Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 7/31/12
From Press Release
Villanova assistant coach Jackie Dando has been named head coach of women’s lacrosse at Lebanon Valley College, director of athletics Rick Beard has announced.
Dando, a four-year starter and two-time all-conference selection at Messiah from 2006 to 2009, takes over the Flying Dutchmen after working as an assistant coach at Villanova last season and an assistant at Haverford in 2010 and 2011. She is no stranger to the top of the conference, having led Messiah to a pair of MAC titles and NCAA appearances as a student-athlete.
“I’m really excited for the opportunity to be welcomed at Lebanon Valley and to take the team to the next level in the Commonwealth Conference,” Dando said. “I’m so grateful to Rick for the opportunity to grow and build the program and to succeed with the great student-athletes at LVC.”
At Haverford, Dando began her coaching career by helping guide the Fords to a 13-5 record in 2010 – the program’s highest single-season wins total. They advanced to the Centennial Conference semifinals and did it again in 2011 with a 10-7 overall record.
Dando followed head coach Julie Young from Haverford to Villanova for the 2012 season, and the Wildcats finished 4-12 (2-6 Big East) for the best record in the program’s short history. Dando served as the Wildcats’ defensive coordinator and involved herself in a number of administrative tasks, including planning practices, recruiting, coaching clinics, and producing team publications.
“We are thrilled to welcome Jackie to the LVC athletics family,” Beard said. “She has a track record of success as both a student-athlete and a coach, and her familiarity with our conference and recruiting in this region will help take LVC lacrosse to even bigger things in the years to come.”
Additionally, Dando has served as coordinator for the Philly Women’s Lacrosse League and head coach of the Philly Blast sixth-grade club lacrosse team.
Dando graduated from Messiah with a journalism degree in 2009, where she was a four-year starter and two-year captain at midfield. A two-time all-conference selection, she helped lead the Falcons to their first two MAC championships and NCAA tournament appearances in program history. She was a two-time Academic All-American and graduated in the all-time top-10 with 115 goals and 44 assists. Dando is a native of West Chester, Pa., a product of B. Reed Henderson High School.
Lebanon Valley, entering its fourth year of play in 2013, went 9-8 in 2012 to qualify for the Commonwealth Conference semifinals and earn the program’s first-ever ECAC Tournament berth. The Dutchmen did it without any seniors on the roster, and bring back CC Player of the Year and national points leader Hana Krechel, all-region freshman Bailey Benz, and all-CC selections Mel Modrick and Anna Pagels.
