Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 7/9/14
From Press Release and Staff Report
Denise Roessler, who was head women’s lacrosse coach at St. Joseph’s University the past 16 seasons, has resigned to pursue other opportunities, a university spokesperson confirmed today.
Roessler, a South Jersey native and graduate of Camden Catholic, compiled an 89-158 record, highlighted by two Atlantic 10 Tournament appearances and the A-10 Coach of the Year award in 2009.
In 2014, Roessler coached four Atlantic 10 All-Conference selections and the program’s first IWLCA Division I South Team selection in recent history. Additionally under Roessler’s direction, the Saint Joseph’s women’s lacrosse team earned its fifth consecutive Public Recognition Award from the NCAA for its Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores in 2014.
Roessler led the Hawks to the school’s most successful season in 2009 with the program’s first appearance in a championship final. The Hawks fell just short of the A-10 title as they were edged by Massachusetts, 15-14, in the championship game but finished the A-10 regular-season with a program-best 5-2 record, tying for second place and posting an overall record of 10-8.
Since guiding Saint Joseph’s into A-10 play, Roessler has seen her student-athletes earn A-10 All-Conference honors 31 times and All-Academic recognition on 25 occasions.
Prior to arriving on Hawk Hill, Roessler served as the head women’s lacrosse coach at La Salle University. She led the Explorers to a 5-9 overall record in their inaugural season of varsity competition in 1998.
Roessler came to SJU in the fall of 1998 and spent three years as an assistant field hockey coach in addition to her head coaching duties with the Hawks’ lacrosse program.
Before joining the college coaching ranks, Roessler served as the head junior varsity and assistant varsity field hockey coach at Bishop Eustace Prep. In 1995, she led Bishop Eustace to an undefeated 10-0-2 record. In the spring of 1996, she joined the staff at her alma mater, Camden Catholic (’91), as a volunteer assistant lacrosse coach.
A 1995 graduate of Old Dominion, where she earned a bachelor’s of science degree in sports medicine, Roessler played women’s lacrosse under Sue Stahl, who also served as the United States National Team head women’s lacrosse coach from 1989-2005.
A native of Mt. Laurel, N.J., Roessler was a First Team All-Conference and All-Parochial selection in lacrosse as a senior at Camden Catholic.
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