Dugan’s Return Has Been Irish's Lucky Charm
BALTIMORE, Md. – When Kevin Dugan joins Notre Dame, good
things happen.
When Dugan transferred from the University of Scranton to the
Fighting Irish to play his last two collegiate seasons in South
Bend, Notre Dame made its first and, at that point, only trip to
the national semifinals in 2001.
After joining the Irish staff as Director of Lacrosse Operations
this past offseason after acting as the head coach at Scranton,
N.D. has earned another trip to the semis. In the wake of Notre
Dame’s comfortable, 12-7 victory over Cornell on Saturday,
its on the precipice of achieving something even more
impressive.
Despite the good luck that Dugan has brought with him to South
Bend, it almost never happened.
When Fighting Irish head coach Kevin Corrigan was trying to fill
the new position, Dugan was in the middle of nowhere.
Literally.
“I was actually in Africa when Coach Corrigan contacted me
in one of the most remote villages in the world on the edge of a
rain forest in Uganda and I checked my email for the first time in
a week,” said Dugan, standing outside the Notre Dame locker
room in M&T Bank Stadium.
“There was an email from Coach Corrigan that told me to call
him as a soon as I could. So I walked out to the one part of the
village where I was able to get cell service and he told me the
position had been approved for Director of Lacrosse operations. I
didn’t have to do a lot of thinking about it.”
The move made sense professionally, despite not having any
coaching component to his new position.
“Kevin knows that my heart is at Notre Dame, and the
position is definitely one that accents my strength, which is being
in athletics with a little bit of a business and entrepreneurial
aspects,” said Dugan. “I’m thinking a little more
big picture and being an idea guy."
“This position is perfect for Kevin,” said Notre Dame
assistant coach Kevin Anderson, who has been on the Irish staff for
14 years. “He adds a tremendous amount to our program, things
that won’t necessarily show up in the box score.”
Dugan didn't hesitate to take the new job, but there was still
some reticence to give up what he had built at Scranton. When he
started, he essentially passed on being in the contention for Pool
B by crafting a difficult schedule in order to have the program
ready for the first year the Landmark would be eligible for an
automatical qualifying berth.
That year was 2010.
"It was definitely a heart-rending decision because I love the
University of Scranton the kids there and everything about the
place," said Dugan, who was thrilled when the Royals knocked off
Ithaca in the season opener.
In addition to tackling the logistical obstacles that continuously
present itself for a Division I program, Dugan is continuing his
work with Fields of Growth, a non-profit organization
that uses lacrosse as a way to foster human development in
Southwest Uganda.
“Notre Dame has a strong, strong connection with Uganda, so
it was almost providential with all of the stars aligning for me
and this position opening up at Notre Dame,” said Dugan.
“Father Jenkins, the school president, has established Uganda
as the focal point of Notre Dame’s service and development
efforts internationally.”
That’s work for the offseason, however. Right now, Dugan is
quite content being Notre Dame’s lucky charm.
“I feel like a lot of my classmates are living vicariously
through me and having so much fun,” he said.
