The Long Game MI

Ep. 7. The View From Across the Field: Rivalry and Respect for the Game

Today The Long Game explores two new perspectives: a rival coach on the opposite sideline, and a referee on the field. Nick Welton was Bellevue’s head coach from 2017 until he left the program in 2022. In that time, Bellevue and Mercer Island repeatedly met on the biggest stage in Washington high school lacrosse. Bellevue won three state championships under Nick — all against Mercer Island. But this conversation isn’t about bragging rights. Nick discusses a rival’s view of Mercer Island, why healthy rivalries raise standards and make both sides better, and how he and Ian O’Hearn built real friendship and respect while competing fiercely against each other.  He also explains why great cultures require clear standards, real accountability, and consequences when the standard isn’t met.  Finally, Nick brings a perspective every sports parent should hear: the referee’s. Nick explains why sideline behavior matters, how parents affect young officials, and why respecting refs is part of respecting the game. A conversation about rivalry with deep respect, standards without shortcuts, and competition that helps kids become champions, on and off the field. Opinions expressed are only those of the host and guest and not necessarily those of Mercer Island Lacrosse.

Ep. 6. Culture is the Long Game

Bob Dunbar is an orthopedic trauma surgeon at Harborview Medical Center, a former Peace Corps volunteer and U.S. Navy officer.  He also coaches high school lacrosse.  Drawing on Bob’s experiences as a surgeon, Peace Corps volunteer, Navy officer, and youth coach, we discuss what healthy culture looks like when it is built deliberately, and how that culture drives success far beyond the scoreboard. At the core is a simple idea: excellence is built through repetition, mastery of fundamentals, incremental progress, and consistent habits. And those standards are reinforced by coaches who earn trust, model commitment, and genuinely care about the kids they lead. Bob talks about the physical and psychological importance of playing multiple sports and the risks of specializing too early.  He describes the benefits of programs that do not cut kids based on athletic ability, but instead find a place for any athlete with the right attitude who is willing to work hard. We also discuss good and bad parent behavior and Bob’s own journey as a sports parent, including lessons his children learned through adversity, growth, and self-belief. Note: Opinions expressed are those of the host and guest and not necessarily those of Mercer Island Lacrosse Club.

Ep. 5. The Proving Ground: Where Kids Learn What They're Capable Of

Sports can fundamentally change what young athletes believe about themselves and what they can accomplish.  Brant Howell, a 2006 graduate and three-time state champion who later walked on at Notre Dame, discusses this often-overlooked aspect of youth sports.   20 years after graduating, Brant heard about a coaching vacancy and moved across the country, from Maryland, to help coach Mercer Island because of how this community affected his life and instilled work ethic, discipline, values, and more.  Howell contrasts how good youth programs focus on character and lifelong development over wins or accolades, in contrast with some current trends driven by money and college outcomes.  Brant remembers a life-changing, hard moment during the 2006 season, when Mercer Island overcame a difficult early start and ultimately won for the first time ever on Bainbridge Island, and the lifelong lessons players learned about rigor, humility, and resilience.  He explains why players should stick with the process, and why parents should support but not remove hardship.  We also discuss the club’s culture of loyalty, tradition, discipline, and “the journey is the reward” mindset.   00:00 Intro 01:22 Why Brant Came Back 02:35 Inside a Championship Culture 04:11  Values Beyond Wins 04:47 Walking On at Notre Dame 09:03 Hard Season Turning Point 12:55 Coaching Then vs Now 15:15 Advice for Struggling Players 16:09 Lightning Round 16:55 Parent Clarity 20:24 Culture—Loyalty, Tradition, Discipline 24:50 The Journey Is the Reward 27:10 Closing and Raise the Stick

Ep. 4. The Long Game: 25 Years of Building Something That Lasts

Ian O’Hearn became the MIHS Head Coach in 2001, thinking it might be a pit stop. Twenty-five years later, he’s the winningest lacrosse coach in Washington State history and architect of the largest youth program in the state. This conversation is about what it actually takes to build something that lasts:  --the NY high school program that shaped his philosophy --the loss that made him realize he was made to coach --how he met his wife --why he’s pushed multi-sport athletes for 25 years --how a preschool-to-varsity pipeline is the foundation of the team's competitive advantage, and  --what parents consistently get wrong on the sideline and in the college recruiting process. Loyalty. Tradition. Discipline. It’s not just a slogan. It’s 25 years of deliberate work — and this is the story of how it got built.

Ep. 3. Competing the Right Way: Winning Through Development

Parents today sometimes think they need to choose between youth sports programs that focus on long-term development of the entire athlete, and those that play to win. Kiernan Coles shows that no choice is needed between these two and in fact they go hand-in-hand. The Mercer Island Lacrosse alum went on to play for reigning Division I champion Cornell before returning to coach at the Club. We discuss how MILC focuses on discipline, accountability, mentorship, and deep investment in youth as the foundation of a lasting winning culture . Kiernan shares how Mercer Island prepared him for college through discipline and resilience, and he reflects on what he learned working through severe adversity, including multiple family losses and a season-ending injury. Kiernan explains what separates top players (extra work and accountability), offers parent advice about letting kids own the journey, and explains why he returns to coach and mentor the next generation. Note: opinions expressed are those of the host and guest and not necessarily those of MILC.