2023-24 IWLCA Award Winners and Hall of Fame Inductees Honored
 

The Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) announced its 2023-24 award winners at the Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront during the 2024 IWLCA Convention. The Community Awareness, Victory Club, Regional Coaching Staffs of the Year, National Coaching Staffs of the Year, and the Kristina Quigley Scholarship awards were presented during an awards ceremony on Wednesday, November 20. The IWLCA recognized the Outstanding Assistant Coaches of the Year, Service Award, Tina Sloan Green Award, and the Diane Geppi Aikens Memorial Award along with the Class of 2024 Hall of Famers at the 2024 IWLCA Hall of Fame and Honors Banquet Dinner held on Thursday, November 21.

"Our membership is like a family," said IWLCA President Kelly Gallagher, also the head coach at the University of Tampa. "As a family, it's essential to support and celebrate each other’s achievements. On behalf of the IWLCA, I want to thank everyone for being here and extend congratulations to all of our honorees and Hall of Fame Inductees. Truly outstanding!"

Wednesday’s event kicked off with Victory Club honors, recognizing coaches who reached significant career milestones during the 2024 season. Twelve coaches achieved 100 career wins, while two surpassed the 200-win mark. Susan Stuart Elliott of Colorado College reached the 300-win milestone, and Ginny Martino and Amanda O’Leary joined the exclusive 400-win club.

The 2024 National Coaching Staffs of the Year awards were presented to the coaching staffs from Middlebury College, the University of Tampa, and Boston College. In addition, the membership acknowledged the Reinhardt University coaching staff from the NAIA for their achievement in their absence.

To cap off the first night of awards, the Kristina Quigley Scholarship Recipient Brandi Padilla (San Diego State University) was joined by her husband and her four sons on stage to share her gratitude to the membership for the opportunity.

Thursday’s Hall of Fame Banquet and Honors program was jump-started by a celebration of our 2024 Outstanding Assistant Coaches of the Year. Molly Husleman Palella and Colleen Smith (Yale University), Nicole Belanger (University of New Haven), and Lindsey Magro (William Smith College), were honored for their award. This group of honorees was previously announced back in October.

Amanda Belichick, Head Coach at The College of the Holy Cross, was then presented the IWLCA Service Award and celebrated for her efforts since becoming the Chair of the IWLCA Rules, Safety, and Games Administration Committee (RSGA) in the Fall of 2024. Presenting her award was RSGA committee member Kate Livesay from Middlebury College.

The Tina Sloan Green Award honors individuals or teams who have made significant efforts to promote equity and inclusion within the lacrosse community during a given academic year. This year, the award was presented to Kennedy Goss, a former attacker at the University of California, Berkeley. Goss had a successful playing career at Cal but also demonstrated remarkable leadership and dedication to fostering an inclusive environment for student-athletes. The award was presented to Goss by Jennifer Wong, Head Coach of Cal’s Women’s Lacrosse team.

The IWLCA’s marquee honor, the Diane Geppi-Aikens Memorial Award, was presented to former Pennsylvania State University head coach and Administrator Susan Delaney-Scheetz by current head coach Missy Doherty. The award is named in honor of the legendary Loyola coach whose courageous battle with cancer inspired the nation and recognizes lifetime achievement in the women’s college game.

The IWLCA concluded with the induction of three coaches into the Hall of Fame. The class of 2024 included current coaches Ginny Martino (West Chester University), Jim Nestor (Salisbury University) and former University of Virginia head coach Julie Myers.

“This group of honorees is truly remarkable. They have all impacted the game in more ways that one and we are so proud to call them one of our own.” said Gallagher.  

Several former players, coaching colleagues, and family members celebrated the honorees. AUPro Director of Lacrosse Abi Jackson served as the master of ceremonies for the event.

IWLCA Award Winners and Hall of Fame Inductees:

Community Awareness Award

Team Honorees:
Division I: East Carolina University
Division II: Lee University
Division III: Wilkes University
NAIA: Warner University

The team and individual honorees were previously announced in early July.

