Gerry Byrne endured a painful day on March 11, 2020 — when the Ivy League made the decision to cancel the remainder of the season amid the emerging COVID-19 pandemic. The new Harvard coach had led his team in just four games before an unprecedented set of circumstances.

For the next 11 months, Byrne went to work built a culture for his Crimson team virtually, hoping to display the progress they had made this spring. However, he and his program were dealt another blow Feb. 19, when the Ivy League announced it would not host a spring sports season in 2021.

Two straight seasons wiped out because of the pandemic. Byrne reacted to the news on Season 4, Episode 4 of "Overtime" with Paul Carcaterra. You can listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

As frustrating as the news was for Ivy League players and coaches, Byrne said he knew it was nothing that he could control.

“The not playing part is really hard, but I don’t get to decide what Harvard’s policy and view of the pandemic is,” Byrne told Carcaterra. “I’m going to defer to the experts at the Harvard Medical School. They know things about the long-term effects of this. Their view of this, which is unbelievably noble, is that they don’t want one more person getting COVID. That may be unrealistic and a little delusional, but they believe it.”

The disappointment among the players in the Harvard program is evident, and expected, but the role of a coach has always extended beyond the lines of the field. In a time when all players and coaches cope with the loss of a season in different ways, Byrne said he has a responsibility to continuing motivating his team.

He’s had to present for his team, even if it means suppressing his own emotions temporarily.

“I know it’s hurtful to not be playing and practicing with our full team,” he said. “It is hard to watch [other teams playing], but I have guys on campus right now who expect me, for the two hours we have together, to be the best part of their day. I take that as a responsibility. I can’t bring my disappointment or anger or frustration. I have to be great at what I do.”

Byrne and the Harvard coaching staff have continued to bring the same energy to the meetings with the team — some of which are on campus and many that have deferred enrollment to save eligibility.

His next mission is to make sure Harvard is ready to step on the field, whenever it is allowed. There’s still a chance the Crimson could play out of conference this spring, but it could be as late as this fall.

“We need to make sure that Harvard lacrosse is ready, regardless of where you’re coming from,” he said. “Whether you’re coming from being on campus for the last year or you’ve been taking a deferral. When we get together again, the expectation is that they’ll be ready.”