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Meghan McDonogh
Meghan O'Conner McDonogh is in her fifth season at Catholic
University as the head women’s lacrosse coach. She also
serves as an assistant athletic director and compliance coordinator
as well as the Senior Woman Administrator (SWA). During
McDonogh’s time at CUA the women’s lacrosse program has
achieved unparalleled levels of success, capturing three
consecutive Landmark Conference championships and winning at least
one NCAA Tournament game in each of those seasons. In
addition, the Cardinals have lost just one Landmark Conference
contest under McDonogh’s leadership.
In 2010 CUA was forced to deal with losing one of the top players
in the entire country as All-American Kate Robinson suffered a
season ending injury. That did not stop McDonogh from guiding
the Cardinals to yet another championship and NCAA berth, however,
as they rattled off 12 wins in their final 14 games and won an NCAA
Tournament game for the third straight season. As a result of
the team’s success, nine players received All-Conference
recognition, while four were named All-Region and two earned
All-America distinction.
The 2009 season will go down as one of the most successful in
school annals as CUA posted an impressive 17-4 record and advanced
to the regional final of the NCAA Tournament with victories over
Messiah and Mary Washington.
Individually eight Cardinals earned All-Landmark Conference
honors, four received All-Region accolades and two, Kate Robinson
and Mary Swarthout, were named All-Americans. Robinson, who
was also named the Division III Midfielder of the Year, was the
first-ever women’s lacrosse student-athlete to receive
first-team All-America honors in school history.
In 2008 McDonogh and her coaching staff were named the Landmark
Conference Coaching Staff of the Year after leading the Cardinals
to 17 victories, including a perfect 5-0 mark in the conference, as
well as a spot in the NCAA regional championship.
CUA’s 21-10 victory over Goucher in the 2008 conference
championship game earned the Cardinals their first-ever berth into
the NCAA Tournament. Six players were named All-Landmark that
season, including Robinson who also earned the Player of the Year
award as well as All-America laurels.
During McDonogh’s first season in 2007, CUA tied the
then-school record for victories with 11, which included a pair of
wins over nationally ranked opponents.
McDonogh came to CUA from the University of Louisville, where she
established and ran the women’s club lacrosse program and
also began the transition of the program from a club sport to a
full varsity team. McDonogh is currently pursuing her
doctoral degree from Louisville in sport administration.
McDonogh began her coaching career at the University of California, Berkeley, in 2002 where she worked primarily with the goalkeepers and organized camps as well as high school tournaments. While at Berkeley she also held the operations manager and merchandise coordinator position with the San Jose CyberRays of the Women's United Soccer Association.
Following her time at Cal-Berkley, McDonogh spent a year at Division II Limestone College in Gaffney, South Carolina where she was an assistant coach and helped lead the Saints to the NCAA Final Four.
McDonogh began her lacrosse career at American University during
her junior year after playing soccer at AU as well as Syracuse
University for one season each. She graduated from American
with her B.A. in women's and gender studies in 2001.
The Atlanta, Ga., native then went on to The University of Georgia
where she received her master's degree in sport management in
2002. While at Georgia McDonogh played on and coached the UGA
club lacrosse team. During her tenure the squad was ranked as
high as second in the nation and advanced to the WDIA national
championships.
McDonogh is heavily involved in women's lacrosse at many
levels. She currently serves on the Intercollegiate
Women’s Lacrosse Association (IWLCA) Board of Directors and
is a member of the U.S. Lacrosse Women's Division Coaches
Council. Previously McDonogh served as the president of the
Southeastern Women's Lacrosse League and she was also on the USL
Women’s Division Board of Governors.
