In the world of high school lacrosse, the bond between a coach and player is a special one, often forged in the heat of competition and the grind of practice. That bond took center stage this week when Hollis-Brookline High School’s Mac Martin faced off against his former mentor, Merrimack High’s Brian Miller, for the first time from the opposing sideline.
The story of their connection is a favorite, always retold when they meet. It famously involves a pre-game panic during Martin's senior year at Merrimack, where he locked his equipment in his car and lost the keys inside the school. "Normally, any other player, I’d be like, ‘You’re on the bench,’" Miller recalled with a laugh after his Division I Tomahawks secured an 11-2 win over Martin's Division II Cavaliers. But for his captain, they waited for the police to jimmy the car—only for Martin to find the keys just in time for a rushed arrival in Keene.
Martin, now in his third year leading Hollis-Brookline, was a standout attackman under Miller, leading the Tomahawks in scoring his final two seasons. He carried that scoring prowess to Nichols College, where he graduated with the second-most points in program history. The lessons learned in Miller's program, from maintaining composure to building day-by-day improvement, became the foundation of his own coaching philosophy.
"You want something successful on Day 1 so you can roll into two successful things on Day 2," Martin explained, emphasizing the culture of continuous growth he’s instilling. His focus at Hollis-Brookline is on maximum effort, a principle he applies to a diverse roster ranging from seasoned players to newcomers. That ethos has translated to success, guiding the Cavaliers to the quarterfinals last season after a strong 13-5 regular season.
Despite the competitive fire on game day, the relationship between the two coaches remains collaborative. They regularly talk shop during the season, sharing scouting reports and advice. It’s a testament to how the lessons of the game extend far beyond the final score, shaping not just players, but the next generation of leaders on the field.