John Tillman wasn't exactly sure what he wanted to do for a living after graduating from Cornell University in 1991 with a degree in hotel administration. He thought about following in the footsteps of his mother and becoming a teacher.
However, Tillman worked a bunch of lacrosse camps the summer after graduating and found it rewarding.
"I realized that I enjoyed working with young people and I saw the difference you can make in the role of coach," Tillman said. "It just sort of occurred to me that maybe coaching could be my career path."
Tillman was working at a restaurant in Ithaca at the time and had gotten to know the men's lacrosse coach at Division III school in town.