Maryland men’s lacrosse has excelled at recruiting since coach John Tillman took over in 2011. That success is a key reason why the Terps have the most All-American selections and Final Fours during that span.

When talking to recruits, Tillman said he and his staff speak with players, families, former coaches and teammates to gauge if they align with the Terps’ high-standards, both on-and-off the field. They consider both the current season and building for the future — a major factor to the program’s success.

“You got to find guys that realize that it’s more than just being a good lacrosse player,” Tillman said. “Just because someone’s a good player doesn’t necessarily make them a great fit.”

Tillman has had to adjust to rule changes in recruiting, including roster size shifts, budget adjustments and new limits on visitations. Once he takes into account the resources at his disposal, he figures out how to comply while optimally recruiting.

Despite the toughness the Terps have become known for, players and their families say its Tillman’s humility that keys the recruiting.

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Junior Eric Kolar committed to Maryland by the end of his junior year of high school. But as a 2021 graduate with COVID-19 looming, he wasn’t sure what he wanted.

Kolar had interest in a post-graduate year, something multiple of his family members did before playing college lacrosse. Tillman supported his new recruit with that endeavor.

He helped the midfielder land at The Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, where he played lacrosse for a season before joining the Terps in 2023. Kolar’s parents recall Tillman’s honesty — he asked more personal questions than lacrosse ones, they said.

Now, Kolar plays an integral role in maintaining Maryland’s culture that his coach helped create.

“You can’t have an easy day when you’re surrounded by the people we have,” Kolar said. “We’re so big on not being afraid to talk to each other, letting each other know you got to pick it up … that’s a really special thing in our locker room.”

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Tillman said he seeks players who take pride in themselves as a teammate and a representative of their family, hometown, high school and university. Sacrifices and long hours of commitment, to lacrosse and other aspects of college, are expected, he said.

Fifth-year Daniel Kelly, the No. 15 prospect in the class of 2020, chose Maryland because of the winning culture that Tillman and other coaches inspired. The attacker has shined since, making the 2024 NCAA All-Tournament Team and becoming a vocal leader for the Terps.

“It starts with the recruiting process,” Kelly said. “We fully trust coach Tills and who he brings into the program, that they’ll be a good fit.”

Evaluating how a person will fit in a program isn’t easy, especially because recruitment meetings can be few and far between. Tillman’s strategy is about as good as it gets.

“He can just read people,” Kolar said.