Inside Lacrosse Podcast of Coach Tillman on Harvard's Nationally Ranked 2009 Recruiting Class

John Tillman is now in his third year as the Frisbie Family Head Coach for Men’s Lacrosse at Harvard after being introduced on Sept. 5, 2007.

In 2009, Harvard posted an 8-5 overall record for the program's first winning season since 2004 and highest win total since 1999. The Crimson opened the season by topping No. 5 Duke Feb. 22. Harvard moved to as high as No. 11 in the national polls and received five All-Ivy League selections as well as seven nods to the NEILA All-New England team. In addition, Harvard’s defense was ranked third in the nation last year and allowed the fewest goals during the 2009 season after being ranked 42nd in 2007. The offensive has also improved in the last two years, ranking 15th in 2009, up from 40th in 2007. The extra-man offense has seen the biggest jump, from 51st to 15th.

Tillman came to Harvard after six years as Navy’s head assistant coach. The Midshipmen were one of just five programs nationally to appear in every NCAA tournament from 2004 to 2007. Tillman coordinated the team’s offensive game plan en route to four consecutive trips to the NCAA Championship Tournament as well as four straight Patriot League regular season and conference tournament championships. From 2004 to 2007, Navy ranked second in Division I for total wins with 49 and third in winning percentage with a .766 success rate (49-15). Navy’s senior class of 2007 established school records for wins in a career with three victories coming over Maryland and four over North Carolina. En route to a berth in the 2004 national title game, Navy defeated Penn, Cornell and Princeton along the way. The Mids ranked third nationally in offense during the 2004 season. His efforts in recruiting and game management were noticed by the Maryland State Lacrosse Coaches Association who named Tillman the 2004 and 2006 Collegiate Lacrosse Assistant Coach of the Year.

Tillman was previously commissioned into the U.S. Navy as a fleet support officer and was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal. During his time at Navy, he also served as an assistant professor in the Physical Education Department at the Academy. A 1991 graduate of Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration, Tillman played for legendary coach Richie Moran and was a member of the school’s 1989 team that advanced to the NCAA Championship Tournament. He was a three-year member of the Dean’s List.

A native of Corning, N.Y., Tillman played professionally for three years for the Baltimore Thunder of the National Lacrosse League and one year for the Washington Power. Tillman also played for the Toyota Lacrosse Club, who won five-consecutive Southern Division Championships and made four appearances in the finals, including a world championship in 2000. Tillman is also a member of the Tewaaraton Award Men’s Selection Committee. The award is annually presented to the outstanding collegiate men’s lacrosse player.

Following graduation, Tillman spent four years as an assistant coach at Ithaca College while pursuing his Master of Science degree in physical education. During his time at Ithaca, the program experienced strong growth and success, including an appearance in the 1992 Division III National Semifinals.

JOHN TILLMAN’S COACHING CAREER

Head Coach

Year School Record Postseason

2008 Harvard 6-8, 1-5 Ivy League
2009 Harvard 8-5, 3-3 Ivy League

Harvard Total: 14-13, 4-8 Ivy League

Assistant Coach

Year School (Position) Record Postseason

1992 Ithaca (Assistant Coach) 12-2-0 NCAA Semifinals

1993 Ithaca (Assistant Coach) 9-5-0 ECAC Upstate N.Y. Champion

1994 Ithaca (Assistant Coach) 5-5-0

1995 Ithaca (Assistant Coach) 5-5-0

Ithaca Total: 31-17

1996 Navy (Assistant Coach) 4-8-0

1997 Navy (Assistant Coach) 6-6-0

1998 Navy (Assistant Coach) 7-6-0

1999 Navy (Assistant Coach) 7-7-0 NCAA First Round

2000 Navy (Assistant Coach) 9-4-0

2001 Navy (Assistant Coach) 8-5-0

2002 Navy (Head Assistant Coach) 8-5-0

2003 Navy (Head Assistant Coach) 6-7-0

2004 Navy (Head Assistant Coach) 15-3-0 NCAA Finalist

2005 Navy (Head Assistant Coach) 12-4-0 NCAA Quarterfinals

2006 Navy (Head Assistant Coach) 11-4-0 NCAA First Round

2007 Navy (Head Assistant Coach) 11-4-0 NCAA First Round

Navy Total: 104-63

Assistant Coach All School Total: 135-80

ALL-AMERICANS UNDER JOHN TILLMAN (41)

Year Player, Award

1992 Bill Krist, Honorable Mention

Scott MacCaull, Honorable Mention

Mark Maietta, Third Team

Charlie Shoulberg, First Team

1993 Jim Bianchni, Honorable Mention

Scott MacCaull, Honorable Mention

1994 Jim Bianchni, Honorable Mention

Brian Dattellas, Honorable Mention

Brian Ferry, Honorable Mention

1995 Brian Dattellas, Honorable Mention

1996 Andrew Ross, Honorable Mention

1997 Andrew Ross, Third Team

1998 Chad Donnelly, Honorable Mention

1999 Michael Jarboe, First Team

Chad Donnelly, Honorable Mention

2000 Micahel Jarboe, First Team

Chad Donnelly, Third Team

Adam Borcz, Honorable Mention

2001 Adam Borcz, Second Team

2002 Gregory Conklin, Honorable Mention

2003 Gregory Conklin, Honorable Mention

Christopher Stebbings, Honorable Mention

2004 Matthew Russell, First Team

Ian Dingman, Second Team

Benjamin Bailey, Third Team

Mitchell Hendler, Third Team

Joseph Bossi, Honorable Mention

Graham Gill, Honorable Mention

Stephen Looney, Honorable Mention

2005 Graham Gill, First Team

Mitchell Hendler, First Team

Matthew Russell, Second Team

William Looney, Third Team

Jonathan Birsner, Honorable Mention

2006 Jonathan Birsner, Second Team

William Looney, Second Team

Matthew Russell, Third Team

Jordan DiNola, Honorable Mention

Stephen Looney, Honorable Mention

2007 William Looney, First Team

Jordan DiNola, Honorable Mention

JOHN TILLMAN’S COACHING CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• Led Harvard to a national ranking in first season
• Guided the Crimson in the first-ever lacrosse game played at Gillette Stadium (April 5, 2008)
• Coached the most All-Ivy League selections for Harvard (five in 2009) since 1999
• Harvard won eight games in 2009, the most for the program since 2002
  
• NCAA tournament participant with Navy: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
• Navy was one of just five programs to appear in each of the last four NCAA tournaments
• NCAA finalist with Navy in 2004, defeating Penn, Cornell and Princeton along the way.
• Navy’s first title game appearance since 1975
• NCAA quarterfinalist with Navy in 2004
• Patriot League regular season and conference tournament champions with Navy: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
• Navy’s senior class of 2007 established school records for victories in a career with a combined seven wins over Maryland and North Carolina
• Navy ranked second in total wins in Division I from 2004-2007 with 49
• Navy ranked third in winning percentage in Division I from 2004-2007 at .766 (49-15)
• Set Navy record for wins in a season in 2004 (15-3)
• Ranked third nationally in scoring in 2004 at Navy
• 13 consecutive victories over Army as an assistant coach at Navy
• Navy led division I in lacrosse attendance in 2007
• Maryland State Coaches Association collegiate Assistant Lacrosse Coach of the Year: 2004, 2006
• Coached 11 offensive All-Americas and one World Team member at Navy
• Coached one Patriot League offensive Player of the Year at Navy
• Coached a total of 41 All-America selections in 16 seasons at Navy