An energy assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) disk drive comprises a suspension and a slider having a back side, a laser-facing surface, and an air-bearing surface (ABS) opposite the back side. The slider is mounted to the suspension on the back side. The disk drive further comprises an EAMR transducer coupled with the slider, a portion of the EAMR transducer residing in proximity to the ABS and on the laser-facing surface of the slider. The disk drive further comprises a laser coupled with the suspension and having a light emitting surface facing the laser-facing surface of the slider. The laser has an optic axis substantially parallel to the suspension. The laser provides energy substantially along the optic axis and is optically coupled with the EAMR transducer via free space. The EAMR transducer receives the energy from the laser and writes to the media using the energy.