2008 Woodie Awards
Women's lacrosse assistant to take over at Loyola
Brian Kapur
Issue date: 6/12/08 Section: Sports
The Terrapin women's lacrosse team lost 10 players to graduation, but now the team will also have to fill a void on its coaching staff. Terps' associate head coach Jen Adams was hired as head coach by in-state rival Loyola Friday.
"It's bittersweet because I have a great deal of respect for Maryland and a deep passion for Terps lacrosse," Adams said. "But at this point in my career it's a great opportunity for me as a young coach. It's a great chance for me to grow as a coach and step out of my comfort zone. I just think it's the right time for me to move on and do something like this. But it's tough to leave the girls at Maryland."
Adams, 28, was a Terp assistant coach in 2002 and 2003 before leaving for Denver, where current Terps head coach Cathy Reese was in charge. When Reese was hired two years ago, Adams returned with her.
Jen and I worked together really well," Reese said. "It was an opportunity that was there for her and it's what you do as an assistant coach - you become a head coach. It's a great opportunity for her to move on to the next challenge in her career."
Adams addressed the team to break the news, and the move came as a surprise to returning players.
"It was a surprise, and we definitely had no idea that it was an option," said junior midfielder Caitlyn McFadden, who is in Utah with Adams conducting a lacrosse camp. "We were all just sad to hear that she was leaving, but we all know that's such a great opportunity for her, and we are all happy for her. It's bittersweet because we loved having Jen as a coach, but she's going to do great things at Loyola."
Adams developed as a coach under Reese, and over the years she was allowed freedom. At practice, Adams often shared her insights and masterful stick skills with the team and she ran several drills.
Adams was also involved with team strategy, as she helped guide the Terps' run-and-gun offense that ranked third in the nation with 315 goals.
"Jen was a great coach; she was able to show the girls things and strategize and focus on X's and O's and [is] a good recruiter," Reese said. "She was just an all-around great person."
"It's bittersweet because I have a great deal of respect for Maryland and a deep passion for Terps lacrosse," Adams said. "But at this point in my career it's a great opportunity for me as a young coach. It's a great chance for me to grow as a coach and step out of my comfort zone. I just think it's the right time for me to move on and do something like this. But it's tough to leave the girls at Maryland."
Adams, 28, was a Terp assistant coach in 2002 and 2003 before leaving for Denver, where current Terps head coach Cathy Reese was in charge. When Reese was hired two years ago, Adams returned with her.
Jen and I worked together really well," Reese said. "It was an opportunity that was there for her and it's what you do as an assistant coach - you become a head coach. It's a great opportunity for her to move on to the next challenge in her career."
Adams addressed the team to break the news, and the move came as a surprise to returning players.
"It was a surprise, and we definitely had no idea that it was an option," said junior midfielder Caitlyn McFadden, who is in Utah with Adams conducting a lacrosse camp. "We were all just sad to hear that she was leaving, but we all know that's such a great opportunity for her, and we are all happy for her. It's bittersweet because we loved having Jen as a coach, but she's going to do great things at Loyola."
Adams developed as a coach under Reese, and over the years she was allowed freedom. At practice, Adams often shared her insights and masterful stick skills with the team and she ran several drills.
Adams was also involved with team strategy, as she helped guide the Terps' run-and-gun offense that ranked third in the nation with 315 goals.
"Jen was a great coach; she was able to show the girls things and strategize and focus on X's and O's and [is] a good recruiter," Reese said. "She was just an all-around great person."
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