Women's lacrosse has its newest leader.
On Tuesday, Ohio State senior deputy athletic director Janine Oman announced Amanda Moore as the next head coach of the women's lacrosse program. Moore fills the role left vacant by Amy Bokker, who was relieved of her duties on May 17 after a 23-32 record in four seasons with the Buckeyes.
Welcome as the new head coach of the Buckeyes!
— Ohio State Womens LAX (@OhioStateWLAX) June 27, 2023
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A four-year letter winner at North Carolina from 2005-08, Moore began her collegiate coaching career as an assistant at Ohio State for two seasons in 2009-10. She then spent one season at Boston (2011) and five seasons at Duke (2012-16) before becoming the head coach of East Carolina in 2016.
From 2016-23, Moore established East Carolina women's lacrosse and prepared the Pirates for their inaugural season in 2018. Moore led ECU to a 35-59 record overall over the next seven years as leader of the program, including three years in which the team finished .500 or better in 2020 (5-3), 2022 (9-9) and 2023 (10-8).
“We are thrilled to bring Mandy and her family back to Columbus,” Oman said in an Ohio State press release. “Her plan and vision for Buckeye women’s lacrosse stood out throughout the interview process. We are excited for her to meet the team and get started. The future is bright for the program under her leadership.”
Moore will be the fourth head coach in the history of Ohio State women's lacrosse, following in the footsteps of Sue Stimmel (1996-2010), Alexis Venechanos (2011-2019) and Bokker (2020-23).
“I would first like to thank Gene Smith, senior vice president and athletics director, and Janine Oman, senior deputy athletics director and SWA, for this tremendous opportunity to be the next women’s lacrosse head coach at The Ohio State University,” Moore said. “I would also like to thank the interview committee, coaches and support staff for their time and authenticity during the interview process. My immediate sense, after meeting with so many Buckeyes, was a confirmation that the people and student-athletes at Ohio State are truly world-class.
“The Ohio State University was my first job in the collegiate coaching profession. The experience working for Ohio State and Sue Stimmel, the founder of the women’s lacrosse program, cemented my love for leading and teaching student-athletes. The opportunity to come back as the fourth women’s lacrosse head coach is a full-circle moment. I look forward to connecting with each era of Buckeye lacrosse and forging our next path as a program with the current group of young women."
Ohio State went 5-4 in its pandemic-shortened 2020 season. The Buckeyes lost 28 of their next 46 games in the subsequent three campaigns. Still, Moore believes Ohio State's roster has the potential to live up to the standard of excellence Smith, Oman and the rest of the school's athletic department have set for all 36 varsity programs.
"There is so much to be proud of and celebrate if you are an Ohio State fan, and our women’s lacrosse program wants to add to the people, the tradition and the excellence of our athletics department’s rich history," Moore said. "It is our goal to pursue comprehensive excellence and find ways to be our best on and off the field as student-athletes and staff."
