Top 7 MCLA Program at Nations 4th Ranked Engineering School and 9th Ranked Public University

The Georgia Tech Yellowjackets lacrosse program has been one to watch for the past few years in the MCLA. The Jackets have helped grow the game of lacrosse all over the Atlanta, GA area. I got the chance to speak with Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator Mat Edmunds. Coach Edmunds has recruited future engineers all over the country, and he preaches that the MCLA is a perfect balance between academics and college lacrosse.

What advice do you have for players interested in MCLA programs?

It’s important for young players to realize that there are many universities and colleges that one could play at whether it is varsity, NAIA or MCLA.As an athlete looking for a home for the next four years one should look at all opportunities that create a balance that is right for them. It all depends what they are looking for out of a collegiate career. MCLA offers a level of commitment that can balance academics and athletics but they should realize they should attend college for an education and an experience. Find the right university for you and contact the coach.

What is the best way for players to get on your radar?

It comes down to the grades. Do you have the academic standards to get into GT. You have to be around a 3.8 to a 4.0. After that send us an email with all info and we’ll reach out to you. Through ConnectLax and other websites, we’ll find you. If someone has great grades and wants to be an engineer, they’ll find us. They want to be engineers and they are very driven individuals. All our coaches have full time jobs so being on the recruiting trail every summer and fall is extremely difficult especially when many tournaments and prospect camps are midweek. That being said, we do attend several major events each year. We do receive many emails everyday so that is a very direct way to get in touch with me but in those introductory emails please include film. No mass emails and if you send an email with another coaches name it will get deleted. The best way is to check your grades and test scores and see if they are compatible with Georgia Tech and then fill in our online questionnaire on our website. A student doing well in the classroom will also get on our radar if they are a member of a recruiting website. Just to put things in perspective our average weighted GPA of our 2014 class is around a 4.0 with an average SAT score of 2150.

What type of players do you look for, raw athlete or refined lacrosse players?

A little bit of both. I’m realistic in what type of students are coming to Georgia Tech. Your looking for a mixed blend between an athlete and someone with lacrosse IQ. As we are building our program we are looking for players that fit within our system. It’s important to have a combination of athleticism and lacrosse skills but you also have to be the right fit. I am looking for a player that is driven and doesn’t stop working to succeed as that sums up a GT student. A player should have the desire to get better every day and not everyone has that. Play hard but practice harder.

What areas of development would you recommend players focus on?

Be a sponge! It’s a continuing learning process on and off the field. Stickwork, along with IQ and desire can move you forward. A player should sometimes step away from playing 5 travel team tournaments and attend at least one instructional camp. They will learn new things and reinforce things they are doing already. Keep playing and keep that stick in your hand as much as possible.

What type of student-athletes find MCLA programs to be the best fit for them?

MCLA is for a person who wants to compete at a high level but not spend their entire collegiate life focused on lacrosse. They want the collegiate “experience”. They want to degree, the study abroad, the co-ops along with maybe greek life plus much more. All prospects for GT understand that even though varsity is an option for them our educational background and campus experience can over shadow that. If you have the grades and you want to be an engineer GT has to be an option and that goes for many schools, especially larger research universities. It all depends on what that student athlete is looking to get out of his collegiate career before stepping in to the “real world”. There is no direct “fit”. The MCLA gets better every year because more student athletes realize this as a viable option.