When Todd Boward took over the Christopher Newport University Mens Lacrosse team last season, the Captains were facing three games in the span of a week. Now, as the Acting Head Coach, Boward says that he is set to start his first year by focusing on the character of his team.

Boward is a former lacrosse player from Frostburg State University, and joined the Army after graduation. After he retired in 2001 as a Major, he decided to return to lacrosse as a coach, taking a position at Forest Park High School as coach of the Junior Varsity team. After his first season there, he was made the Head Coach of the Varsity team, where he led his team to three consecutive District Championship games.

Following a 30-21-1 record at Forest Park, Boward took up the Head Coaching position at Indiana University, where he led the Hoosiers to a 10-6 record. He was named Central Collegiate Lacrosse Association Coach of the Year. Boward then returned to Virginia, coaching a year at Christ Church School before coming to CNU, following the first season of the program, acting as the Offensive Coordinator.

When Boward was made Acting Head Coach, he knew that the remainder of the year would be difficult. He called his players together and had them create a set of goals for themselves.

I think in the past, we coaches have been accountable for you players. But you all need to be accountable to yourselves, Boward told them. With that, the players came up with a list that everyone agreed to sign. Boward then framed it and hung it up in his office. Among the list, the players top three goals were to have a big upset, play with heart, and to gain respect for CNU lacrosse.

While the team may not have won many of their remaining games, Boward insists they met all three of those goals, having held on closely in two big games against Swarthmore College and Virginia Wesleyan.

Bowards primary focus is to shape the character of both the future players and the current ones at CNU.

I would rather have kids with good character come to CNU and then make them into good lacrosse players. All I can do is educate them, he said.

Another of Bowards aims is to return most of his players and develop a strong sense of leadership. Because last years team was a young one, there werent many upperclassmen to take that role. Now though, a large percentage of last years team is returning and a number of players who took a year off are coming back.

Senior goalie Matt Miller is eager to get started. Coach Boward is a great coach and his main goal is to make it fun for the players and to win. He plans on focusing on the players and their accomplishments while creating a successful program.

Junior attacker John Glaser expects to make it all the way to the big show saying, “I expect our team to have a winning season and make it into the NCAA tournament. Coach Boward is the best coach for the Captains to have a great season and lead us to the NCAA Tournament for the first time.”

But for Boward, it isnt about winning, but rather the development of his team. If you base success on winning, then youre going to fail. Were going to be a different team than we have been the past four years. Were going to have a different approach, a different attitude.

This new attitude seemed to have a significant impact on last years team. Everyone will be able to see Bowards plans set in action during this upcoming school year.