Thursday, March 23, 2023
Subscriber Login
My Profile
SpotlightNews
  • Home
  • News
    • Election 2022
    • Business
      • Spotlight On Business
      • Spotlight on Finance
    • Crime and Police
    • Discover-Towns
      • Discover Coeymans Selkirk and Feura Bush
      • Discover Delmar
      • Discover Glenmont
      • Discover Guilderland
      • Discover Latham and Boght
      • Discover Loudonville
      • Discover Menands
      • Discover Slingerlands
      • Discover Village of Colonie
      • Discover Voorheesville and New Scotland
    • Fire Departments
    • Government
    • Milestones
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Obituaries
  • The Spot 518
    • Galleries
    • Art
    • Food and Recipes
    • Health & Fitness
    • Music
    • Theatre
  • Hot Spots Calendar
    • Calendar Listings
    • Submit Your Event
  • Opinion
    • Blogs
    • Our Opinion
    • Point of View
    • Your Opinion
  • Family Now
    • Parenting News
    • Senior News
  • Towns
    • Albany County
    • Bethlehem
    • Colonie
    • Guilderland
    • New Scotland
  • Classifieds
    • Employment – Hire Power
    • Services In the Spotlight
    • Classified Listings
    • Advertiser Login
  • Subscribe
    • Subscriber login
    • Give the gift of news
    • Join us – subscribe today
    • Newsletter sign up
    • Renew Subscription
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Election 2022
    • Business
      • Spotlight On Business
      • Spotlight on Finance
    • Crime and Police
    • Discover-Towns
      • Discover Coeymans Selkirk and Feura Bush
      • Discover Delmar
      • Discover Glenmont
      • Discover Guilderland
      • Discover Latham and Boght
      • Discover Loudonville
      • Discover Menands
      • Discover Slingerlands
      • Discover Village of Colonie
      • Discover Voorheesville and New Scotland
    • Fire Departments
    • Government
    • Milestones
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Obituaries
  • The Spot 518
    • Galleries
    • Art
    • Food and Recipes
    • Health & Fitness
    • Music
    • Theatre
  • Hot Spots Calendar
    • Calendar Listings
    • Submit Your Event
  • Opinion
    • Blogs
    • Our Opinion
    • Point of View
    • Your Opinion
  • Family Now
    • Parenting News
    • Senior News
  • Towns
    • Albany County
    • Bethlehem
    • Colonie
    • Guilderland
    • New Scotland
  • Classifieds
    • Employment – Hire Power
    • Services In the Spotlight
    • Classified Listings
    • Advertiser Login
  • Subscribe
    • Subscriber login
    • Give the gift of news
    • Join us – subscribe today
    • Newsletter sign up
    • Renew Subscription
No Result
View All Result
Spotlight News
No Result
View All Result
Home Towns Colonie

Five Questions: Shawn Hennessey

Jim Franco by Jim Franco
May 11, 2022
in Colonie, Community, High School Sports, News, Sports, Towns
Reading Time: 3 mins read

Shawn Hennessey has been the Shaker High boys lacrosse coach since 2007. He began his coaching career as an assistant at Siena College from 2002-04, took over the Shaker modified program in 2005 and was a varsity assistant in 2006. At the helm his squad won six straight Suburban Council titles, from 2011 to 2016. In 2017, his team won the Section 2 Class A championship and he was named coach of the year. The 1992 graduate of Shaker played lacrosse for Herkimer Community College where the team went undefeated and won the National Junior College Athletic Association championship in 1993 and 1994. He then played at St. Andrews Presbyterian College and then at Adelphi University where it was a first team All American. By day, he is a special education teacher in the North Colonie School District. He and his wife Tina live in Latham with children Eric, Michael and Parker. Their daughter Victoria and fiancé James also reside in Latham.

Q: Obviously, as a coach, you want to teach the game but what else do you hope your players take away from their time in the Shaker High lacrosse program?

A: The main goal every year is to give all the players a TEAM experience. It is important that we teach the life lessons of hard work, perseverance and dedication to something special like Shaker lacrosse. Our goal is to develop good, hardworking and respectful humans who will move on from our program and accomplish their goals and dreams.

Q: What makes a good athlete, regardless of the sport they play or the innate abilities they may have?

A: I would have to say passion. Passion, dedication and sacrifice allow players to develop because they want to work on their trade/skill. Some of the best players I have coached have made themselves better in one year once they made the decision to commit to themselves by using their skills and through training. Additionally, they have to be willing to sacrifice personal goals for the betterment of TEAM.

