Behind the Whistle: Like Father, Like Daughter

This story initially appeared on Behind the Whistle, the official blog of the IWLCA, and is being republished with permission from the organization. Liz Beville is the head women's lacrosse coach at Le Moyne. Her father, Steve Beville, recently retired as the head men's lacrosse coach at SUNY Cortland.

In the world of coaching, the passion for guiding and inspiring others often becomes a lifelong pursuit. As fate would have it, my journey as a coach has intertwined beautifully with my father’s, as we both embraced the calling to guide and mentor athletes. While my dad recently decided to retire from collegiate coaching, I feel fortunate to have had the incredible experience of sharing a profession with my father.

As a young adult, I looked up to my dad, not just as a parent, but as a mentor in my sporting pursuits. His passion for the game was infectious and inspired me to follow in his footsteps. Consequently, I made the choice to attend the same college where my father was employed, SUNY Cortland. This decision offered me a front-row seat to the coaching world, granting me invaluable insights into everything from scheduling practice times to fostering connections with potential recruits. “I’ll fly, you buy” became a quickly mastered phrase during my college career and led to bi-weekly lunches. While my priority at the time was a free meal, these lunches were also an opportunity for me to learn as we would chat about our upcoming opponents and scouting reports while enjoying an M&D sandwich.

After graduating, I dedicated five years as an assistant before earning my first Head Coaching role. Fortunately, luck was on my side as the head coach position materialized in my hometown, granting me unlimited access to my dad’s invaluable trove of wisdom and experience. From strategy and tactics to alumni connections and fundraising, his guidance has proven indispensable. As a mentor, he not only taught me the intricacies of coaching but also instilled in me core values of empathy, respect, and discipline.

Coaching, like any profession, comes with its share of challenges. From navigating setbacks to juggling demanding schedules, my father became a pillar of support. In times of doubt or frustration, knowing I could lean on him made the burdens feel lighter. The phrase “Put your head down and work hard” became a constant reminder he reiterated over the years. As coaches, it’s our job to prepare our teams for any hurdles they may encounter and his emphasis on this guiding principle always kept me focused, even on the most overwhelming days.

Challenges aside, over the last few years we experienced a rare alignment in our coaching journeys as we both served on our respective governing bodies’ Board of Directors and volunteered our time to the Haudenosaunee Nationals Programs. Attending events like the World Games, Super Sixes and the World Championships together further solidified our shared passion for the sport. All of these instances led to enriching conversations about best practices to grow the game, the significance of supporting our coaching bodies, and the art of teaching lacrosse with principles of respect, passion and joy.

The experience of winning games, witnessing individual coaching progress, and seeing our respective teams excel filled us with great pride. In 2021, we were both honored with the prestigious title of Coach of the Year in our respective conferences, creating a profound sense of accomplishment and bliss. Celebrating this achievement together stands out as one of the most cherished and special moments we have shared.

While my dad won’t be on a sideline this year, I am incredibly grateful for the feedback, camaraderie and love he has provided me. Fortunately, this mentor of mine isn’t going too far, and his afternoons are now open for my phone calls. I take immense pride in following in my father’s footsteps and aspire to continue making him proud in this profession for many years to come.