HARTSVILLE, S.C. – Coker College vice president of athletics and facilities Lynn Griffin announced today that Steve Efland has been appointed as head women's lacrosse coach. Efland will be the first coach in the program's history.

"Steve has been very successful at the high school level, and I believe he will thrive in the jump to college," said Griffin. "His teams have regularly made the state playoffs, been ranked throughout the region, and he's coached several All-Americans throughout his time at Winter Springs. With his recruiting and coaching abilities, I have no doubt he will bring that same success to Coker."

Efland joins Coker after serving as head coach at Winter Springs High School in Winter Springs, Fla., since 2004. There he amassed a record of 130-45 that includes four trips to the Florida High School Athletic Association final four and one state championship game appearance. His teams finished in Laxpower.com's top five for seven straight years, and the 2012 squad was ranked nationally.

He is currently a teacher at Winter Springs. In addition, Efland has served as president of the Orlando Chapter of U.S. Lacrosse and as an adjunct professor at the University of Central Florida.

"I am thrilled to be joining the Coker family," Efland said. "The direction Dr. Griffin is taking the athletics department is unprecedented. Women's lacrosse is a booming sport, and it's exciting to be part of its beginning at Coker. I can't wait to start building a great program here."

Efland resides in Orlando, Fla., with his wife, Kathi, and has two daughters, Chelsea and Hayley. He is originally from Baltimore, Md., and holds a bachelor's degree from Salisbury University.

Coker announced it was adding women's lacrosse in 2011. Women's lacrosse begins competition in the spring of 2014 and will be a member of the South Atlantic Conference.

For more information, contact Chris Dougherty, manager of athletics media relations, at 843-383-8018 or cdougherty@coker.edu.

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Coker College readies undergraduates for personal and professional success through a distinctive four-year program that emphasizes a practical application of the liberal arts as well as hands-on and discussion-based learning within and beyond the classroom. Coker is ranked among the "Best Colleges" in the South by U.S. News & World Report as well as The Princeton Review. Located in Hartsville, S.C., Coker is within two hours of the cultural, financial and recreational resources of Charlotte, Columbia, Charleston and Myrtle Beach.