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Denise Wescott Announces Resignation as University of Delaware Women's Lacrosse Head Coach Wescott's Year by Year Record at Delaware
NEWARK, DE -- Denise Wescott, whose 11-year tenure as head coach of the Blue Hen women's lacrosse squad was the longest in the sport's history at the University of Delaware, announced her resignation Wednesday afternoon. Wescott, who joined the Delaware staff in 1993 as an assistant field hockey coach and began her head coaching tenure in lacrosse in 1994, cited the desire to pursue other opportunities for her resignation. A national search will begin immediately to find her replacement. "This is a great University and I've had the chance to coach some outstanding teams," said Wescott. "I wish them the best of luck in the future. I have the chance to explore some other coaching opportunities at the international level and I'm excited about that." An outstanding coach with extensive international experience, Wescott has been instrumental in teaching the game throughout the world. In the summer of 1993 she began directing lacrosse camps in Japan. She has since served as head coach of the German National Team, traveling with the team for eight summers. She has led the team to the European Cup in Bonn, Germany in 1996, Stockholm, Sweden in 1997, Prague, Czech Republic in 1998, Manchester, England in 1999, Glasgow, Scotland in 2000, and to High Wycomb, England in 2001 where the team won its first World Cup. Delaware's second winningest women's lacrosse coach with a mark of 104-86 (.547) over 11 seasons, Wescott is second only to National Lacrosse Hall of Fame coach Janet Smith, who was 118-51-1 in 10 seasons with the Blue Hens in 1980-89, a span that included three national championships. Wescott, who recorded six winning seasons at Delaware, also posted an all-time record of 47-24 (.662) in league play and led the Blue Hens to three straight America East conference championships in 1997, 1998, and 1999, and the team's first NCAA Tournament appearance in 15 years during the 2000 season. Her teams won a school record 26 consecutive conference games in 1997-2000. She was named the America East Coach of the Year in both 1996 and 1998. Her career head coaching record stands at 126-118 (.516) over 15 seasons after also serving has head coach at Drew University and Rutgers University before arriving at Delaware. One of just seven active NCAA Division I head coaches with over 100 victories, she captured career victory No. 100 in 2000 vs. Hofstra with a 14-11 win April 20 at Rullo Stadium and won her 100th game at Delaware this past spring when the Hens downed Denver 15-7 Apr. 21 at Rullo Stadium. Delaware had suffered four straight losing seasons before Wescott arrived in 1994 and the Blue Hens quickly became a strong conference contender and earned consistent attention in the national rankings. The Blue Hens posted a record of 11-7 during her rookie campaign in 1994 and after a 9-10 mark in 1995, went on to record five straight .500 or better seasons. Delaware won three straight America East titles from 1997-99, putting together records of 12-6 in 1997, 14-4 in 1998, and 13-5 in 1999. The Hens didn't win the league title in 2000, but went one step better when they went 13-5 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1984, falling to No. 5 seed Loyola in the first round. The Blue Hens posted their fourth straight losing season this past spring with a mark of 6-10, but played six NCAA Tournament teams, including wins over Temple and Mt. St. Mary's, and defeated 17th ranked Penn State 11-10 in overtime in the season finale May 8 at Rullo Stadium. A native of Moorestown, NJ, Wescott began her collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant field hockey coach at Michigan State in 1980. She served as assistant field hockey and lacrosse coach at Maryland and Penn State, playing a key part in winning two lacrosse NCAA championships; in 1986 at Maryland and in 1987 at Penn State. She also served as head field hockey and head lacrosse coach at Drew (NJ) University for one season in 1989-90 before moving on to Rutgers, where she served as head lacrosse coach for three seasons from 1991-93. Wescott also served as assistant field hockey coach at Delaware under Carol Miller beginning in 1993 before stepping down before the 1998 season to concentrate full-time on lacrosse. While an assistant under Miller, Wescott helped lead the Blue Hens to five straight winning seasons, consistent NCAA national Top 20 rankings, and a trip to the America East semifinals in 1994, 1996, and 1997. Wescott was a two-sport standout as a goalkeeper in both field hockey and lacrosse at the University of Maryland. She was the captain of the field hockey team in 1979 and lacrosse team in 1980 and was a U.S. Women Lacrosse Association (USWLA) All-American in 1980. Wescott served at the United States level as an assistant coach to the U.S. Developmental Squad in 1998 and 1999 and was a three-year chair of the U.S. Squad Selection Committee. In the spring of 2000 she was elected to a three-year term as President of the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA), the governing body of collegiate coaches in women's lacrosse. She also has extensive experience as a clinician and coach at clinics and summer camps. Year Overall Record Conference Record (Finish) Highlights 1994 11-7 4-3, Colonial Athletic Association (4th) No. 12, Final USWLCA Poll 1995 9-10 3-4, Colonial Athletic Association CAA Runner-up 1996 8-8 4-1, America East (2nd) AE Semifinals 1997 12-6 5-1, America East (2nd) AE Champions 1998 14-4 6-0, America East (1st) AE Champions 1999 13-5 6-0, America East (1st) AE Champions 2000 13-5 5-1, America East (2nd) America East Tournament Semifinals 2001 7-10 5-1, America East (2nd) America East Tournament Semifinals 2002 4-12 3-5, Colonial Athletic Association (8th) - 2003 7-9 4-3, CAA (tie, 4th) - 2004 6-10 2-5, CAA (6th) - Totals 104-86 (.547) 47-24 (.662) -
Copyright, © 2004, University of Delaware. All
rights reserved. |
DATE:
May 12, 2004
