The Sport America Is Sleeping On
- May 12
- 1 min read
Episode 110: Marc Riccio
Kyle Matthews interviews Marc Riccio, CEO of USA Lacrosse, about the sport’s growth, access challenges, and lacrosse’s return to the Olympics in LA 2028 as a medal sport for the first time since 1908. Riccio explains the sixes format (a faster, smaller-sided game akin to rugby sevens) and notes the U.S. women are ranked No. 1 while the U.S. men are No. 2 behind Canada. He discusses obstacles such as high school sanctioning (24 states still not sanctioned), pay-to-play infrastructure, and efforts like “Lacrosse in a Bag” to introduce the sport in schools. Riccio shares leadership lessons from 17 years with the New York Jets, his career path, and how team culture and vulnerability help build championship rosters.
Show Notes:
00:00 Move Early Mindset
00:38 Meet Marc Riccio
01:56 Lacrosse Growth Tailwinds
02:37 Olympics Hype And Hockey Comp
04:53 Participation Numbers And TAM
08:02 High School Sanctioning Fight
11:14 LA28 Sixes And Medal Odds
12:07 Lacrosse Origin Story
14:37 Traits Of Great Players
16:54 Team Culture And Leadership
19:41 From Kid Player To Scholarship
22:45 College Grind And Pro Reality
28:40 Breaking Into The Jets
31:01 Parcells Lessons And Decisions
37:04 Belichick Contrast And Media
39:02 Post Jets Career And CEO Life
41:24 Work Ethic And Choices
42:06 Work and Family Balance
42:49 Driven by Insecurity
44:14 From Winning to Legacy
45:33 Access to Lacrosse
47:40 Explaining USA Lacrosse
50:31 Pitch to Parents
52:21 Multi Sport vs Specialize
55:48 Toxic Parent Cultures
01:01:39 Lacrosse Community Magic
01:06:44 Olympics 2028 Journey
01:10:43 Global Growth and Funding
01:14:00 Programs and Final Wrap
