With years of experience and a personal connection to Harding lacrosse, Chris Hamilton, a former player, rejoined his team in 2010. But this time, Hamilton was the coach. Hamilton began playing lacrosse in the seventh grade and went on to play at Harding for four years. He did not expect to stay in Searcy after his graduation, but when he was offered the job, he decided to take it. He knew he wanted to coach after playing for so long, and the opportunity seemed to be a perfect fit. After bemg a part of the team at Harding, Hamilton felt he had a very unique perspective from which he could coach. "I like to think I know what the players are looking for out of a leader," Hamilton said. Lacrosse team sponsor Dirk Smith said Hamilton was a perfect fit for the team. "Chris is outstanding as a coach," Smith said. "He is easygoing but pushes when he needs to and where he needs to." After experiencing different seasons with different coaches, Hamilton felt he had learned a lot about what d1d and did not work for the team. He tried to use the good ideas and work them into his personal coaching philosophy. "The best advantage Chris has is that he knows the system," Smith said. "Because he played for Harding, he knows the other coaches and teams, who to befriend and who not to offend, and has an overall familiarity with the system that is extremely valuable." Hamilton had high expectations for the lacrosse team for th.e 2010-11 season. He saw the previous years as more of a rebuilding situation, but felt that this year, the team had more solid, experienced players. "I believe Chris has a lot to contribute for being a veteran player and having such a great knowledge for the sport," junior Zach Morgan said. "I think he will be able to transfer his knowledge to the team w1th his leadership and hard work, making us a better team." One of Hamilton's favorite things about lacrosse was watching the ease with which an athletic person could be transformed into a player. People who played other sports for most of their Iives were some of the best players on the team. One of Hamilton's primary objectives was increasing the numbers on the team. He also hoped to secure more permanent funding, gain the opportunity to recruit players and ultimately gain NCAA recognition as an official team. "I love the sport of lacrosse, and I love that I can give back to the team this way," Hamilton said. To spread the word, Hamilton planned to build campus involvement through fundraisers, chapel announcements, flyers and home games. He hoped to gain awareness, but he ultimately believed the sport would market itself. "Having Chris coach the team is wonderful," Smith said. "I think he is doing a great job, and so do the guys on the team.We couldn't ask for someone more qualified." Heidi Tabor athletics 2 01
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