By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 9/24/09
Jen Cadden, who guided Conestoga to three straight District 1 girls’ lacrosse championships during the end of a run that could easily be labeled a dynasty, has resigned as head coach to spend more time with her family.
Cadden served as Pioneers coach for seven years and won District 1 Class AAA crowns from 2004-06. Her teams also won Central League titles in 2005-06 and posted an overall record of 101-37-1.
The highlight years for Cadden occurred when she won her first district crown in 2004 and then in 2005 and 2006 when her Pioneers went 41-2-1, earning national recognition as one of the top teams in the country. In all, from 1999-2006, Conestoga took six of the eight big-school championships and lost to Radnor in the other two title games.
“It was a family decision,” said Cadden, who also was named Coach of the Year by two Philadelphia newspapers in 2005 and 2006. “I have two young boys and they are getting involved in extracurricular activities. I would be spreading myself too thin.
“Being a head coach is a lot more than just running practices and games. You have the off-season and there are so many commitments needed to coach a team. I needed to make the family decision and my family has to come first.
“It’s going to be a tough transition for me.”
Cadden, a graduate of Marple Newtown, was a captain and All-American (1995-96) at James Madison University and came to Conestoga as an assistant coach in 2002 under Lisa Murphy.
Cadden taught in Conestoga schools (Tredyffrin-Easttown School District) from 1997-05.
She said she will always remember her first year when her club exceeded expectations and reached the district finals. The next three years resulted in championships.
“The first year was an underdog team,” she said. “We had lost 12 seniors and each of them played in college. Then we won three district titles in a row. We had some great teams and some great players.
“Many of these players still keep in touch with me. I have seen them enjoy success beyond high school and even college. It has been a great experience.”
Cadden credited her assistants – varsity assistant Karen Gately and JV coach Krissy Diamond – who were with her all seven years.
“It’s been a fantastic seven years,” she said. “It will be hard leaving the coaches and the players. It’s been a real fun group.”
