The Way to Squash Excellence: Insights from Harvard's Lead Coach

It was a true pleasure for Open Squash to host Senior Adviser Mike Way, the esteemed Head Coach from Harvard, at a weeklong camp for advanced juniors in summer 2025, where he led a "terrific group" of 13 very enthusiastic kids in a two-day session alongside Open Squash Coaches Peter Creed, Amr Khalifa, Thaisa Serafini and David Hughes.

With 15 years coaching at Harvard, Mike Way has an unparalleled track record, having coached world number ones Ali Farag, and before that in Toronto, Canada, Jonathan Power, as well as five-time world champion Sarah Fitz-Gerald, among many other incredible squash players. His insights into coaching, player development, and the mental game are truly invaluable.

A Coaching Journey and Evolving Philosophy

Mike's path to Harvard was unexpected. He recounted receiving a phone call about the position while content with his successful junior and senior group in Canada, which had accumulated "over 120 national titles from around the world". Initially, he wasn't interested, especially as the job posting required a four-year college degree, which he did not possess. However, Harvard changed the posting, leading to "18 hours of interviews over three days," which Mike found "a little bit absurd" but which ultimately led him to the role.

The transition to college coaching was challenging for Mike, who was accustomed to having a "greater amount of influence" on younger athletes. He struggled with the administrative load and the reduced influence over university students who were already "young men and women". After his first year, Mike even considered handing in his notice. However, his boss challenged him, suggesting that building a culture in a college program "takes three to five years". This conversation was a turning point, making Mike look at the job differently and see it as a challenge.

That shift led to a fundamental change in his recruitment strategy. Mike realized that merely recruiting "the number one, two or three players from wherever" was not enough for success. He understood that if coaches "don't recruit young men and women with the right character, and then they're not buying in to you, to your program, then they are going to drop out, then they’re not going to contribute". His new emphasis became about "character, work ethic, passion and love," rather than just talent.

Mike now views building a program as creating a foundation of "character skills," fostering a "mindset for training" despite the repetition and academic stress students face, "hooking them on my programs and how I saw it, on my vision," and then setting "performance goals" across all categories. He stresses the importance of players buying into the program for mental training to be effective. He also highlighted the team aspect of an individual sport like squash, emphasizing that "it is not okay to be neutral. You cannot be neutral... You either contribute to the program... Or in fact, you're stealing".

The Art of College Recruitment: Beyond the Obvious

When recruiting, Mike and his team look for more than just on-court performance. They bring recruits for weekend visits, believing that character flaws can't be hidden over a long weekend, and that if something is amiss with a player, it’ll come out over 48 hours. Mike also looks for subtle cues during tournaments: if a player's demeanor and energy change after spotting a coach in the gallery, it signals a potential issue. He also observes how players respond to losing, noting if they skip consolation rounds or how they interact with parents and coaches.

A significant concern for Mike in junior recruitment is burnout, driven by the "nutty" professionalization of the sport, where "every kid's got a dollar sign on his forehead". He recounted a story of a parent wanting to "map out a plan to get into college" for their 13-year-old, which Mike found "nuts". He emphasizes that "passion and enthusiasm are the main drivers" of success for young people, and said coaches have a responsibility to "nurture it, and nurturing it is not cracking a whip".

Ali Farag: The World Champion's Mental Battle

Ali Farag, one of Mike Way's most prominent mentees, recently retired as world number one, a decision that "shocked everyone". Mike, however, was not surprised, having discussed it with Ali since September, when Ali was "finding it harder to find that fight" in tough matches.

Mike recounted a deeply moving story from the day of Ali's final match. Just hours before the game, Mike received a text that David Ryan, a 28-year-old Harvard grad and former player, had died. Mike withheld the news until Ali himself received a post about it in the warm-up area. Ali then confessed to Mike, "I don't have that fight. I don't feel it in my belly". In that moment, Mike used a "guilt card" for the first time: "Ali, you asked me to come down and coach you. I'm here. First time I've ever played the guilty card, but I did. Wow. You asked, I came". Ali laughed and responded, "I got it". He went on to win the final "three love," dedicating his title to David Ryan's memory.

Mike explained that mental training is about "retaining focus, building confidence, staying in the moment, being able to see clearly and making adjustments," but above all, it's about "how you feel". Ali's retirement was ultimately driven by the unsustainability of continued training and competition, especially with a young family and a desire to use his "big brain" for "other things". Mike noted that Ali "accomplished way beyond what he dreamt of accomplishing" in the sport.

Gina Kennedy (Current World Number 9): The Battle of Styles

Gina Kennedy, currently world number 9 and an Open Squash ambassador who has led camps for juniors and adults at Open Squash, is another former Harvard player Mike spoke about with affection. Mike describes Gina as having a "package" that includes natural athleticism and being "heavily in love with her sport, so passionate, being driven in an intrinsic drive to get better".

However, Mike playfully admitted that Gina "drove me nuts in a nice way, in a squash way" because "She's built to play like Rafael Nadal but she wants to play like Roger Federer". He explained the difference: Nadal is a physical "baseliner" who wears opponents down, while Federer, like Ali Farag, relies on "hands, finesse," and a creative, intuitive style that is "very much tougher mentally". Gina "just didn't want to be the physical retriever".

Mike tried to get her to "recognize a deeper identity" in her game, even asking if she had ever lost a match due to exhaustion (to which she said no, surprising him). He also suggested technical adjustments. Mike believes that Gina's "mind has opened a little more" since graduating, noting she is now more receptive to ideas. He sees "two or three levels" of potential growth for her, specifically in "technical" areas, having a game plan that uses her skills, achieving "tactical clarity and playing the tactical discipline," and through her "mental program" by recognizing rally types and phases.

Victor Crouin (Current World Number 11): The Model of Methodical Dedication

Victor Crouin, currently world number 11 and an Open Squash ambassador who has led camps for juniors and adults at Open Squash, is another former Harvard player Mike deeply admires for his approach to the sport. Mike describes Victor as "so methodical in his whole life. I have never in my life met a more structured individual. He leaves no stone unturned." Victor meticulously reviews his matches, identifies areas for improvement, and then consistently applies himself to specific training programs. Mike likens Victor's process to a "natural equation": "if I do the programs from the evidence from the reviews and I do it regularly with full intention and focus, how can I not get better?".

Mike emphasized that Victor is "squeezing every ounce out of Victor. And Victor will squeeze every ounce of Victor until the day he retires. I swear to God". He called Victor a "very, very rare athlete" and suggested him as a model for all squash players: "if there is a model, a path to follow, a map, if you will, make sure that Victor Crouin is one of the players that you want to be like, maybe not play like, because that's up to the individual and with the coach's help, but to be in attitude and approach". While Mike believes Victor "definitely got a level above him, he might have two", his unwavering dedication is what truly sets him apart.

A Passion for Coaching

Mike Way simply has a deep passion for coaching. "I love my job. I love being a coach. I love nothing more than doing camps like this". He feels he is "a more effective coach now than I was five years ago, than 10 years ago 15 years ago". His love for his teams, the Harvard program, and even his adopted home of Cambridge and Boston shines through, making it clear why he continues to inspire and develop top squash talent.

Thanks so much, Mike, for sharing your passion with us at Open Squash.