Q: Lacrosse has been a big part of your life. Why lacrosse? And how has it changed over the years?

A: When growing up I needed lacrosse more than it needed me. Everyone has their own personal strategies and techniques to deal with the stressors of life and the daily grind. It would be safe to say that from my playing days through my coaching days lacrosse still makes me a better person. I feel that lacrosse has changed over the years in technology, opportunities, skill level, the athletes and the rules to benefit player safety. However, when broken down to the roots, it’s still the same: run fast, play hard and get all players pulling in the same direction to accomplish your goals.

Q: You have the most wins of any coach in Shaker High lacrosse history. What makes a winning team? Offense? Defense? Intangibles? And why?

A: When you have all players believing you have a winning team. Xs and Ox are just a template and a guide used by the players to excel. It is our job as coaches to place players in a position to be successful and present challenges each and every day. Players win games through heart, hustle and execution. Normally, about half way through each year, captains and team leaders take over the reins and make the season their own. At that point, it’s my job to not get in the way and keep the ball rolling.

Q: Are there any particular coaches or former players or professional players who you look to for advice or who credit for making you into the coach you are today?

A: There is not enough room to list all of the influencers that I look to for advice and award credit to for the coach I am today. I study lacrosse all the time. I listen more than I talk when in a room of coaches and players. I think all my past and current players have taught me something and made me the coach I am today. Some noteworthy individuals are: Joe Pollicino, Paul Wehrum, Sandy Kapatos, Tad Knight, Mike Vorgang, Eric Williams, Stephen Rehfuss, Matt Woods, Tim Leahy and, of course, my wife Tina and mother JoAnn. However, like I stated, if you name a coach, player or friend, I can tell you how they helped me be the person/coach I am today.

If you would like to see someone featured in Five Questions contact Jim Franco at [email protected]  or 518-878-1000.

ShareTweetShareShare
Previous Post

Three candidates running for North Colonie BOE

Next Post

Troy Farmers Market returns to Monument Square

Leave Comment

Stay Connected with Us

Recent News

Voorheesville Public Library news: Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon

March 23, 2023

Guilderland Public Library news: The Music of Burt Bacharach

March 23, 2023

Bethlehem Public Library news: Go on a library expedition

March 23, 2023

OBITUARY: Jane Ellen Streiff Spelich of Delmar

March 23, 2023

Hot Stories This Week

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest

Colonie Area Weekly Police Blotter March 8th – March 15th

March 19, 2023

Bethlehem Area Weekly Police Blotter March 8th – March 15th

March 18, 2023

Eva Marie Saint, the Academy Award-winning actress, started her path to fame here

March 15, 2023

Colonie Area Weekly Police Blotter March 1st – March 8th

March 12, 2023

Voorheesville Public Library news: Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon

March 23, 2023

Guilderland Public Library news: The Music of Burt Bacharach

March 23, 2023

Bethlehem Public Library news: Go on a library expedition

March 23, 2023

OBITUARY: Jane Ellen Streiff Spelich of Delmar

March 23, 2023
Spotlight News

Spotlight News, The Spot 518 and Capital District Family Now are divisions of Community Media Group, LLC. Our local offices are located at 341 Delaware Ave, Delmar, NY 12054. You can contact us at 518.439.4949.

Browse

Follow Us

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact the Editor
  • Employment
  • Our Team
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Legal Notices Portal

© 2022 Community Media Group, LLC - 341 Delaware Ave. Delmar, NY 12054. 518.439.4949

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Election 2022
  • News
    • Crime and Police
    • Fire Departments
    • Milestones
    • Real Estate and Housing
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Spotlight On Business
    • Spotlight on Finance
  • The Spot 518
    • Galleries
    • Art
    • Theatre
    • Music
    • Food and Drink
    • Health & Fitness
  • Hot Spots Calendar
  • Newsletter Sign Up
  • Opinion
  • Classifieds
    • Advertiser Login
    • Service Directory
    • Hire Power – Employer Spotlight
  • Capital District Family Now
    • Parenting News
    • Senior News
  • Towns
    • Albany County
    • Bethlehem
    • Colonie
    • Guilderland
  • Log In
  • Subscribe

© 2022 Community Media Group, LLC - 341 Delaware Ave. Delmar, NY 12054. 518.439.4949