HAMDEN, Connecticut –Deputy Director of Athletics
Sarah Fraser has announced the hiring of
Tanya Kotowicz as Quinnipiac's women's lacrosse head coach.
"Tanya has a variety of coaching experience and a proven track record of improving results in the programs that she has been a part of," Fraser said. "She has a passion for student-athlete success on and off the field, a tactical mind and a vision for the potential of our program and we are excited to welcome her to the Bobcat family."
Kotowicz comes to Quinnipiac with a wealth of NCAA Division I women's lacrosse coaching experience, most recently as the head coach at Central Connecticut State University for the 2015 and 2016 seasons. Before being hired as CCSU's head coach, Kotowicz was the first assistant at Yale from 2012 through 2014 and Hofstra from 2008 through 2012. Before taking the position at Hofstra, Kotowicz was the head coach at Quinnipiac's Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference foe Marist in 2008 and an assistant at Saint Mary's College of California from 2006 to 2008.
"I am grateful for the opportunity that
Greg Amodio and the search committee has afforded me to be the leader of Quinnipiac's women's lacrosse program," Kotowicz said. "The commitment Quinnipiac has towards the women's lacrosse program and athletics makes me excited to be a part of the Bobcat Nation. I am excited to get to work with my staff to establish a culture of excellence for student-athletes on and off the field."
(Photo courtesy of Central Connecticut State University Athletics) While at Central Connecticut State, Kotowicz's program featured eight All-Northeast Conference players, including five last season. In her first season the Blue Devil defense led the NEC, allowing only eight goals per game in conference games. In addition, Kotowicz's Blue Devils were honored as an IWLCA Division I NCAA Academic Honor Squad in 2015 and 2016 and this past season they featured 17 NEC Spring Academic Honor Roll selections.
Prior to her stint at CCSU, Kotowicz helped Yale's program double its winning percentage over a two-year period while also coordinating the Ivy League's top scoring defense in 2014. Kotowicz's recruiting class at Yale included five All-Americans and one All-American honorable mention. At Hofstra, Kotowicz was part of the coaching staff of a Pride program that ranked in the Top 20 in the IWLCA National Polls in 2010 and 2011 while also featuring a pair of Regional and National All-Americans in 2008 and 2011. In addition, Kotowicz helped develop two student-athletes who were selected to participate as members of the United States National Team in 2009 and 2011.
In her only season as the head coach at Marist, Kotowicz led the Red Foxes to the program's first MAAC Championship and first NCAA Tournament appearance. She assumed the role after serving as an assistant at Marist in 2005 and 2006.
Kotowicz has also been involved with England's National Team, as a team selector, as well as an assistant coach with the MAAC All-Star Team that traveled to Japan in 2006 and the USA Athletes International Team in Australia in 2010. In 2013, she competed with Team Germany at the FIL Women's Lacrosse World Cup.
A native of Hicksville, N.Y., Kotowicz was a two-time team captain in 2004 and 2005 at the University of Connecticut, leading the program to an ECAC Championship in 2005 as the Huskies ranked 15
th in the country. She was a four-time BIG EAST Scholar-Athlete and four-time BIG EAST Academic All-Star at UConn. She currently holds a bachelor's degree in human development and family studies from UConn and a master's degree in physical education from Hofstra. This past summer she served as assistant general manager for the Long Island Sound, helping the team win the inaugural United Women's Lacrosse League Championship.