Katie Russo Named Goucher Women's Lacrosse Coach
TOWSON, Md. – Goucher College Director of Athletics Andrew Wu announced Tuesday that Baltimore-area native and current Eastern Mennonite University head coach Katie Russo has been named as head coach of the Gophers' women's lacrosse program. Russo, the 12th head coach in the program's NCAA era, will officially begin her duties on Monday, November 7.
"I'm thrilled Coach Russo will be joining our team and taking over leadership of the women's lacrosse team. Katie's energy, attitude, and desire make her a great fit for our department and she will immediately inject new energy into the program as we look ahead to the spring season," said Wu. "During the interview process, she struck me as a coach that student-athletes would enjoy playing for, while having the ability to set and maintain a high standard of expectations."
"I would like to thank President Devereaux, Director of Athletics Dr. Andrew Wu, Senior Associate Director of Athletics Andrea Ricketts-Preston, and the entire search committee for giving me the opportunity to lead the women's lacrosse program," said Russo. "The Gophers lacrosse tradition is strong and I am thrilled to build on the program towards a successful future in the Landmark Conference. I am looking forward to getting on campus, meeting the student-athletes, and leading the team into the 2022-2023 season."
Russo comes to Goucher from Eastern Mennonite, where she was hired in the spring of 2018 as the Royals' inaugural women's lacrosse coach, with EMU beginning play in the spring of 2020. Eastern Mennonite's inaugural season was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the Royals did post the first win in program history that season, downing Bethany 15-10.
In addition to her duties as women's lacrosse head coach, Russo served as the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) advisor and as the Title IX deputy for athletics.
Prior to her stint at EMU, Russo was a graduate assistant women's lacrosse coach at Frostburg State for two seasons, assisting in all facets of the program. She also served as a club coach with DEWLAX in Morristown, New Jersey, coaching the program's Class of 2020 team.
Russo was a four-year member of the women's lacrosse team at Randolph-Macon College. A four-year starter and team captain for the Yellow Jackets, she played in 71 of a possible 72 games and was in the starting lineup 66 times, totaling 89 goals and 66 assists for 155 points. As a sophomore she earned All-ODAC Second Team honors after totaling 24 goals and 33 assists and Russo was a two-time member of the ODAC All-Academic Team.
A native of Cockeysville, Maryland, Russo was a three-sport athlete at Dulaney High School, competing in lacrosse, soccer and basketball.
Russo graduated from Randolph-Macon in 2016 with a degree in Communications and a minor in Psychology. She went on to earn her Master's at Frostburg State in School Counseling in 2018.