Young brings success to table, sets bar high

JMU lacrosse coach Kellie Young may not be a veteran of the JMU program, but what she lacks in years, she more than makes up for in achievements.

In two years with the program, Young has led her team to back-to-back Colonial Athletic Association championships and had two NCAA Tournament appearances. She has achieved a top-five national ranking and produced two finalists for National Player of the Year honors.

"Kellie is unlike any coach I’ve ever had," senior defender Ashlee Dardine said. "She is Division I lacrosse."

Young’s coaching career began at Sweet Briar College. She became an assistant coach at Georgetown in 1999.

"Going from Division III to Division I was a huge transition," Young said.

In 2002, Young made the jump from assistant coach to head coach at JMU. "I felt like this was my time," Young said. "I was ready to run something and this was just a great fit."

A self-described "hard ass," Young pushes her players on and off the field.

"They know when they come to play for me that academics comes first," Young said. "Lacrosse comes second, and whatever else comes after that has to be their third priority."

The coaching staff has its players sign a contract, makes them report bad grades and uses assigned study halls to make sure their players stay on top academically.

"Kellie stresses to us that we are here to get an education because when we graduate we won’t have lacrosse," senior goalkeeper Amy Altig said.

Young’s pushing paid off in 2003 when the team was named a National Merit Squad by the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association. Twenty-nine of her players have been honored by the CAA with the Commissioner’s Academic Award over the last two years.

Young says that although JMU may not get the best recruits in the country, what she values in her players is their heart and their will to work hard.

"I’d rather have this than a bench full of All-Americans who are ego-maniacs and who don’t care about wearing the JMU jersey," Young said.

After setting a school record with 16 wins last year and being 7-0 in conference play, what do Kellie Young and the players have their sights on for the 2005 season?

"Our class has been dreaming of a National Championship since our freshman year," Altig said. "This is our year."