LEXINGTON, Va. --- Washington and Lee Michael F. Walsh Director of Athletics Jan Hathorn has announced the hiring of Maddie Coleman as the Head Coach of Women's Lacrosse and Assistant Professor of Physical Education effective August 1.
Coleman, a 2012 graduate of Gettysburg College, follows Brooke O'Brien, who led the Generals for the past 15 seasons; Coleman will be the third head coach in Blue and White history.
"We are so excited to be welcoming Maddie to the W&L campus community," said Hathorn. "Her demonstrated history of competitive success as a player, coupled with her extensive leadership skills and coaching expertise, uniquely qualify her for this position. She will come to W&L with a clear sense of the purpose and value surrounding physical education and athletics and its distinctive place in a highly academic, liberal arts institution."
Coleman, a Lexington native, returns home after spending the past nine seasons with Denison University. For six seasons she served as the assistant coach before being promoted to Associate Head Coach for the Big Red for her final three seasons.
The 2018 IWLCA-Nike Outstanding Assistant Coach of the Year focused on goalie and defensive development. During her tenure, DU claimed seven North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Tournament Championships and 39 consecutive NCAC contests. Coaching six IWLCA All-Americans while there, Denison's squad compiled a 56-5 (.903) NCAC record and 111-42 (.725) overall.
The Big Red appeared in the NCAA Tournament each year, allowing Coleman to be well-acquainted with coaching in the Big Dance. For the first time in school history, the squad advanced to the Elite Eight and Final Four in 2021. The Big Red's 2022 season ended in the third round, the Sweet 16 appearance was the program's seventh in school history and fourth in a row.
The Generals return an arsenal of highly decorated women for the 2023 season. The reigning ODAC Champions, for the 12th consecutive year, have three All-Americans and nine All-ODAC honorees representing the Blue and White on Alston Parker Watt Field next year.
"Thank you to Jan Hathorn and the search committee for entrusting me to lead the Generals women's lacrosse program," Coleman stated. "It's incredible to be part of such a successful and well-respected program at a top academic liberal arts institution. I am thrilled and grateful to return to my hometown and to be part of the W&L community. I look forward to working with the highly motivated and talented student-athletes and I cannot wait to get started!"
An IWLCA All-America honoree in 2012, Coleman played in the cage for the Bullets, finishing top-10 in the nation in both save percentage and goals against average (GAA) as a junior and senior. The two-time First Team All-Centennial honoree notched 11 wins over nationally ranked opponents.
In 2011, Coleman led Gettysburg to its first NCAA DIII Women's Lacrosse National Championship, picking up All-Tournament Team accolades after recording 28 saves in the final three games of the tournament. In the Championship, she made nine stops and allowed just five goals.
Off the field, Coleman worked as a program coordinator and administrator for student life and as the Tri Delta National House Director at Denison. Prior to arriving in Ohio, she spent a year at Glenalmond College in Scotland as the women's lacrosse coach and assisted the U19 Scotland National Team. Coleman earned a Master of Education in Sport Leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2016.
Hathorn added, "Her experiences working as a program coordinator in student life and the leadership and mentoring skills she developed in those roles add to the significance of her vision for the future of the W&L women's lacrosse program as well as the value and importance of what she will bring to the work of supporting the health and well-being of all of our students. We are looking forward to working and serving beside Maddie and can't wait to get started."