Merrimack's Miller, Hollis-Brookline's Martin once coach and player, now opposing boys lacrosse coaches
TL;DR
Mac Martin and Brian Miller, once coach and player, faced off as opposing boys lacrosse coaches in their first game on Tuesday. Martin, now coaching Hollis-Brookline, played for Miller at Merrimack High School.
Key points
- Mac Martin is the boys lacrosse coach at Hollis-Brookline High School.
- Brian Miller is the boys lacrosse coach at Merrimack High School.
- Martin played for Miller at Merrimack High School.
- Merrimack won the game 11-2.
- Martin faced a key issue before his last high school game.
HOLLIS — The story is told every time Mac Martin and Brian Miller get together.
It came up again before the coach and pupil coached their first game against each other on Tuesday.
Martin, Hollis-Brookline High School’s third-year boys lacrosse coach, played for Miller at Merrimack High School. Martin served as the Tomahawks’ captain during Miller’s first two years as head coach.
The story goes that, before his last game of his senior year, Martin locked his equipment in his car and had lost his keys somewhere inside Merrimack High.
“We were going to Keene. ...We’re not making the playoffs,” Miller said after NHIAA Division I Merrimack’s 11-2 win at Division II Hollis-Brookline.
“Normally, any other player, I’d be like, ‘You’re on the bench.’ We waited for the police to jimmy his car and by the time the cops got there, he found his keys. ...We showed up to Keene and they’re like, ‘Alright, 10 minutes, you ready to play?’”
Miller, who is in his 15th season coaching the Tomahawks, said Martin was a great finisher around the crease and leader in the locker room while at Merrimack.
A former attackman, Martin led the Tomahawks in scoring his final two seasons (2013, 2014). The Brookline resident then led NCAA Division III Nichols College in goals three of his four years and graduated in 2018 with the second-most points (183) in program history.
Over his time playing for Miller, Martin learned some coaching essentials like keeping players calm during games and learning from each contest.
“You want something successful on Day 1 so that you can roll into two successful things on Day 2,” Martin said, “and that was kind of what we did when I was playing at Merrimack was you learn a little bit and you continue to build every day so where you are on Day 1 of the preseason, Day 1 of regular season is not where you’re gonna be at the end of the regular season.”
Martin said the Cavaliers’ culture is built around effort. His roster ranges from year-round lacrosse players to those that are new to the sport.
Hollis-Brookline went 10-7 and fell in the Division II tournament’s opening round in 2024 — Martin’s first season at the helm — then reached the quarterfinals last year after a 13-5 regular season.
“I try to teach these guys that life is easier if you give a lot of effort — if that is doing homework, if that is in lacrosse, if that is playing video games,” Martin said. “Everything you do, if you can give your max effort and you’re happy with what you do, life is going to be easier and you can, at the end of the day, be proud of what you do.”
Martin and Miller talk lacrosse during the season. They share scouting information on opponents and Martin will ask his former coach for advice on situations that arise as a head coach.
Merrimack and Hollis-Brookline scrimmaged each of the past two springs.
When it comes to play styles, Miller said there are not many similarities between his Merrimack team and his protege’s Cavaliers. Miller said that Martin is way smarter than him and a talented strategist.
“They’re lucky to have him,” Miller said.
Q&A
What is the history between Mac Martin and Brian Miller in lacrosse?
Mac Martin played for Brian Miller at Merrimack High School, where he served as captain during Miller's first two years as head coach.
When did Mac Martin and Brian Miller coach against each other for the first time?
They coached against each other for the first time on Tuesday during a boys lacrosse game.
What was the outcome of the lacrosse game between Merrimack and Hollis-Brookline?
Merrimack won the game against Hollis-Brookline with a score of 11-2.
What challenges did Mac Martin face before his last game in high school?
Before his last game, Mac Martin locked his equipment in his car and lost his keys inside Merrimack High.
