This one’s for the defensive minds.Former National Lacrosse League champion defender and current Georgia Swarm assistant coach Alex Crepinsek joins the podcast for a conversation about the modern box game — how it’s played, how it’s coached, and how teams are building identity behind the scenes.Crepinsek talks about the transition from player to coach and how the Swarm have developed their fast, aggressive defensive style. He shares insight into the culture inside the organization, the influence of owner John Arlotta and his family-first philosophy, and how young players like Brett Dobson are growing within a veteran-driven locker room.The conversation also digs into how technology is changing the game — from video review and challenges to the analytics and tools that are starting to shape coaching decisions and player development across the league.And like any good lacrosse story, it goes back to junior. Crepinsek looks back at his days with the Burlington Chiefs and their historic Minto Cup win, and the coaches who helped push that group past expectations.A conversation about defense, culture, preparation, and where the game is headed next.Follow on X @BradChall | Instagram @BradChalloner

Maybe the youngest coach in the National Lacrosse League, Brett Hickey is the offensive coordinator for the Las Vegas Desert Dog and Raiders LC of the Rocky Mountain Junior League, bringing his own system-driven style and a fresh perspective to both teams. Not far removed from his own playing career where he scored over 200 goals playing under some of the game’s best coaches. In this episode, Hix takes us inside the evolution of the Vegas offense… how complementary pieces matter more than star power… and coaching players who see the game three steps ahead — like Jeff Teat, whose strategic mind has changed the way Brett coaches. And yeah — we get into the “12 round fighter” mentality, the push toward the Minto Cup, and what happens when young players finally stop memorizing answers and start solving the game. Follow on X @BradChall | Instagram @BradChalloner

Randy Mearns wiped his Instagram clean recently — a sure sign of rebirth.Last summer, Mearns was let go as head coach of St. Bonaventure’s men’s lacrosse program — a team he helped build from scratch over nine years, just as it was gaining momentum and producing NLL talent year after year.So what’s next?Mearnsi Lacrosse and a new role with the Greek National Team chasing a spot at the 2028 LA Olympics in Sixes. And the same lifelong mission: developing better players, teammates, and humans.From 17 seasons as head coach at Canisius to five Mann Cups as a player, a Minto Cup with St. Catharines, captaining an NLL champion Knighthawks team, and helping Team Canada win multiple world championship golds — Randy Mearns has done it all.In Part Two of this conversation, we dream big about the future of NCAA lacrosse, NLL lacrosse and where Randy’s next steps may be.Follow on X @BradChall | Insta @BradChalloner Guest @CoachMearns | @CoachMearns

Randy Mearns wiped his Instagram clean recently — a sure sign of rebirth.Last summer, Mearns was let go as head coach of St. Bonaventure’s men’s lacrosse program — a team he helped build from scratch over nine years, just as it was gaining momentum and producing NLL talent year after year.So what’s next?Mearnsi Lacrosse and a new role with the Greek National Team chasing a spot at the 2028 LA Olympics in Sixes. And the same lifelong mission: developing better players, teammates, and humans.From 17 seasons as head coach at Canisius to five Mann Cups as a player, a Minto Cup with St. Catharines, captaining an NLL champion Knighthawks team, and helping Team Canada win multiple world championship golds — Randy Mearns has done it all.In Part One of this conversation, we dive into coaching at every level — NCAA, Team Canada, U19, and Team Greece — recruiting, the Olympic dream, and what comes after getting fired from the program you built.Follow on X @BradChall | Insta @BradChalloner Guest @CoachMearns | @CoachMearns

What if you took a lifetime of lacrosse lessons and turned it into a blog to inspire and motivate people to live a more purposeful and present life? That’s what Marty Dinsdale is doing with Zero Zero. A multiple NLL champion, Minto Cup winner, and one of the cleanest players to ever suit up (28 penalty minutes over 10 seasons — never a major), Dinsdale played the game the right way. Since retiring from the NLL in 2023, he’s embraced new challenges: a career shift, raising two kids, pushing himself, and sharing his mindset through thoughtful, motivating writing.In this episode we unpack the philosophy behind Zero Zero — a mindset rooted in the idea that the score is always 0–0. No matter what just happened, the next play is all that matters in lacrosse and in life. We talk culture, leadership, parenting, personal growth, and what it really means to live deliberately, not perfectly.Follow Marty’s journey at The Zero Zero Mentality on WordPress or via Instagram @dinsdale.matt Follow on X @BradChall | Instagram @BradChalloner or email [email protected]

