Inside Lacrosse Podcast of CoachTillman on Harvard's Nationally Ranked 2009 RecruitingClass
John Tillman is now in his third year as the Frisbie Family HeadCoach for Men’s Lacrosse at Harvard after being introduced onSept. 5, 2007.
In 2009, Harvard posted an 8-5 overall record for the program'sfirst winning season since 2004 and highest win total since 1999.The Crimson opened the season by topping No. 5 Duke Feb. 22.Harvard moved to as high as No. 11 in the national polls andreceived five All-Ivy League selections as well as seven nods tothe NEILA All-New England team. In addition, Harvard’sdefense was ranked third in the nation and allowed the fewest goalsduring the 2009 season after being ranked 42nd in 2007. Theoffensive also improved, ranking 15th in 2009, up from 40th in2007. The extra-man offense saw the biggest jump, from 51st to15th.
During the 2010 season, Tillman guided the Crimson to a victoryover No. 6 Princeton, the first win for Harvard against the Tigerssince 1990. In addition, three players earned All-Ivy Leaguehonors, as the Crimson ranked 15th in the nation in man-up offenseand 19th in scoring offense.
Tillman came to Harvard after six years as Navy’s headassistant coach. The Midshipmen were one of just five programsnationally to appear in every NCAA tournament from 2004 to 2007.Tillman coordinated the team’s offensive game plan en routeto four consecutive trips to the NCAA Championship Tournament aswell as four straight Patriot League regular season and conferencetournament championships. From 2004 to 2007, Navy ranked second inDivision I for total wins with 49 and third in winning percentagewith a .766 success rate (49-15). Navy’s senior class of 2007established school records for wins in a career with threevictories coming over Maryland and four over North Carolina. Enroute to a berth in the 2004 national title game, Navy defeatedPenn, Cornell and Princeton along the way. The Mids ranked thirdnationally in offense during the 2004 season. His efforts inrecruiting and game management were noticed by the Maryland StateLacrosse Coaches Association who named Tillman the 2004 and 2006Collegiate Lacrosse Assistant Coach of the Year.
Tillman was previously commissioned into the U.S. Navy as a fleetsupport officer and was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal. Duringhis time at Navy, he also served as an assistant professor in thePhysical Education Department at the Academy. A 1991 graduate ofCornell University's School of Hotel Administration, Tillman playedfor legendary coach Richie Moran and was a member of theschool’s 1989 team that advanced to the NCAA ChampionshipTournament. He was a three-year member of the Dean’sList.
A native of Corning, N.Y., Tillman played professionally for threeyears for the Baltimore Thunder of the National Lacrosse League andone year for the Washington Power. Tillman also played for theToyota Lacrosse Club, who won five-consecutive Southern DivisionChampionships and made four appearances in the finals, including aworld championship in 2000. Tillman is also a member of theTewaaraton Award Men’s Selection Committee. The award isannually presented to the outstanding collegiate men’slacrosse player.
Following graduation, Tillman spent four years as an assistantcoach at Ithaca College while pursuing his Master of Science degreein physical education. During his time at Ithaca, the programexperienced strong growth and success, including an appearance inthe 1992 Division III National Semifinals.
