Sometimes, Ian Curley hopes his Drew University professors aren't paying too much attention to his laptop screen during lectures. The 22-year-old senior finance major is often deep in lacrosse film study, crafting practice plans for his other full-time job. He strategically packs his classes between 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., sometimes arriving for his final lecture already in his coaching gear. The moment class ends, he’s off, zipping over to Hanover Park High School to lead the Park Regional boys lacrosse co-op team.
Hired in late October, this young coach is on a mission to rebuild the program's culture from the ground up. The Park co-op, which combines players from Hanover Park and Whippany Park, needed a fresh start. Curley’s first move was to institute mandatory team weightlifting sessions and family-style dinners, creating a unified brotherhood that transcends school boundaries. This focus on culture is a foundational step for any successful team, mirroring the discipline and unity seen in top-tier programs.
"We're going in a completely new direction," said Curley, a Jacksonville, Florida native who honed his competitive edge playing both ice hockey and lacrosse at a prep school near Boston. While he avoids labeling it a "rebuild," he acknowledges the challenge. His goals for the season—a .500 record, a county tournament win, and a potential state playoff victory—are modest by the lofty standards of New Jersey's fiercely competitive Morris County lacrosse scene. But for Park, they represent a significant leap forward.
The program's recent history underscores the need for this reset. Despite an 8-8 finish last spring and tournament wins in 2021 and 2022, Park has struggled for consistent success, boasting only three double-digit win seasons in the past decade and no NJSIAA state tournament victories. This context makes the early buy-in from players all the more crucial.
Though the team started the current season 0-5, the atmosphere has undeniably shifted. Senior defender Caden Thomas captured the new energy, stating, "There's an entirely different vibe around the team." As a former assistant at Park and Morristown, Curley is implementing a modernized, faster-paced offensive system. It’s a clear signal that a new era has begun for Park lacrosse, built on renewed enthusiasm and a cohesive team-first mentality.