First-year Arizona State coach Taryn VanThof, right of Gators head coach Amanda O'Leary, during their time together at UF. (Photo: Tim Casey/UAA Communications)
VanThof and O'Leary Reunite on Sunday on Different Sidelines
Sunday, March 5, 2023 | Lacrosse
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — This time a year ago, former Florida Gators lacrosse assistant coach Taryn VanThof and head coach Amanda O'Leary stood together on the same sideline, repping the Orange & Blue.
They made halftime adjustments together, built relationships with players together, recruited players together and trained them as a team.
The script has changed in 2023. VanThof is the first-year head coach at Arizona State University and on Sunday afternoon will revisit a familiar field to face a program that she knows very well — the Florida Gators.
"It's always exciting, it's an old home," VanThof said. "And I think, you know, for me it's getting to get out on the field with a new crowd and show them what's up with Sun Devils lacrosse."
VanThof and O'Leary spent six seasons together at Florida. In her time as an assistant coach, VanThof helped run the Gators' offense. She not only developed as a coach but also learned the craft more from O'Leary, who has been the coach for the Gators since the program's inaugural season in 2010.
O'Leary's knowledge of VanThof goes beyond working together at UF. O'Leary had known VanThof since her collegiate career at Loyola University in Maryland, where VanThof played as a midfielder.
Following her collegiate career at Loyola, she played for the U.S. Lacrosse Women's National Team (2014-12, 2016-17), the United Women's Lacrosse League (2016-17) and the Women's Professional Lacrosse League (2017-2020).
Impressed with VanThof's versatility out of college, O'Leary continued to follow VanThof's contribution as an assistant coach at Rutgers.
O'Leary hired VanThof in 2016 and they coached the Gators to victory 89 times together.
What did O'Leary see in VanThof to offer her a position on her UF staff?
"She was just that up-and-coming new coach, if you will," O'Leary said. "The big, rising star."
While at Florida, VanThof was able to dial in on the X's and O's and learn more about the game. O'Leary recalls VanThof studying film of games while highlighting her incredible work ethic.
When VanThof reflects on her time at Florida and learning from a veteran coach, she remembers the person that O'Leary is beyond the coach.
"Mandee has been the best mentor and friend through my development as an assistant coach and pushing me and encouraging me as a head coach," VanThof said." So I can't thank Mandee enough for all of the opportunity she's afforded to me."
As O'Leary has watched VanThof work her way up as a coach — VanThof was named head coach at Arizona State in July — she can't help but be proud of the growth that she has seen.
"It's so exciting, you kind of feel like they're your own children, going out into the world and moving on to their next chapter," O'Leary said.
O'Leary knows the potential in VanThof.
"She is going to elevate that program to a new level," O'Leary said.
The Sun Devils make a stop in Gainesville after a 10-9 loss at Jacksonville on Friday. Arizona State is 1-3 in VanThof's first four games, but she is just getting started.
Through the process of transitioning from an assistant coach to a head coach, VanThof credits O'Leary for preparing her to lead her own program.
"Mandee gave me a huge role and big opportunities to prepare me for that from an assistant to a head coach and I can't thank her enough for that," VanThof said.
VanThof and O'Leary are prepared to coach on separate sidelines and repping different colors on Sunday. But the game runs deeper than that for them.
They are friends before rivals.
They made halftime adjustments together, built relationships with players together, recruited players together and trained them as a team.
The script has changed in 2023. VanThof is the first-year head coach at Arizona State University and on Sunday afternoon will revisit a familiar field to face a program that she knows very well — the Florida Gators.
"It's always exciting, it's an old home," VanThof said. "And I think, you know, for me it's getting to get out on the field with a new crowd and show them what's up with Sun Devils lacrosse."
VanThof and O'Leary spent six seasons together at Florida. In her time as an assistant coach, VanThof helped run the Gators' offense. She not only developed as a coach but also learned the craft more from O'Leary, who has been the coach for the Gators since the program's inaugural season in 2010.
O'Leary's knowledge of VanThof goes beyond working together at UF. O'Leary had known VanThof since her collegiate career at Loyola University in Maryland, where VanThof played as a midfielder.
Following her collegiate career at Loyola, she played for the U.S. Lacrosse Women's National Team (2014-12, 2016-17), the United Women's Lacrosse League (2016-17) and the Women's Professional Lacrosse League (2017-2020).
🔙 home tomorrow.
— Gators Lacrosse (@GatorsLAX) March 4, 2023
All you need to know, including important parking info ⤵️https://t.co/e9PlH1yp7o#FLax // #GoGators
Impressed with VanThof's versatility out of college, O'Leary continued to follow VanThof's contribution as an assistant coach at Rutgers.
O'Leary hired VanThof in 2016 and they coached the Gators to victory 89 times together.
What did O'Leary see in VanThof to offer her a position on her UF staff?
"She was just that up-and-coming new coach, if you will," O'Leary said. "The big, rising star."
While at Florida, VanThof was able to dial in on the X's and O's and learn more about the game. O'Leary recalls VanThof studying film of games while highlighting her incredible work ethic.
When VanThof reflects on her time at Florida and learning from a veteran coach, she remembers the person that O'Leary is beyond the coach.
"Mandee has been the best mentor and friend through my development as an assistant coach and pushing me and encouraging me as a head coach," VanThof said." So I can't thank Mandee enough for all of the opportunity she's afforded to me."
As O'Leary has watched VanThof work her way up as a coach — VanThof was named head coach at Arizona State in July — she can't help but be proud of the growth that she has seen.
"It's so exciting, you kind of feel like they're your own children, going out into the world and moving on to their next chapter," O'Leary said.
O'Leary knows the potential in VanThof.
"She is going to elevate that program to a new level," O'Leary said.
The Sun Devils make a stop in Gainesville after a 10-9 loss at Jacksonville on Friday. Arizona State is 1-3 in VanThof's first four games, but she is just getting started.
Through the process of transitioning from an assistant coach to a head coach, VanThof credits O'Leary for preparing her to lead her own program.
"Mandee gave me a huge role and big opportunities to prepare me for that from an assistant to a head coach and I can't thank her enough for that," VanThof said.
VanThof and O'Leary are prepared to coach on separate sidelines and repping different colors on Sunday. But the game runs deeper than that for them.
They are friends before rivals.
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