Riverdale, NY – Manhattan College Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Marianne Reilly has announced that Katie McConnell as the next head coach of the Women’s Lacrosse program.
"Manhattan welcomes Katie to take the reigns of our Women's Lacrosse program,” said Reilly. “She is a winner in every sense of the word and we look forward to the positive impact and success she will have with our student-athletes and our program."
McConnell spent last season as an assistant coach at Coastal Carolina, helping the Chants to an 11-7 record, including a 5-3 mark during Big South play. She made an immediate impact on the defense in her lone season in Conway, as the Chants lowered their goals allowed per game mark to 8.50, down from 9.82 the year prior.
"I would like to thank Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Marianne Reilly, Senior Associate Athletic Director Amanda McEntire and the rest of the search committee for this incredible opportunity,” said McConnell. “I am extremely excited for the potential of Manhattan Women’s Lacrosse and am looking forward to developing our students-athletes on the field, in the classroom and in the community while upholding the values of this great College."
A Garden State native, McConnell began her coaching career at Lock Haven in 2013 and spent three seasons with her alma mater. During that time, the Lady Eagles accrued a dominating 54-7 (.885) overall record while making back-to-back appearances in the Division II National Championship game and winning the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championship in 2014 and 2015.
McConnell, who helped develop 11 All-Americans during her time in Pennsylvania, helped Lock Haven post arguably the most impressive season in school history in 2015. In a landmark campaign, the Lady Eagles went undefeated in the regular season for the first time since 1973 en route to finishing with a 20-1 record and a second-straight runner-up finish in the NCAA Division II Lacrosse Championships.
In 2014, McConnell was named the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Division II Assistant Coach of the Year as the Lock Haven defense allowed just 129 goals in 22 games (5.78 GAA) in advancing to the NCAA Championship Game and finishing with a 19-3 mark. She began her first coaching stint in 2013, helping the Lady Eagles to a 15-3 mark and a final national ranking of No. 6.
A standout on the field, McConnell was a four-year starter on defense for Lock Haven while helping lead the Lady Eagles to three straight trips to the NCAA Tournament, highlighted by an appearance in the 2009 National Championship game, three PSAC titles and a 2011 North South Senior All-Star selection.