The Other Belichick

Notes from SportCenter Interview with Amanda Belichick

The daughter of Bill Belichick

She is the new head women’s lacrosse coach at Wesleyan University

Put Family First

When Amanda Belichick's father brought work home, it didn't mean the kids had to be quiet and that his office door was closed.  "I remember being in Cleveland in elementary and middle school and he'd be cutting up plays, organizing them, old school, and I remember doing it with him," she recalled this week

Coordination of The Team

Bill says Amanda has a good feel of teamwork on the field, teamwork off the field, commitment by everybody, and just trying to get everybody on the same page.

Bill always gives Amanda advice on getting to know her team and getting to know where they are at right now, and he just keeps pushing her to figure out what she needs right now, what her limitations are, and what she needs to overcome and what she can take advantage of here.

"My dad and I have a lot in common as far as X's and O's, but the place where we really relate is team building," she said. "When I hear players talk about the 'Patriot Way' and putting the team first, running out as one, those types of things are team-building, team philosophies -- not X's and O's. Without ever being part of the team or in the locker room, that's something from afar that I admire about my dad's team."

"They're quite different sports and genders, but coaching is coaching, and communicating and working with players and motivating your team -- there's a lot of common ground there," he said.

Addicted To Details

She is addicted to the details; knows everything down to how the sticks should be strung..  She pays attention to every little detail.  They have an entire packet with every single day mapped out of the exact workout until November.  All of those things, communicating the details, gives confidence, and so my goal is to create that environment for the players.

Losing Close Games

Based on her father's feedback on losing close games, she also has incorporated a drill that focused specifically on the last five minutes on the clock and responding to an opponents' go-ahead goal.