Cathy Reese has been a part of multiple dynasties in College Park. She won four straight national championships with Maryland under Cindy Timchal in the late 1990s and has won five more at the helm of her alma mater.
Reese is as energetic as any coach in college lacrosse, and she continues to be motivated by her players. Now that she cannot be with her program, Reese has had plenty of time to reflect on a successful career that's not close to being over.
The Maryland coach spoke with Paul Carcaterra on "Overtime" this week. Here are the biggest takeaways.
Cathy Reese had plenty of mentors to learn from
When Reese joined the Maryland women’s lacrosse program, Timchal had built a dynasty that seemed unstoppable. By 1995, Reese was standing alongside some of the greatest lacrosse players in College Park history.
Kelly Amonte Hiller, Sarah Forbes and Laura Shuman each played major roles in Reese’s development as a player. She certainly felt the pressure to succeed at Maryland, as she joked to Carcaterra.
“You didn’t want to mess up,” she said.
Reese wasn’t always set on coaching
As soon as Reese graduated from Maryland, she was undecided about her future. She had a communications degree but couldn’t figure out where she wanted to take her career.
Timchal had invited her to work together on summer camps throughout her college career, giving her the chance to interact and coach players. As she continued working with the campers, she found her calling.
Reese spent five years under Timchal as an assistant before taking over the Denver head coaching position in 2006. Each stop was a stepping stone to her success at College Park.
“She gave me an opportunity, and what a better opportunity than to learn from some of the best coaches in the game,” she said. “I’m so thankful to this day for [Timchal] giving me a chance.”