Fall Check-In: Liberty Flames

For our next Fall Check-in we spoke with Kyle McQuillan, Head Coach of the defending DI National Champion Liberty Flames.  The Flames graduated some great players, but will surely be an elite team again in 2026 after reaching the summit in 2025.

You can read the earlier installments of the Fall Check-in series here: To read the prior installments of our Fall Check-in Series click here: Virginia Tech (DI), Florida Atlantic, Chapman, Montana, Washington,  Long Beach, Moorpark

You graduated two attackmen who not only were highly prolific scorers, but also nearly perfect compliments in Keaton Mohs and Braden Landry. Obviously, they are impossible to replace, but how do you expect your offense to look following their graduation?

Kyle McQuillan: Keaton and Braden were special players who left a huge mark on our program, both statistically and culturally. While you never truly replace guys like that, our focus has been on developing a more balanced offensive approach. We’ve got a large group of young and hungry players that share the ball extremely well.  I think you’ll see a more diverse scoring offense this year, with production coming from multiple areas rather than one or two focal points.

The ferocious Liberty ride has been a staple of your program the last several years. Do you expect that to continue going forward?

KM: Absolutely. The ride is something that’s become part of our DNA. It represents effort, discipline, and buy-in which are all qualities that define our culture. It’s not just a scheme for us, it’s an identity. We take pride in making every possession difficult for our opponents, and I don’t see that changing any time soon.

Your team has used box lacrosse as a training method, what lead to that decision and what effects have you seen from it?

KM: As a Canadian myself, I was introduced to the game of lacrosse by playing box, and it is a great way to improve upon stick skills, decision making and overall lacrosse IQ.  Plus, it is just a lot of fun.   Box lacrosse has become an integral part of our fall player development. 

What are the schedule highlights? Any big trips or visitors?

KM: With recent changes in conference membership, a realignment was approved this summer that will allow us to compete against every team in Division I of the Atlantic Lacrosse Conference. We’ll continue to embrace our always-intense rivalry with Virginia Tech, while also recognizing the strength of other top programs in our division such as Tennessee and Clemson.  Outside of conference play, our schedule features several exciting matchups, including the University of South Carolina, Florida State, and another anticipated meeting with BYU, a program we’ve developed a strong and competitive rivalry with over the years.

Coming off your first National Championship, how do you fight off complacency and keep your program hungry?

KM: That’s been one of our main points of emphasis this fall. Winning a championship was an incredible accomplishment, but it can’t be what defines us. We talk a lot about gratitude, being thankful for what we achieved last season, while recognizing that gratitude should fuel our drive, not replace it. Now, we have the opportunity to prove that our culture is strong enough to sustain that same level of success. For us, it is pivotal that the hunger to repeat as conference and national champions must always be grounded in humility and gratitude.

Thank you to Coach McQuillan for taking the time to answer some questions.

Coaches, if you’re interested in participating in our Fall Check-In series, please email info@mcla.us.