Victory Club Milestones

100 Career Wins
Kate Athing, Marymount University
Blake Boehm, Calvin University
Courtney Duggan, Regis College
Kelly Gallagher Kusche, University of Tampa
MK Geratowski, Randolph-Macon College
Amanda Magee, Roger Williams University
Laura Maness, Kennesaw State University
Roy Reynolds, Reinhardt University
Rachel Shuck Whitten, Coastal Carolina University
Wendy Stone, Niagara University
Allison Valerio, Washington & Jefferson College
Kelsey Van Alstyne, SUNY Cortland

200 Career Wins
Jen Fallon, University of New Haven
Elizabeth Ford, The College of Wooster

300 Career Wins
Susan Stuart Elliott, Colorado College

400 Career Wins
Ginny Martino, West Chester University
Amanda O’Leary, University of Florida

Division I Coaching Staff of the Year
Boston College

Regional Coaching Staffs of the Year – Division I
Mid-Atlantic Region: Stony Brook University
Northeast Region: Boston College
South Region: University of Florida
West/Midwest Region: Northwestern University

Division II Coaching Staff of the Year
University of Tampa

Regional Coaching Staffs of the Year – Division II
Atlantic Region: Slippery Rock University
East Region: Adelphi University
Midwest Region: Regis University
South Region: University of Tampa

Division III Coaching Staff of the Year
Middlebury College

Regional Coaching Staffs of the Year – Division III
Berkshire Region: Babson College
Boardwalk Region: Stevens Institute of Technology
Chesapeake Region: Salisbury University
Empire Region: Ithaca College
Great Lakes Region: Denison University
Metro Region: Franklin & Marshall College
Pilgrim Region: Middlebury College
West Region: Centre College

NAIA Coaching Staff of the Year
Reinhardt University

Hall of Fame Inductees:

Ginny Martino, the head coach at West Chester University, stands as a titan in NCAA Division II women's lacrosse. With a distinguished career spanning 25 years, Martino has amassed an impressive record of 385 victories, making her the all-time winningest head coach in Division II history. Her coaching acumen is further underscored by her two national titles and a robust career winning percentage of .824. Martino's success extends beyond mere numbers. Last May, she clinched her 14th PSAC title and guided the Golden Rams to the NCAA Division II National Championship Game for the 11th time since the championship's inception by the NCAA. In recognition of her exceptional coaching abilities, Martino and her staff were honored as the IWLCA regional coaching staff of the year in 2023, marking her fourth such accolade. Throughout her admirable career, Martino has mentored over 40 All-Americans and countless All-Conference players, leaving an indelible mark on the sport and shaping the lives of her athletes both on and off the field.

Julie Myers, during her tenure as head coach at the University of Virginia, amassed a remarkable record of 349-181 (.658), solidifying her as one of the most successful coaches in NCAA Division I women's collegiate lacrosse history. Her win total ranks fifth overall in Division I and 11th across all NCAA divisions. Over her 28 years at the helm of the UVA program, Myers consistently led her teams to postseason success, with the exception of 2020 when NCAA spring championships were canceled due to the pandemic. Under her guidance, the Cavaliers clinched the NCAA Division I Championship in 2004 and finished as national runners-up six times. Additionally, the Cavaliers secured five ACC championships, further demonstrating Myers' impact on the program's success. Myers also earned her recognition as the IWLCA Coach of the Year in ‘04. Throughout her illustrious career, she coached over 35 All-Americans, coached multiple Players of the Year at both conference and national levels, and cultivated more than a dozen members of the US national team.

Entering his 23rd season at the helm in 2024, Jim Nestor has steered the Sea Gulls to remarkable success, including four national championships, 19 conference championships, and an impressive 20 NCAA Tournament appearances. Nestor's coaching accolades speak volumes about his expertise and dedication. He boasts two undefeated seasons in 2013 and 2021, has led the team to nine NCAA championship game appearances, and has been honored with five IWLCA Coach of the Year awards. Additionally, he has earned 14 IWLCA Chesapeake Region coaching accolades, further highlighting his impact on the sport. Under Nestor's guidance, Salisbury players have flourished, with 12 of them earning IWLCA positional Players of the Year honors and over 60 athletes achieving All-American status. His coaching prowess is evident in his impressive career record of 467-92-1 (.835), which places him third for most wins among active Division III coaches and fourth in winning percentage within the same group.