The head coach of Lafayette College’s women’s lacrosse team has stepped down after seven years. Explanations for her exit remain unclear as school officials search for a replacement ahead of the 2027 season.
Katie McConnell’s resignation was announced in a May 18 college news release; the reason for her departure was not specified. Director of Athletics Sherryta Freeman declined to comment. McConnell did not respond to requests for comment.
The team was initially informed via email from the athletics department, followed by a team-wide Zoom meeting with department administrators, according to athletics spokesman Phil LaBella. He added that officials plan on filling the vacancy during the summer. McConnell’s last contract extension, inked in 2023, expired at the end of the 2026 season.
“It was kind of a shock when we found out,” rising junior midfielder Isabelle Pohmer said. She added that the team was not given a reason for her resignation.
Attacker Paige Cecil, a rising senior, also expressed confusion about the resignation.
“We are just as informed as you are!” Cecil wrote in an email. She did not respond to requests for further comment.
McConnell finished 24-68 overall with a 7-44 conference record. In her last game, the team defeated archrival Lehigh University 11-8 on April 22 for their lone conference win of the season.
“I’m glad that we were able to pull through for her and for the rest of the team as well,” Pohmer said of the Lehigh victory.
The Leopards failed to make the Patriot League tournament in all seven seasons with McConnell at the helm, continuing a drought extending back to 2017. She led the Leopards to a 4-3 record in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, but a winless conference campaign in 2021 meant the Leopards went over three years without a Patriot League victory.
McConnell’s most successful season came in 2025, finishing with the team’s best record since its 2017 playoff berth with a 6-10 mark. Still, the Maroon and White never finished better than tied for eighth in the 10-team conference, finishing last or tied for last in four of them.
Pohmer attributed their streak of futility to “unlucky situations” and close losses.
Two assistant coaches, Caroline Crump and Nikki Prestiano, remain on staff as the search for a new head coach is underway, according to LaBella. Prestiano declined to comment, while Crump did not respond to requests for comment.
Benjamin White ‘27 contributed reporting.
Michael • Jun 6, 2026 at 3:55 pm
Let’s then take a look at the women’s soccer coach’s 20 year record now. Winning is never the point at Lafayette College athletics.