‘FILM WIZARD’: John Odierna brings unparalleled preparation to Syracuse’s defense

J

ohn Odierna’s defensive philosophy derives from Adam McKay’s blockbuster 2008 comedy, “Step Brothers.”

In the film’s resolution, Will Ferrell’s character, Brennan, is tasked with managing The Catalina Wine Mixer. But the band he hired leaves due to a heckler in the crowd, causing his boss to scold him. After being encouraged to perform on stage himself to save his job, Brennan was too scared. He then reveals his plan to file for unemployment and apply for a job at Enterprise Rent-A-Car because “they give you the tools to be your own boss.”

Ferrell’s line was referenced to Odierna during a film session in the 2022 season by former Manhattan goalie, Brendan Krebs. Odierna had been talking to his defense about how he wanted them to play to their identity when Krebs compared his words to Ferrell’s.

The phrase is a flawless manner to describe Odierna’s coaching style. Through intense preparation in the film room, he passes down his vast knowledge and ensures players perform to their strengths — giving them the tools to be their own boss.

“People really like ‘Step Brothers,’” Odierna said. “So I think they can get behind that quote.”

Deploying what is now known as his signature “Enterprise Defense,” Odierna — hired as Syracuse’s defensive coordinator in July 2023 — was integral in building Manhattan from a “band of misfits” to perennial Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference contenders. He ran the Jaspers’ defense from 2016-23, going from a three-win team to allowing the fewest goals per game nationally last season.

His former players call him an intense guy who commands respect. He’s “the man,” some declared. Others passionately believe he’s “the GOAT.”

Though the consensus is that Odierna’s uncanny ability to decipher opponents through constant film breakdowns sets him apart from a typical coordinator. His players easily buy into his relentless preparation methods, creating an indestructible culture which centered around one goal at Manhattan: winning a MAAC title.

Odierna’s already begun to instill the same mentality with SU. The only difference? He’s gunning for a national championship.

“This was really tough,” Odierna said of leaving Manhattan. “But I kind of told our guys at Manhattan, it was not so much about what Manhattan is, it’s just what Syracuse is. And when I got into this profession, it was for this opportunity. To represent the most historical and successful program in the sport, it’s a dream job. So I can’t turn it down.”

Cindy Zhang | Digital Design Director

Odierna grew into a film junkie in 2012 as a defensive assistant at Colby College of the New England Small College Athletic Conference. He said the program’s talent didn’t match their conference counterparts. To close the gap, he knew he had to escalate his preparation.

Understanding the importance of grinding tape stemmed from his collegiate career at Gettysburg College from 2008-11. Odierna said he was never the best player, though his “brain” led him to success, where he was a United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association honorable mention in 2011.

Odierna said his aim as a coach is to do the “heavy lifting” on studying game film, presenting his analysis in an efficient and simple way toward his team — “maximizing our preparedness,” he said.

At Manhattan, Odierna’s diligence in the film room stood out to his players. Christian Clifford, a defender for the Jaspers from 2019-23, said Odierna recorded every practice. Former Manhattan midfielder Luke Hanson (2017-21) added that Odierna had specific critiques for everyone on the field through each clip and sent them to his players on weekends.

Blake Lothian, a Manhattan defender from 2019-22, said Odierna’s ability to analyze what’s happening away from the play helped underdeveloped players quickly learn from his teachings.

“That guy, I think he was a film wizard,” Lothian said.

Through film sessions, Odierna personalizes his coaching toward his players. Luke Pacher, who played under Odierna from 2018-22, said he underwent issues with clears during his senior season. Odierna took Pacher into the film room and showed him that he needed to keep his eyes upfield to read the opposition’s rides. And when Odierna wanted to key Pacher, or another defender, on a certain attacker, he’d sit down with them one-on-one and take them through the tendencies of their opponent.

Plus, Odierna’s defensive scheme is almost entirely player-led. Clifford revealed that in 2023, Odierna met with players before each game and discussed how they wanted to scheme the defense instead of barking orders at his guys.

Odierna said he doesn’t have a true set defense. It’s all dependent on the matchup, and conforming the scheme to how each individual will execute at the highest level.

