Steve Dietrich

"Champions are never satisfied.” That's the mindset of the back-to-back NLL Champion Buffalo Bandits, and in over an hour of conversation with their General Manager and Assistant Coach Steve Dietrich, we barely spoke about their electrifying on-floor product.

Dietrich is relatively new to coaching and devours film to improve his craft, soaking up everything he can from the GOAT—his head coach, John Tavares. What he was truly born to do is manage a professional lacrosse team. Trades, contracts, future-proofing, and cementing the Bandits' legacy are where the Hall of Fame goaltender shines, ever since his days as a kid playing Madden and building his own teams. It's in his blood.

His eye for talent, knack for seeing several steps ahead, and general likability set him apart from his peers. He's fair and honest.

In this episode, we discuss his unique approach to scouting, how to welcome new talent to the Bandits while chasing a three-peat, and how he transformed the culture from the big, bad Bandits that no one wanted to play against, to the top team in the NLL that no one still wants to play against.

Managing the league's flagship franchise since 2012, they've appeared in the NLL Finals five times, winning twice. Dietrich has won the GM of the Year award on three occasions, only the second GM in history to achieve this.

He played 18 seasons in the NLL, was a four-time All-Pro, won a championship, and was the first goaltender to win a league MVP award in 2006.

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