Episode Summary
This week on the Lax Goalie Rat Podcast, Coach Damon sits down with one of the most recognizable voices in lacrosse and one of the greatest goalies in Johns Hopkins history: Quint Kessenich.
Before becoming ESPN's lead lacrosse analyst, Quint was a dominant goalie for Johns Hopkins, winning Goalie of the Year twice, capturing a national championship, and establishing himself as one of the most aggressive and influential goalies of his era.
In this wide-ranging conversation, Quint shares stories from his Long Island upbringing, wrestling career, recruitment to Hopkins, championship runs, broadcasting journey, and his philosophy for developing elite goalies.
This is a masterclass on work ethic, confidence, leadership, and the importance of putting in the reps.
In This Episode
- Growing up as the youngest of three brothers on Long Island
- How playing goalie started as a way to join backyard games
- Why every young goalie should play midfield too
- Learning the position before formal goalie coaching existed
- How wall ball transformed his game
- The connection between wrestling and goalie success
- Developing an aggressive goalie style
- Recruiting and choosing Johns Hopkins
- The mental side of competing in big games
- Winning a national championship as a freshman
- Lessons learned from Coach Dave Pietramala
- Earning two Goalie of the Year awards
- Why goalies should own every goal allowed
- Equipment and stick technology differences from the 1980s
- How today's goalies benefit from better coaching and resources
- Transitioning from player to broadcaster
- Becoming one of the voices of lacrosse on ESPN
- Coaching goalies and running camps for over 25 years
- What separates great goalies from average ones
Key Takeaways
Every Great Goalie Starts With Reps
Quint spent countless hours throwing the ball against the garage in his backyard.
The investment paid off.
His message to young goalies is simple:
"You just have to put in the work."
No shortcut can replace thousands of catches, throws, saves, and repetitions.
Play Other Positions
One of Quint's strongest recommendations is that young goalies spend time on the field.
Benefits include:
- Better stick skills
- Improved lacrosse IQ
- Understanding offensive concepts
- Better shooting knowledge
- Stronger clearing ability
Understanding what shooters see helps goalies anticipate what they're likely to do.
Wrestling Creates Mental Toughness
As a standout wrestler growing up, Quint believes wrestling helped shape his entire competitive mindset.
Lessons he carried into lacrosse:
- Accountability
- Composure under pressure
- Competitive toughness
- Discipline
- Confidence in one-on-one situations
His takeaway:
"You own it."
The same accountability required in wrestling applies perfectly to the goalie position.
Own Every Goal
One of Quint's strongest beliefs:
"Every goal is a savable shot."
While defensive breakdowns happen, great goalies avoid blaming teammates publicly.
Instead:
- Take responsibility
- Stay composed
- Make the next save
- Address problems privately
Goalies who point fingers rarely become great leaders.
The Johns Hopkins Experience
Quint arrived at Hopkins expecting to be ready immediately.
Instead, he learned:
- How to practice
- How to prepare
- How to compete every day
- How to elevate his attention to detail
He didn't become the starter until the sixth game of his freshman season.
Looking back, he believes that experience helped prepare him for the pressure that came with becoming Hopkins' starting goalie.
Winning the 1987 National Championship
As a freshman, Quint helped lead Johns Hopkins to a national title.
One of the most interesting moments he described was realizing just how calm he felt before the championship game.
Instead of nervousness, he felt prepared.
He remembered all the hours:
- Wall ball
- Weight training
- Repetition
- Practice
The confidence came from knowing he had done the work.
Coaching Philosophy
After decades of coaching goalies, Quint keeps things simple.
Build Confidence
Goalies perform best when coaches believe in them.
As Quint explained:
"Your goalie is as good as you think he is."
Confidence is often a reflection of trust from coaches and teammates.
Maximize Repetitions
During practice:
- Take extra shots
- Use dead time wisely
- Work before practice
- Stay after practice
Elite goalies find ways to create additional reps.
Practice Game-Like Situations
Quint dislikes "goofy goalie drills" that don't resemble actual lacrosse.
Instead, he prefers:
- Time-and-room shots
- Shots on the run
- Crease-roll finishes
- Point-blank opportunities
- Inside feeds
The closer practice resembles game situations, the better the results.
Lessons From Broadcasting
After graduation, Quint briefly worked a corporate job before realizing he missed lacrosse too much.
That led to radio broadcasting, television work, and eventually ESPN.
Over the years, he has witnessed the transformation of lacrosse from a niche sport to a rapidly growing national game.
One major change:
Today's goalies have access to resources that previous generations never imagined:
- Video
- Social media
- Online coaching
- Position-specific training
- Year-round development opportunities
