mater, where he’s helped revitalize the Hopkins program. He’s won two national championships, been to seven Final Fours, sixteen NCAA tournaments, and winner of the 2015 Big 10 conference championship. Other topics from our conversation include: - What makes a high performance competitor - The importance of feedback - Pietramala’s biggest regret - Recruiting: what Pietramala is looking for in a young lacrosse player - I teach him how to use Twitter Enjoy the show.

Transcript

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0:00.0

I took a job at an aluminum extrusion factory where I would get up I'd be at

0:08.1

at work by 6 a.m. I would punch out by 2 I'd wear my metatarsal boots. I'd come to Hopkins filled with

0:15.3

grease and grime from working in the factory. But I took a job that paid me enough so I can live and pay my rent and got me to Hopkins for practice at 3 o'clock.

0:28.6

What's up everyone?

0:29.6

I'm Paul Ravel, professional lacrosse player in New York and with Team USA and this is

0:34.4

Suiting a podcast. This week's guest feels like a long time coming. We think

0:39.7

that 23 episodes ago when we launched this show we served you potentially the best coach of all time

0:45.2

across sports. His name is Bill Bellacek. Our 24th guest is backed by Data at least the best player coach in lacrosse history.

0:55.0

He's also a close friend to Bill and he's a close friend of mine.

0:58.0

And was my head coach at Johns Hopkins University.

1:01.0

Dave Petramala is widely regarded

1:04.0

as the greatest defenseman in lacrosse history.

1:06.6

He's a member of the US Across Hall Fame.

1:08.8

And here's the stat.

1:10.6

The only person to have won an NCAA national championship as both a player and a coach

1:15.2

and the only person to be named both player and coach of the year. So that solves that.

1:21.1

Now for all you lacrosse fans out there,

1:23.4

we'll strike that. All of you sports fans,

1:26.1

I'm going to tell you something. This is probably the best piece of long form

1:29.7

content available right now, as long as you fall into one of the following categories.

1:34.0

Number one, of course, you're a Johns Hopkins fan. You're an alum or you're just a

1:39.4

college lacrosse fan. Coach Petro is what I believe at least, one of the most recognizable people

...

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