Aug. 4, 2011
NORFOLK, Va. - Old Dominion University women's lacrosse head coach Sue Stahl announced her retirement after 21 seasons at the helm of the Lady Monarchs program on Thursday.
"I want to thank Old Dominion for allowing me the opportunity and want to thank the administration, including Mickey Flowers for hiring me, and Dr. Jim Jarrett, Dr. Wood Selig and Bruce Stewart for their support over the years. Most importantly I am very proud of the student-athletes, not only for their performances on the field, but also academically," Stahl said. "The last four years having moved into the new Powhatan Sports Complex was a major step for the program, which now has a facility second to none. I've had an unbridled passion for coaching and my 21 years as the coach of the women's lacrosse team for Old Dominion University has been outstanding. I wish everyone well and I'm looking forward to my retirement."
The winningest lacrosse coach in school history with 142 career wins, Stahl leaves behind a storied legacy, not only at ODU, but on the national scene as well.
"This is a bittersweet moment for ODU athletics. We say `thank you' to Sue for giving our women's lacrosse program and hundreds of ODU student-athletes the heart of her professional career," Selig said. "Sue is a recognized national leader in women's lacrosse and we will certainly miss her daily involvement in guiding our proud lacrosse program. Throughout her retirement, I know she will continue to follow and support all of our teams and student-athletes as she has always done throughout her career so we will be fortunate to have her continued presence and support."
Stahl led the Lady Monarchs to three Colonial Athletic Association regular-season championships (1993, 1995, 2003) and a tournament championship in 1995. Among the student-athletes she coaches were 1993 CAA Player of the Year, Barb DiArcangelo, 2001 CAA Rookie of the Year Suzanne Wosczyna, who ranks 13th in the NCAA in career points with 325. In 2009, Stahl coached Kelly Kimener to Player of the Year and Sarah Geary to Rookie of the Year honors, as well as earning her fifth Coach of the Year award.
Stahl was the head coach of the United States National Lacrosse Team from 1988-2005, winning four World Cup Lacrosse Championships (1988, 1993, 1997 and 2001) and earning runner-up honors in 2005.
Stahl was recognized on the All-Century Women's Lacrosse team in 1999, perhaps the biggest honor anyone could receive, but it is just one of many coaching distinctions that she has earned throughout her career. Five times, in 1995, 2002, 2003, 2007 and 2009, Stahl was named the CAA Coach of the Year and in 1997 she was awarded the International Federation of Women's Lacrosse Association Coach of the Year honor.
I'm honored to have had the opportunity to work with such an accomplished individual that has touched the lives of so many," ODU Associate Athletic Director Bruce Stewart said. "She has created a program that will continue to grow and enhance the lives of our future women's lacrosse student-athletes. Her mark will not only be felt in the lacrosse program here at ODU but the lacrosse community as a whole."
"I could say so many things about Sue, she was a great mentor and she didn't just teach me lacrosse but she taught me about life," Suzanne Wosczyna, a four-year starter for ODU and the Lady Monarchs' all-time leading scorer, said. "I love her and think of her often. I am sure she will never know or can even imagine how much she meant to all of her players."
Already a member of the Pennsylvania Lacrosse Hall of Fame, in 1999 she was inducted into both the United States and Virginia Lacrosse Halls of Fame. Additionally she was inducted into the Delco Sports Hall of Fame in 2003 and was named the Bob Finucane Memorial Achievement Award winner in 2011. She received the Diane Geppi-Aikens Award from the IWLCA for lifetime achievement and commitment to the sport and the Nancy Chance Award by U.S. Lacrosse in 2005.
A national search for a head coach will begin immediately.