Matt Beers is grizzled in every sense of the word. NLL champion, Captain, leader and soon to be the most penalized player in National Lacrosse League history. But he’s okay with that. Without the PIMS he wouldn’t be him. He wouldn’t be that guy feared by opponents and loved by teammates and coaches. 19ish pro fights, 3 trips to the finals, he’s rode the highest highs and felt the lowest lows in the NLL. Now also the Head Coach of the Langley Junior Thunder, he’s bringing that experience and intensity to the next generation of lacrosse talent. On this episode we’ll walk through some of his most memorable fights, what throwing down still means to the game, honing his intensity and why you should never pass a ball near Ryan Dilks. Matt Beers plays for the Vancouver Warriors in the NLL.Follow on X @BradChall | Instagram @BradChallonerInquiries [email protected]

Is Adam Mueller a lost legend of lacrosse — or simply the keeper of an American vision that the NLL could use today?Adam Mueller is the 2008 NLL Les Bartley Award winner for Coach of the Year, and his influence lives on through the countless players, coaches, and programs he’s helped shape over a lifetime in lacrosse.The kid from Jersey went on to coach the Philadelphia Wings, Minnesota Swarm, and most notably build the New York Titans — a team that played out of Madison Square Garden, traded for Matt Vinc, and helped turn Casey Powell and Ryan Boyle into box lacrosse stars. The Titans became the last great NLL team built around a predominantly American roster — a bold vision rooted in belief, development, and opportunity. Could that vision still succeed in today’s game?Though Mueller stepped away from the NLL in 2008, his mission never changed. He continues to develop the next generation of American box players as a co-coach with Penn Lax Platinum, while also bringing perspective from an 11-season NLL playing career and his role as head coach of Team USA’s indoor national team in 2015.In this episode, we explore The American Vision through Adam Mueller’s coaching journey — the mentors who shaped him, the players who believed in it, and the philosophy that guided him across every level of the game. This is a conversation about what it takes to build something meaningful — not just winning teams, but a lasting legacy in lacrosse.Follow on X @BradChall | Insta @BradChalloner

Jake Elliott is the premiere play-by-play announcer in the sport of lacrosse. Guiness hasn’t stamped it yet, but no-one has called more lacrosse games. Period. WLA, Junior A, Mintos, Manns, Presidents Cups, World Championships, and holding down two play-by-play jobs in the National Lacrosse League with Vancouver and Las Vegas. But did you know he was a college attackman, WLA heavy weight fighter, NLL scout and Junior ‘A’ coach? On this podcast we give flowers to Jumbo. Clip it! Follow on X @BradChall | Insta @BradChallonerGuest @PxP4Sports @LaxClassPodcast

Jordan Hall has a sweet gig. He’s the Offensive Coordinator & Director of Player Personnel for the San Diego Seals of the NLL. A west coast boy made good in the east but now coaching in sunny San Diego and with Team Canada Sixes. A chance to work with the Merrill brothers and Joe Tsai, living the lacrosse dream. From the mean streets of Surrey to a number one overall pick in the NLL in 2007, he put together a solid 14-year career winning an NLL championship with Georgia in 2017. New York, Orlando, Rochester, Philly, New England and Georgia he was always in demand and always made every team he touched better, a leader with an off-the-charts lacrosse IQ, he was the guy every coach trusted in every situation, he carved out a career defined by intelligence, grit, and creativity. And now, he's bringing that same vision and voice into coaching—shaping the next wave of talent with a mindset that’s as modern as it is authentic. On this podcast we dive into the coaches who left a mark, how to do everything well and finding your lacrosse superpower. Follow on X @BradChall | Insta @BradChalloner

Ian Llord knows how to win.Nicknamed the “Llord of the Rings” by the Fort Erie Times, Ian built a career defined by championships—NLL titles, Mann Cups, a Minto, a Prezzy, and now provincial and national championships as a coach. A Top 10 all-time leader in NLL games played, he’s seen every era, system, and rule change the game has thrown his way.Back with the Rochester Knighthawks chasing one more championship, the underappreciated legend joins the show to talk longevity, adapting across generations, Rule 67.16 and shot-blocking in the crease, coaching your own kids, and playing in the Darris Kilgour defensive system that changed the game forever.Follow X @BradChall | Instagram @BradChalloner