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.

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 Final Wrap