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Towson's Sonia LaMonica Hired as Virginia's Women's Lacrosse Head Coach

LaMonica has been the head coach at Towson for the last 14 seasons, leading the Tigers to seven NCAA Tournament appearances

Matt Newton

Towson Athletics

UVA athletics director Carla Williams announced on Wednesday (July 5) the hiring of Towson's Sonia LaMonica as the next head coach of the Virginia women's lacrosse program. A graduate of the University of Maryland, LaMonica comes to Virginia after spending the last 14 seasons as the head coach at Towson, where she led the Tigers to seven NCAA Tournament appearances and was named the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Coach of the Year five times.

“Coach LaMonica is a fearless competitor who had a dominant career as a player at Maryland and as the head coach at Towson,” said Carla Williams. “She’ll hit the ground running here at UVA. Her teams are tough, skilled and disciplined and Towson has competed with the best in women’s lacrosse throughout her career. She is a wonderful person, coach and role model and she will be an amazing addition to our department and coaching roster. We are excited about the future of UVA Women’s Lacrosse as we welcome Coach LaMonica and her family to Charlottesville.”

After a decorated playing career at Maryland in which she was a First-Team All-American selection and helped the Terrapins capture three ACC championships and back-to-back NCAA national titles in 2000 and 2001, LaMonica began her coaching career as an assistant at Denver. She then spent two seasons as an assistant at Towson before accepting her first head coaching job at Mount St. Mary's. LaMonica ended up spending just one season at Mount St. Mary's, as she returned to Towson to be the program's 10th head coach in 2010. 

The Tigers have flourished over the last 14 seasons under LaMonica's direction, finishing .500 or better in 12 of those 14 years and finishing first or second in the CAA 10 times. LaMonica coached Towson to four CAA Tournament Championships and seven NCAA Tournament appearances. Towson went 139-91 overall during LaMonica's tenure and she owns a 147-101 record in her 15 seasons as a head coach. In addition to her role as head coach at Towson, LaMonica is also the head coach of the Baltimore Brave in the Women's Professional Lacrosse League. 

“I’m excited and deeply humbled to be appointed as the head women’s lacrosse coach for the University of Virginia,” LaMonica said. “I would like to thank President Jim Ryan, Athletics Director Carla Williams and Deputy Athletics Director Steve Pritzker for this incredible opportunity and for their support throughout this process. It is abundantly evident that our vision and aspirations for the UVA women’s lacrosse program are in alignment. Moreover, the University’s outstanding reputation, incredible alumni support, and the solid groundwork already established provide an ideal environment to transform those aspirations into reality."

LaMonica inherits the UVA women's lacrosse program from Julie Myers, who stepped down from her post as head coach after 28 seasons on June 21st. Under the direction of Myers, the Cavaliers never once missed the NCAA Tournament, won 349 games, five ACC Championships, and the 2004 NCAA National Championship. Myers became the first individual in women's lacrosse history to win a NCAA Division I national championship as both a player and a coach, winning in 1991 as a player, in 1993 as an assistant coach, and in 2004 as a head coach, all at Virginia. Between her time as a player, assistant, and head coach, Myers spent 37 years at the University of Virginia. 

“It is an absolute honor to follow in the footsteps of a legend," LaMonica said of succeeding Myers. "Julie Myers’ dedication and love for this program has been unwavering and a source of inspiration. Joining the esteemed Virginia athletics family, as well as embracing the vibrant Charlottesville community, represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I am eagerly anticipating the chance to work with these extraordinary student-athletes and further cultivate and solidify a winning culture at this wonderful, dynamic university. Go Hoos.”

Sonia LaMonica becomes just the fourth head coach in the history of the Virginia women's lacrosse program. 

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Matt Newton
MATT NEWTON

Matt launched Virginia Cavaliers On SI in August of 2021 and has since served as the site's publisher and managing editor, covering all 23 NCAA Division I sports teams at the University of Virginia. He is from Downingtown, Pennsylvania and graduated from UVA in May of 2021.

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