February 1, 2009

NEW ENGLAND LACROSSE JOURNAL: Duke transfer Greer rejoins Pressler in Rhode Island

by Kevin Henkin

After his graduation from Duke, Zack Greer had a tough decision to make. With his extra year of eligibility - granted to him and the rest of the Duke lacrosse squad by the NCAA in the wake of false criminal allegations that ended their 2006 season prematurely - Greer had to choose where to use it. Of course, as the all-time Division 1 leader in goals, he certainly wasn't short on suitors.

Duke made a strong pitch for him to return via graduate school enrollment, and defending national champion Syracuse came courting as well, but Greer made a choice of sorts to return home. In this case, home meant reuniting with former Duke coach Mike Pressler, who now roams the sidelines for Bryant University in North Smithfield, R.I.

If you recall, it was Pressler who took the fall - most would say unjustly - for his players as the Duke scandal unfolded on a national stage back in the spring of 2006. Pressler quickly found another employer in Bryant and he has been building up the program there to new heights ever since. This spring, he will lead the Bryant lacrosse program into its first year within the Division 1 ranks. Greer's presence on the Bryant squad this year is expected to ease that transition considerably.

Reflecting on what he expects Greer to add to his team, Pressler said: "When I think of Zack, his lacrosse skills are not the first thing to come to my mind. Obviously, that part of it is second to none, certainly offensively. What Zack brings to the table are the intangibles. His practice habits, his ability to bring it every day, his enthusiasm for the game, his enthusiasm to support his teammates. Zack was chosen as a captain after four weeks of fall practice and was basically a unanimous pick."

Pressler also points to Greer's experience in big games as a leadership factor. "He knows how to prepare. He knows how to go about his business. We know what he does in the field. It's the things he'll continue to do to help prepare our guys as we travel, as we go into these hostile environments. His poise, his experience, all those things he brings to the table will be that shining example of how you go about it at the highest level. You know, I can tell the guys I've been there, but I don't do it on the field. Zack does it on the field. I think that example will be paramount as we move forward with this Division 1 model."

On what drove his decision to join Pressler at Bryant, Greer said: "It was a lot of different things. I looked at a lot of different schools and when it came down to it, Bryant was the best mix of all the things I was looking for. It's closer to home. I felt more comfortable there, obviously, because Coach Pressler was there. Obviously, the MBA program is huge. The education is great. Hopefully I'll help this program move into Division 1 a little bit quicker, maybe help with recruiting and give back to Coach Pressler because we all know what we went through with the whole Duke situation. So there were a lot of little things that added up and made it the right place and the right decision."

Many expect that Greer will be game-planned specifically by opponents as the most high-profile player on the Bryant roster. Greer, however, remains unfazed by the pressure. "I'd like to think that in the past I've seen a lot of double teams and game-planning as well, so that can kind of help me out to prepare for that. But I think I'm going to have to take sort of a more senior role this year than mostly finishing because I think there's going to be guys that are probably going to try to stop the goal-scoring. We've got a bunch of great players and we're just going to have to try and figure out how to fit together the best."

Although Greer typically played the attack position at Duke - alongside 2008 Player of the Year Matt Danowksi - Pressler plans to use him at times as a midfielder this upcoming season. "We've got to be creative because we've got to move Zack around," Pressler said. "He's certainly very capable in the midfield. He was a midfielder in high school when I recruited him out of Canada. What people don't know about him is that he has such a greater skill set than he's even shown. At Duke, he was basically that left-handed scorer, that left-handed finisher. He's more than that. He can create off the dodge both behind and in front of the goal. He's an adept passer. He has a great feel for the lacrosse game. He can play defense. He can run up and down. So, we're going to use him in other ways, knowing that other teams are going to game plan against him."

Some claim that Danowski played a large role in Greer's success and wonder how Greer will perform without such a skilled playmaker at his side. "Matt and Zack had great chemistry," Pressler said. "Two totally different players that just complemented each other to no end. That duo was a fixture in the college lacrosse ranks and probably one of the greatest scoring duos of all time. But Zack is ready and wants to expand his role. He has greater goals, not only here at Bryant, but down the road. He wants to play professionally in both the indoor and the outdoor [leagues]. He wants to make the Canadian national team, and by expanding his role this year and being allowed and motivated to do other things, it's going to take his individual game to another level."

On the loss of Danowski as a teammate, Greer said: "Any time you play with a guy of that caliber, it's going to be tough to give that up because he is such a great player. He drew so much attention and it kind of allowed me to do my thing alongside of him. But we do have some great players here. It's a completely different team so we've got a lot of different skill sets around that we're going to be able to take advantage of as well."

Although Bryant will not be eligible for the NCAA tournament for another two years as part of its transition process, Pressler believes that Greer will nonetheless be a strong candidate for Player of the Year honors this season.

"He's not going to be in the limelight per se that he would be at a Duke or a Syracuse, but here in our first year of Division 1 lacrosse, there's certainly a lot of excitement about the transition. With him being the focal point as we move forward, I think in a more expanded role and allowed to show the other things that he can do, he should be in consideration for that award."

In terms of Greer's future in lacrosse after college, Pressler said: "Administrators and coaches in both [indoor and outdoor] professional leagues have told me that Zack could easily be the first pick in both drafts. Zack is going to have some great opportunities down the road."

One thing is clear when it comes to the relationship between Greer and Pressler: The respect is mutual. "I tell everyone he hasn't changed a bit," Greer said. "Coach Pressler expects the best out of his players and in return he gives them the respect that they deserve. He's real intense on the field. Everything has to be done on a professional level, which is how it should be and the way it's always been done. And he keeps guys motivated. He's always been great at that. And he's a great recruiter. He really hasn't changed at all from Duke."

There's a certain sweet level of justice in the reunion of Pressler and Greer. Call it the reciprocity of karma, or perhaps the end result of a special player's loyalty to the best coach he ever had. Regardless, the word is officially out that the lacrosse program at Bryant University just got bumped up another notch. Stay tuned.

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