“That’s been something that our guys here have really gravitated to,” Odierna said. “They’ve really enjoyed the ability to have options, make decisions, while also maximizing their own personal feelings as they fit within our whole unit.”

In game-planning for opponents, Clifford said Odierna consistently deciphered an opposition’s plan A, B and C — when most teams couldn’t figure out Manhattan’s plan B. He easily spots attacking threats and creates the best scheme to thwart them. Per Clifford, Odierna’s preparation had a “bigger role” in garnering victories than the players themselves did.

Clifford explained that Odierna often watched film with the broadcast sound on to learn how teams communicated. Preparing for Quinnipiac, one of the MAAC’s top offenses, Odierna identified that the Bobcats struggled versus a zone. In response, he developed a plan to switch from a man-to-man set to zone defense during the early stages of the matchup.

During practices, Odierna made life miserable for Manhattan’s offensive group, as Hanson revealed the defense often dominated. It helped Manhattan’s attack learn how to properly adjust to a well-oiled defense.

“I hated going against (Odierna) in practice, because it was impossible,” Hanson said. “If we threw a wrinkle, he was immediately adapting to it. When you know you’re seeing the best, it might make it easier going into games.”

Though the challenge of securing commitment from his players loomed over Odierna. He arrived in Manhattan when it was at its lowest — Lothian said he took over a defense that didn’t want to practice.

But Odierna’s players bought into what he sold. Since Manhattan lacks the same funding of elite Division I programs, Krebs said Odierna served as more than a coach. He ordered meals, booked hotels, made sure players’ grades were in order and organized meetings, among other things.

Paired alongside his emphasis of a player-driven defense, Manhattan’s roster invested in Odierna’s vision.

“He made it cool to care,” Lothian said.

Manhattan’s turnaround resulted in its 2022 MAAC Championship win — the program’s first in 20 years. The Jaspers were scouting their opponent, St. Bonaventure, and pinpointed its attacker Sean Westley, that season’s co-MAAC Offensive Player of the Year, as the player they needed to stop.

Pacher said Odierna scouted Westley all weekend. He found that Westley liked to circle around and penetrate the middle of the field when defenses drew him out wide. Odierna wanted Pacher, a former First-Team All-MAAC defender, to match up with the Bonnies’ attacker. Odierna told Pacher that once he turned Westley at midfield, the rest of the back end would slide toward Westley’s motion and trap him in a double-team.

Cindy Zhang | Digital Design Director

During a crucial portion of the title bout, Manhattan faced the situation Odierna prepped for. Pacher said Westley darted toward the middle, but the defense slid with him. Pacher received help from defender Tadhg O’Riordan with Westley, forcing a ground ball which the Jaspers claimed before scoring on the other end.

Manhattan held Westley to zero goals on just two shots and defeated St. Bonaventure 8-7 to win the MAAC.

“After things calmed down after the MAAC Championship, we were going over the game film and said ‘We drew this exact play up,’” Pacher remembered. “It was the culmination of everything. Everything lined up perfectly in the most important game.”

Odierna said he takes pride in helping progress Manhattan from “arguably the worst team in Division I” to a conference champion. It didn’t make leaving any easier, though his players knew it was inevitable.

Through one offseason at Syracuse, Odierna’s already begun to instill his culture. SU head coach Gary Gait believes Odierna has created more cohesion within its defense.

“These guys are developing the communication and that chemistry and they’re all on the same page,” Gait said. “And I think that’s going to help us improve our defense.”

In the ending of “Step Brothers,” Ferrell and John C. Reilly’s characters save The Catalina Wine Mixer by performing together on stage — what the two were best at. For Odierna, he makes sure his team plays to its strengths while hammering the little details out through film study.

His mindset pulled Manhattan from the depths of the MAAC, and could lift Syracuse to a place it hasn’t been in awhile — atop D-I lacrosse.

“Maybe (being in Syracuse) is a little bit different than what we were up against in Manhattan,” Odierna said. “So, I’ve done my best to sort of adapt that approach but make it ours at Syracuse…I think defensively over the years, Syracuse has not been known for defense and we’re trying to make that our thing.”

Photograph Courtesy of Syracuse Athletics