Fork Union Head Coach Chris Panos

Kyle Devitte and Owen Hart welcome Fork Union Military Academy head coach and athletic director Chris Panos to discuss the school’s structure and his lacrosse background. Panos explains Fork Union is a boys boarding school (grades 7-12) with postgraduate programs, including a PG lacrosse program he started, emphasizing discipline, no cell phones, a one-subject academic plan, and heavy strength and conditioning. He details the team’s eight-month schedule, high-level competition, tournament play, and college placement success. Panos recounts his box lacrosse journey from early inspiration to being drafted into the NLL and playing in Canada, then describes how box and sixes skills translate to the field through physicality, picks, rolls,and creativity. The conversation covers coaching transitions from NCAA to prep, building a program from scratch, recruiting nationally, managing roster realities, and advising families on realistic college lacrosse paths and financial aid. Topics 00:22 Yearbook Mix Up 01:26 Meet Chris Panos 02:33 Fork Union Explained 04:21 Military School Culture 05:51 Program Structure Success 06:50 Box Career Origins 10:14 Box Skills to Field 11:58 Sixes Creativity Debate 13:58 Practice Drills Philosophy 16:54 Play Everywhere Advice 19:23 Coaching Career Transition 22:44 Head Coach Reality Check 23:53 No Admin Coaching 25:08 Adversity Makes Coaches 25:52 Building Program From Scratch 27:25 Small Roster, Big Results 29:28 Recruiting Nationwide Pipeline 32:09 Club Lacrosse Reality Check 34:22 Setting Realistic College Goals 36:54 Scholarships Exposure Strategy 39:51 Bus Breakdown Horror Story 42:43 Lacrosse Opens Doors 46:18 Wrap-Up and Thanks