Sarah Dalsey has been hired as women's lacrosse coach at Linfield University, director of athletics Garry Killgore announced on Monday.
 
Dalsey becomes the ninth women's lacrosse coach in the program's 26-year history, succeeding Lindsay Kibler, who departed after four seasons.
 
"I'm super excited to be joining the Linfield Athletics Department," said Dalsey. "I'm very grateful and thankful to the entire search committee. The committee and I shared a common vision for seeing Linfield 'get over the hump' on the way to winning a championship. A big goal at this time is to qualify for the (new four-team) conference playoffs and hopefully move on from there (to the NCAA tournament)."
 
"Sarah has an outstanding background in lacrosse as a player, assistant coach and as a recruiter," said Killgore. "The timing is great to have her move into the role as our head coach."
 
Most recently, Dalsey worked for one year at NCSA Sports, connecting prospective students and families with collegiate athletic programs that fit their interests and needs. In 2020, she worked at Pro-Fit in West Berlin, New Jersey, managing administrative and financial workflows.
 
Dalsey's administrative experience also includes internships at McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland, where she assisted the director of athletics with a variety of essential tasks, and at Manhattanville College in Purchase, New York, where she served one year in the athletics communications office.
 
Her coaching resume features three years as an assistant women's lacrosse coach at McDaniel and two years assisting at Adrian College in Adrian, Michigan. In addition, Dalsey was head coach of the Nike Girls Lacrosse Camp at McDaniel College and Pace University, and led club travel teams in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut.
 
"Coming from the East Coast, I'm looking forward to strengthening the team fundamentally, improving its overall lacrosse IQ, and tightening up the style of play both on the attack and defensive end, which will help create more cohesive play."
 
Dalsey completed a bachelor's degree in Sports Studies and Communications/Media Studies at Manhattanville College. She went on to earn a master's degree in kinesiology from McDaniel while serving as a graduate assistant coach.
 
Dalsey inherits a team that finished with a 12-5 overall record while placing third in the final Northwest Conference standings. As many as 13 players are expected to return for the 2023 season, which starts in March.
 
"In terms of team culture, the girls really do love each other, they have great respect for the program and they want to be successful. I've met a few of them already and they are excited to get going. As a new coach taking over a program, that's exactly what you want to have in place – kids who are ready to buy in and work hard in order to reach that next level."