Coaching Rye is an occasional feature to meet the people that coach the student athletes of Rye. Often teachers as well, these coaches spent afternoons, evenings and weekends on fields, courts, courses and other venues helping our athletes be their best. Today, we meet Jeremy Guski, the head coach of the Rye Boys Lacrosse team. Guski is in his first year at the helm and is looking to lead the Garnets to their tenth Section 1 championship in program history.
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Your Name and Title: Jeremy Guski, Boys Varsity Lacrosse Head Coach
MyRye.com: What year did you begin coaching Rye?
Guski: This is my first year coaching the Rye boys varsity lacrosse team. Prior to this I coached at Yorktown for four years, before that I was at John Jay for ten years and to start I spent 5 years coaching at Scarsdale. I teach 5th grade in Scarsdale at Greenacres Elementary School.
What made you want to become a coach, and how has your “why” evolved over the years?
Guski: I have been involved in lacrosse since I was four, and it remains a passion of mine. I love the team aspect of the sport, and coaching lacrosse is truly a privilege. Coaching high school athletics can be challenging yet deeply rewarding. When a team focuses on the process and pays close attention to detail, it can achieve remarkable results. I always tell my athletes that preparation breeds confidence. Through these commitments, players gain many valuable life skills and lessons along the way.
Do you coach anywhere else besides Rye High School?
Guski: A player once this year told me a quote that has always resonated: “When your why is powerful, your how becomes easy.” Here at Rye, we operate under a simple principle: one for all and all for one. We are a family and we stick together. I often tell the boys that it is all about the we, never the me. When you approach situations this way, you begin to learn the true meaning of collaboration.
Did you play sports in high school or college?
Guski: I attended Mahopac High School, where I played both lacrosse and football. Although I excelled in both sports, I chose to pursue lacrosse in college. As a junior, I won the state championship in lacrosse. In football, I was a two-time all-section selection; in lacrosse, I was a three-time all-section honoree and earned All-American recognition. I attended UMass on a lacrosse scholarship and was a four-year starter. During college I received several lacrosse honors and was one of two team captains my senior year.
Who was the coach or mentor that shaped your own philosophy, and how?
Guski: My mentor is Tim Schurr. No stranger to lacrosse excellence, he has taught me so much both on and off the field. He is a dear friend, fellow player, and colleague in coaching. I have coached under Tim for the past 14 years, and he has given me so much for which I am forever grateful. I consider myself a little old-school with a new-school twist.
What makes a great student athlete in Rye?
Guski: Great student-athletes understand that without the “student” part, there is no athlete. You must prioritize your classroom responsibilities first; only then will you have the opportunity to play the sports we love. Next-level student-athletes recognize that the mental component of being an athlete is just as important as the physical one.
What’s one stat that doesn’t show up in the box score but matters to you the most?
Guski: The stat that doesn’t appear on the scoresheet but that I love to watch for is grit. This can be described as the “Junkyard Dog” who is outworking everyone and willing to do the most thankless jobs. Ground balls are often a strong indicator. I give a weekly “Junkyard Dog” award, [such as] Thomas Goldszer for his effort against Marin Catholic.
What do you do to reset after a tough loss or a hard day?
Guski: My coaching philosophy aligns with Curt Cignetti of Indiana Football and Nick Saban of Alabama Football. Athletes must be held accountable. Our goal is to help young men grow into responsible adults, both on and off the field. If we consistently give 100% effort and maintain the right attitude, we will be successful. Our team focuses on stacking great days together, with the emphasis on the process. Losing is the only thing guaranteed in sports, but it’s how you react and deal with losing that is most important. We must use those opportunities to learn and grow because we learn more from losses.
Thanks Coach!