JOHNTILLMAN’S COACHING CAREER
HeadCoach
Year SchoolRecord Postseason
2008 Harvard 6-8,1-5 Ivy League
2009 Harvard 8-5, 3-3 Ivy League
Harvard Total: 14-13, 4-8 Ivy League
AssistantCoach
Year School(Position) Record Postseason
1992 Ithaca(Assistant Coach) 12-2-0 NCAA Semifinals
1993 Ithaca(Assistant Coach) 9-5-0 ECAC Upstate N.Y. Champion
1994 Ithaca(Assistant Coach) 5-5-0
1995 Ithaca(Assistant Coach) 5-5-0
IthacaTotal: 31-17
1996 Navy(Assistant Coach) 4-8-0
1997 Navy(Assistant Coach) 6-6-0
1998 Navy(Assistant Coach) 7-6-0
1999 Navy(Assistant Coach) 7-7-0 NCAA First Round
2000 Navy(Assistant Coach) 9-4-0
2001 Navy(Assistant Coach) 8-5-0
2002 Navy (HeadAssistant Coach) 8-5-0
2003 Navy (HeadAssistant Coach) 6-7-0
2004 Navy (HeadAssistant Coach) 15-3-0 NCAA Finalist
2005 Navy (HeadAssistant Coach) 12-4-0 NCAA Quarterfinals
2006 Navy (HeadAssistant Coach) 11-4-0 NCAA First Round
2007 Navy (HeadAssistant Coach) 11-4-0 NCAA First Round
NavyTotal: 104-63
AssistantCoach All School Total: 135-80
ALL-AMERICANS UNDER JOHN TILLMAN (41)
Year Player,Award
1992 Bill Krist,Honorable Mention
Scott MacCaull,Honorable Mention
Mark Maietta,Third Team
CharlieShoulberg, First Team
1993 JimBianchni, Honorable Mention
Scott MacCaull,Honorable Mention
1994 Jim Bianchni, Honorable Mention
Brian Dattellas,Honorable Mention
Brian Ferry,Honorable Mention
1995 Brian Dattellas, Honorable Mention
1996 Andrew Ross, Honorable Mention
1997 Andrew Ross, Third Team
1998 Chad Donnelly, Honorable Mention
1999 Michael Jarboe, First Team
Chad Donnelly,Honorable Mention
2000 Micahel Jarboe, First Team
Chad Donnelly,Third Team
Adam Borcz,Honorable Mention
2001 Adam Borcz, Second Team
2002 Gregory Conklin, Honorable Mention
2003 Gregory Conklin, Honorable Mention
ChristopherStebbings, Honorable Mention
2004 Matthew Russell, First Team
Ian Dingman,Second Team
Benjamin Bailey,Third Team
Mitchell Hendler,Third Team
Joseph Bossi,Honorable Mention
Graham Gill,Honorable Mention
Stephen Looney,Honorable Mention
2005 Graham Gill, First Team
Mitchell Hendler,First Team
Matthew Russell,Second Team
William Looney,Third Team
Jonathan Birsner,Honorable Mention
2006 Jonathan Birsner, Second Team
William Looney,Second Team
Matthew Russell,Third Team
Jordan DiNola,Honorable Mention
Stephen Looney,Honorable Mention
2007 William Looney, First Team
Jordan DiNola,Honorable Mention
JOHNTILLMAN’S COACHING CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
- Led Harvard to anational ranking in first season
- Guided theCrimson in the first-ever lacrosse game played at Gillette Stadium(April 5, 2008)
- Coached the mostAll-Ivy League selections for Harvard (five in 2009) since1999
- Harvard woneight games in 2009, the most for the program since 2002
- NCAA tournamentparticipant with Navy: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
- Navy was one ofjust five programs to appear in each of the last four NCAAtournaments
- NCAA finalistwith Navy in 2004, defeating Penn, Cornell and Princeton along theway.
- Navy’sfirst title game appearance since 1975
- NCAAquarterfinalist with Navy in 2004
- Patriot Leagueregular season and conference tournament champions with Navy: 2004,2005, 2006, 2007
- Navy’ssenior class of 2007 established school records for victories in acareer with a combined seven wins over Maryland and NorthCarolina
- Navy rankedsecond in total wins in Division I from 2004-2007 with 49
- Navy rankedthird in winning percentage in Division I from 2004-2007 at .766(49-15)
- Set Navy recordfor wins in a season in 2004 (15-3)
- Ranked thirdnationally in scoring in 2004 at Navy
- 13 consecutivevictories over Army as an assistant coach at Navy
- Navy leddivision I in lacrosse attendance in 2007
- Maryland StateCoaches Association collegiate Assistant Lacrosse Coach of theYear: 2004, 2006
- Coached 11offensive All-Americas and one World Team member at Navy
- Coached onePatriot League offensive Player of the Year at Navy
- Coached a totalof 41 All-America selections in 16 seasons at Navy
