Joe Scavone is FLG Lacrosse’s 2026 Head Coach, but he also doubles as Head Coach of Portledge Middle School’s lacrosse team. When he’s not on the sidelines, he still finds a way to stay active, whether it’s in the gym or playing a slight game of pick-up.
Q: What is your favorite part about coaching the next generation of lacrosse?
A: My favorite part of coaching the new generation is staying connected with the game, and passing on the my knowledge to kids.
Q: What inspired you to begin coaching?
A: I started coaching right out of high school with my towns youth football team. I really enjoy the X’s and O’s of the game. The behind the scenes stuff like gameplay and scheming.
Q: During your time playing SemiPro Football, what was the most valuable lesson you learned about being an athlete?
A: Never take anything for granted for, You don’t know how long your gonna be able to play. Also if a “vet” is willing to show you something, listen your never to good to learn a new trick.
Q: How does coaching the Portledge Middle School team differ from coaching FLG’s 2026 team?
A: The middle school team practices four times a week, and some of the boys are there out of necessity for class credits as compared to the FLG boys were they all want to be there but we only practice twice a week. So the little difference is I give the Portledge boys a “fun” practice once a week to were I’d push the FLG boys hard both practices with fun coming in forms of competition.
Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received from either a former coach or fellow coaching staff?
A: Growing up playing cornerback for most of my football career we were always taught to have a short term memory for the game, which means if you get beat or let up a play brush it off and bring your best next play. Also a mistake is only a mistake if you don’t learn from it. If your able to get better from it then it is only a lesson learned.
Q: When you’re not playing or coaching on the field, what’s your favorite thing to do in your free time?
A: In my free time I still wind up playing a lot of pick sports with the kids like basketball, football, and other things in the yard. I fell in love with the gym more recent than In my past playing days. We love watching Super Hero movies. As well I Still love playing Video games. My personal favs are 2k and madden. That’s what I usually wind up doing when I’m sitting down if the Seahawks or lax isn’t on tv.
Q: When pressure’s on, what does your go-to pep-talk sound like in the huddle?
A: My go-to pep-talk is usually something a little intense, I’m very competitive person, I usually try and read the boys to determine how intense I need to be. Sometimes they’re ready to go on there own, and sometimes they are whipping eye crust and yawning. As they get older I’ve let the team leaders do a lot of the pregame. I know I reiterate “make them play our game” a lot.
Q: What’s your personal favorite sports memory?
A: I have a couple personal favs. So my youth playing was winning a super bowl in 7th grade. As an Adult, my favorite sports memory was in my rookie season of semipro. I made the All Star game, as the only person at my position. Coaching was taking my son and his lax team undefeated 2x.
Q: Lastly, what do you look forward to most about the upcoming season?
A: I look really forward to getting a new group of boys around each other and teaching a game I love. During the season I look forward to seeing good clean lacrosse were the ball moves. As well as seeing how the things we work on in practice translate over to the field.
