You could say that lacrosse is in Neal Powless’s blood.
Powless G’08, the University ombuds, is a member of the Onondaga Nation Eel Clan. He is the son, grandson and brother of legendary lacrosse players. Powless picked up a lacrosse stick for the first time at age 2. He played in his first game at age 4; his older brothers had to improvise with his uniform and protective gear as what they had been given was too big.
Neal Powless, top row second from left, is pictured with fellow inductees into the American Indian Athletic Hall of Fame and First Americans Museum Award recipients. (Photo courtesy of the First Americans Museum)
Powless played all throughout his childhood, high school and his undergraduate years at Nazareth College in Rochester. He was a three-time All American and played professionally for several years; he was a member of the Rochester Knighthawks of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League when the team won its first title in 1997. Today, he is the coach of the Netherlands National Box Lacrosse Team and, at age 50, still plays the game for Oneida in the North American Box Lacrosse League.
To honor his dedication and many contributions to the game of lacrosse, Powless was inducted into the American Indian Athletic Hall of Fame, located at the First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City, on May 2. He was one of four athletes inducted this year, and one of five from the Haudenosaunee Confederacy who have been inducted since the Hall of Fame’s inception.
An exhibition, featuring items from each of the inductees, was on display at the museum for a month around the time of the induction ceremony. Items from Powless’s career that were displayed included cleats that Nike created for the Haudenosaunee Nationals in 2006; his Buffalo Bandits stick, his Syracuse Smash jersey and five championship rings. The museum is working on expanding the exhibition to the digital space.
Items from Neal Powless’ career were on display in an accompanying exhibition, including a lacrosse stick, cleats and jersey. (Photo courtesy of the First Americans Museum)
Powless is no stranger to Hall of Fame inductions. He has been inducted into several, including the North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame, the USLacrosse Hall of Fame (Upstate Chapter and Greater Rochester Chapter) and Nazareth College Hall of Fame. He is also a member of the Rochester Red Wings Walk of Fame. This feels different, though, he says. Many of the inductees are from major sports leagues, such as the National Basketball Association, Women’s National Basketball Association and National Football League.
“You love your sport, and when that love and commitment is acknowledged it is amazing,” Powless says. “It is really humbling to be in a space like that First Americans Museum, which is the premier Indigenous museum in the country.”
Through the years, Powless has balanced lacrosse with his career at Syracuse University. He has been the University ombuds since 2019. In this role, he serves as a confidential, neutral and independent resource for faculty, staff and graduate students. Previously, he was a counselor with the Center for Career Services and assistant director of the Native Student Program in the Office of Multicultural Affairs. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate in the Newhouse School, where his research is centered on Indigenous imagery in contemporary film.
He and his wife, Michelle Schenandoah, founded Indigenous Concepts Consulting to serve Indigenous communities and to incorporate Indigenous perspective into mainstream business and media paradigms.
Lacrosse still remains a passion, and the longevity gene for the game runs throughout his family. His grandfather, Irving Powless Sr., played competitively into his 60s, his brother into his 50s and his father, Chief Irving Powless Jr., played his last competitive game at age 40 (Neal played his last competitive game at age 41). The love of the game developed over time for Neal, and the recreational league he plays in now continues to fuel that passion.
“This honor is not so much about the numbers and stats, but more about what the game means to me and the role it has played in my life,” he says.
Lacrosse has provided Powless with a number of lessons that he has applied in other areas of his life. When coaching—and for himself—he has non-negotiable rules—show up, give your best effort, be open to learn and have fun.
“Whether it’s here at work, at presentations or trainings, whether it’s sitting with an individual or consulting, I’m going to show up. I’m going to do my best. I’m going to do my best to be open and learn from that other person, and I’m going to have fun doing it,” he says.
The success he has found, and the lessons he imparts in his job, has just as much foundation in the losses he has endured on the field and the mistakes he has made.
“What’s not in those record books or written down on paper are all the losses that teach a person how to be successful,” Powless says. “I’ve been willing and open to learn from them.”
“The awards, trophies and rings (and Hall of Fame inductions) are amazing, but what I carry with me every day are the lessons that I know will help me succeed,” Powless says.
During his formative years, Powless was a bit smaller than his fellow lacrosse players and had to work hard to overcome some of the obstacles that created. He also learned a lot about respect and peace; although he faced competitors on the field, they ceased to be competitors when the game was finished.
“That’s probably one of the biggest lessons that I use every day here in my work as an ombuds, is to show everyone that walks into my office, no matter who you are, no matter where you come from, no matter what you’ve experienced, you’ll get my respect and you’ll get my ear and I’ll listen to everything that you’ve gone through,” Powless says. “I am going to shake your hand and welcome you.”
