This month's featured Hardshell is Curtis Rountree (1980-84), who is the only player in program history to play for three head coaches: Bud Beardmore, Dino Mattessich and Dick Edell. Rountree is heavily involved in the program's mentorship program.
 

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You are very involved with our mentorship program with our players. Why is it so important for you to be involved?
 
We all had a great experience at Maryland, whether it was on the field, just friendships, or academically. But we all felt, especially during our time, a feeling of not knowing what to do after we graduated. We wanted to have some more structure to let people know that there are alumni out there that care about these student-athletes beyond the field. It's our fraternity and we need to have that connection and let them know that there are people out there that have been through these same challenges and make it a little easier for them going forward and beyond college.
 
When you speak to the team, what is your message?
 
From a mentoring direction, getting to come to Maryland to play lacrosse is a great opportunity. You're at a great university, with a lot of great people on campus. I have a lot of friends that I didn't meet though lacrosse that have gone on to do great things. So, lacrosse is just a tool that can catapult you forward to connections, and help you grow and learn. To me, that's what attending a university is all about. I want to express to them to get out of the lacrosse world. Just don't make it about your group on the field. They have a lot of opportunities to impact and be impacted by people who are at Maryland.
 
When you look back on your time playing at Maryland, what are some of your fondest memories?
 
There were some great wins. We beat North Carolina and they were the reigning two-time champions. In '83, during the season we lost badly to Virginia, and for our quarterfinal playoff game we had to play in Virginia. We went down there and just rolled them to go on to the semi-finals. And then the friends I made playing from different backgrounds, just to meet them and have them become some of my friends for life was one of the key moments I've had. I'm the only player in Maryland history to play for three coaches. I was there for Bud Beardmore's last year, Dino Mattessich was there for three years while a redshirted a year, and I was on Dick Edell's first team. I'm the only person who can say I did that. It was a great opportunity. I wish I could've spent more time with both of them. I had a great relationship with both of them after they left.
 
Can you share what you're doing in your professional life these days?
 
Currently I do financial accounting and consulting. I have my own consulting business, E. Curtis, LLC. For 30 years I worked for Fortune 100 companies. I have a lot of experience from these companies which has led to me helping several start-ups and midsized companies through there transitions, whether it be a business plan or final structure. I have a pretty diverse background in all areas of financial management, treasury, and accounting. I've been able to provide some insight and experience for people who are realizing that they need to move to the next stage.
 
What are your thoughts on the state of the program under Coach Tillman?
 
I've said it to everyone before, we should not take for granted where the program is right now. To have gone to five Final Fours in a row and seven in eight seasons, there is no one who compares to John Tillman. There may come a time when the program doesn't make the Final Four ten years in a row; they will still be heads and tails above anyone else. So, we can't take this program for granted and we still need to give them their support for what they've done. We do have the best coaching staff and the best lacrosse program in the country.