By: Jake Miller

HARTSVILLE, S.C.- Coker interim head women's lacrosse coach Kate Keagins had her interim tagged removed and has been named full-time head coach, Vice President of Athletics and Athletic Facilities Dr. Lynn Griffin announced today.

Keagins led the Cobras to the best season in program history in 2017. The Cobras went 14-5 and 6-2 in league play before advancing to the South Atlantic Conference tournament semifinals. Under Keagins, Coker finished 11th in the nation in caused turnovers per game with 11.74. The Cobras were 17th nationally in scoring offense with 14.68 goals per game, and also 15th nationally in win percentage at .737. Coker was 17th in the nation in draw controls per game at 14.21, and won the South Atlantic Conference statistical championship in the category with 13.94. Seven Cobras were selected All-Conference, including Faith Kent who was a 2017 All-SAC first team selection and Player of the Year. Keagins helped Kent (points per game, 5.38) and teammate Kaitlyn Kimball (caused turnovers per game, 3.00) to South Atlantic Conference individual statistical championships.

"Today we are excited to remove the interim title from Coach Keagins as she becomes our head women's lacrosse coach. This past season she exemplified all the qualities that we expect from a Coker head coach and we are glad she will continue leading our program," said Griffin.

Keagins becomes the second permanent head coach in program history.

"I would like to thank Dr. Griffin for the opportunity to continue coaching and leading the women's lacrosse team here at Coker College.  I am beyond excited to get the team back in August and keep building on our success we had this past season!," said Keagins. 

Keagins was named interim head coach in May of 2016. She had previously been an assistant for the Cobras since January 2016. Keagins came to Coker after serving as the assistant women's lacrosse coach at Longwood University for three seasons. In addition to her experience at Longwood, Keagins served as the head coach of the USA Athletes International, leading her team to the gold medal in the summer of 2015. A standout collegiate lacrosse player at the University of New Hampshire, Keagins was a two-time first team all-conference selection, an IWLCA Northeast second team all-region pick and was named the 2012 America East Women's Lacrosse Fans' Choice Player of the Year. She scored 93 goals with 40 assists for 133 points in 68 career games.

The Bay Shore, N.Y. native holds a bachelor of arts in psychology from the University of New Hampshire and earned her Master's of Science in college athletic administration at Coker in May 2017.