John Galloway instructed his players to turn their sticks upside down. He lofted the ball softly from a few yards out, hoping his goaltenders would save it to the ground without allowing the ball to bounce outside the crease.

It’s one of the many drills Galloway runs in an effort to try and make the Duke goaltenders as versatile as possible. This one improves hand-eye coordination.

This is Galloway, the coach.

One of the most celebrated goaltenders in NCAA lacrosse history, Galloway spent his entire life in Syracuse, capturing three Section III titles at West Genesee High School and two national championships in four years at Syracuse. After last season, the lifelong Syracuse native reached the end of the road at home. With no vacancies in the Syracuse coaching staff and a desire to remain in lacrosse, he had no choice but to leave his hometown.

After meeting with Duke head coach John Danowski at the spur of the moment to inquire about a coaching position, Galloway joined the Blue Devils as a volunteer assistant coach last fall. He will stand on the opposite sideline from the Orange when Syracuse faces the Blue Devils in the Konica Minolta Big City Classic at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., at 4 p.m. Sunday.

‘At some point in time, your playing days in college have to end, and I was fortunate enough to stay in the sport,’ Galloway said. ‘… Obviously I miss everything at Syracuse. I’m always going to bleed Orange, but I took the next step, and I’m really enjoying the coaching ranks.’

A year removed from finishing his illustrious career at Syracuse, where he spent all four seasons as the Orange’s starting goaltender, the 23-year-old now spends his time mentoring the Blue Devils’ goalies. He also plays professionally for the Rochester Rattlers of Major League Lacrosse.

But the NCAA’s all-time winningest goalie’s roots haven’t deserted him. Everything he learned during his life in Syracuse, he has carried with him to Durham, N.C. And that knowledge has earned him ultimate respect from his players.

‘He’s one of the best goalies to play in college, so he knows what he’s talking about,’ Duke starting goaltender Dan Wigrizer said, ‘It’s great being able to trust your coach, and whatever he says I believe he’s right. It’s easy to listen to him. We have a real great relationship. I trust whatever he says, and he’s helped a lot in every aspect of my game.’

When Galloway stepped in, he instantly filled one of the Blue Devils’ most pressing needs. Duke’s goaltenders never had the privilege of learning under a coach who specialized in the position.

Last season, Duke assistant coach Ron Caputo worked with the goaltenders. His expertise was limited to the fundamentals due to his lack of playing experience in goal.

When Wigrizer, a junior, began hearing rumors that Galloway could be joining the coaching staff, he knew the unit would receive an immediate boost.

‘He obviously has a lot of experience as a player and that experience as a player, just graduating last year, really helps him with coaching,’ Wigrizer said. ‘It really helps us goalies because he knows where we’re coming from. He understands how we’re feeling and the mental aspect of goalies, which is huge.’

Syracuse goaltender Matt Lerman knew Galloway was going to be a capable coach from what he saw in competition the last two seasons. Galloway knows the intricacies of every position. And he was never afraid to speak his mind on the backline, letting defenders know what they were doing right or wrong.

That communication level is necessary to succeed in the coaching ranks.

‘Even when he played here he was always like a coach. He knows everything about the game, the ins and outs from every position,’ Lerman said ‘… He understands every aspect of lacrosse, and he’s such a kind guy and so informative and so helpful in passing on his knowledge to his teams that I’m sure it’s the same way with his players now.’

After the opening practices in the fall, Wigrizer knew the goaltenders would rapidly improve as the season progressed. Galloway implemented a slew of unique drills and exercises in practice to work on all the areas of the goalies’ games.

That meticulous approach to coaching was something Galloway learned while playing under Syracuse assistant coach Kevin Donahue with the Orange and at West Genesee. Galloway deploys similar tactics with his players.

‘Every drill that I do, all the things that I say, you can kind of hear him saying in my playing days,’ Galloway said. ‘I’ve had such a great wealth of knowledge because of those guys that I’ve been able to carry it over here to my coaching at Duke.’

Galloway’s coaching has been tested throughout the season. After Wigrizer suffered a concussion in practice after Duke’s 7-3 loss to Notre Dame on Feb. 18, Galloway needed to implement certain strategies to ensure Duke’s backup goalies rose to the occasion.

Fifth-year senior Mike Rock and freshman Kyle Turri split the duties between the pipes in place of the injured Wigrizer. Each goaltender registered two wins during their stints in net.

Rock said he has seen definite improvements in the unit’s focus and capabilities under Galloway.

‘In practice, we’re playing 1,000 times better than we were in practice last year,’ Rock said. ‘I think it’s going to translate to the games soon. I think as a group we’re more confident knowing that we have a really good coach who’s in our corner and knows exactly what we’re going through and how to play the best we can.’

Wigrizer returned against Loyola two weeks later and has played the entirety of Duke’s last two games, including a 10-save performance in the Blue Devils’ 9-8 victory over Brown on Tuesday.

But the other two goalies’ performances have given Galloway confidence in the entire unit.

‘We’re a pact,’ Wigrizer said. ‘Every single practice everybody is helping each other get better and when the game comes who’s ever been playing better that week and can help the team win, that’s the goalie that’s going to play.’

On Sunday, Galloway will take the field against his alma mater for the first time. After four seasons in net for the Orange, he hopes he can help turn the game in Duke’s favor as a coach.

And for the first time in his life, Galloway will be rooting against Syracuse.

‘For those two hours, like I said, it’s going to be competitive,’ Galloway said. ‘I’m going to do everything I can to make sure the Duke guys are as prepared as I can make them and just enjoy the moment. It’s going to be tough, though.’

adtredin@syr.edu

Published on March 28, 2012 at 12:00 pm