Virginia Women's Lacrosse Head Coach Julie Myers Steps Down After 28 Years

Myers coached the Cavaliers to the NCAA Tournament 27 times and led UVA to the 2004 National Championship

Matt Riley/Virginia Athletics

Virginia women's lacrosse head coach Julie Myers stepped down from her position on Wednesday afternoon, ending her 28-year tenure leading UVA's program. Under her direction, the Cavaliers qualified for the NCAA Tournament every season except for the 2020 postseason that was canceled due to the pandemic. 

Thank you isn't enough for everything Julie Myers has done for our program.

🔸37 years with this program, 28 as HC
🔸NCAA Tournament appearances in all 27 contested
🔸5 ACC Titles
🔸2004 NCAA Championship
🔸349 career wins (5th all-time)https://t.co/pzMSUlqejp

— Virginia Women's Lacrosse (@UVAWomensLax) June 21, 2023

“Leading the Virginia’s women’s lacrosse program for the past 28 years has been an opportunity of a lifetime and a lifetime it has been,” Myers said in a statement. “While it is hard to leave a place and people that you love so deeply, I am excited to explore leadership opportunities outside of athletics. I am also looking forward to spending time being a parent cheering for my own kids from the college sidelines. They have supported and loved my UVA teams since the day they were born here in Charlottesville."

Myers turned in a record of 349-181 (.659) in her time at Virginia and her 349 wins are fifth-most in Division I women's lacrosse history. Between her time as a player, assistant coach, and head coach, Myers spent 37 years at Virginia. 

“Thank you to all of my players, their families, my staff, all of my co-workers, and the athletic department and other supporters who have all been integral to the success of this women’s lacrosse program, to my career and to me personally," said Myers. "Especially to my players. It has been an honor and a privilege to coach each of you. While I am incredibly proud of the many accomplishments we have enjoyed through the years, I will treasure most the memories and the relationships this profession of coaching has provided for me."

Myers coached the Cavaliers to their third NCAA national championship in 2004, was an assistant coach on Jane Miller's coaching staff when UVA won the 1993 National Championship, and helped Virginia win the 1991 National Championship as a player. When she coached the Hoos to the 2004 national title, 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. 

"Julie Myers has established an amazing legacy at the University and her name is synonymous with UVA women’s lacrosse,” said Virginia director of athletics Carla Williams. “Her contributions to the University and the sport, as a student-athlete, assistant coach and head coach are enormous. She has dedicated four decades of her life to educating, developing and mentoring young women on and off the field. Her impact on her players cannot be overstated as the women under her tutelage have gone on to ultra-successful careers and made an impact in their own communities. We are thankful she will remain in Charlottesville and close to the University to continue to support the program she helped build into a national standard."

Myers coached the Cavaliers to ACC Championships in 1998, 2004, 2006, 2007, and 2008. UVA reached Championship Weekend eight times under Myers: 1996, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, and 2014. Virginia was 32-26 in the NCAA Tournament under Myers. 

“I am so very lucky and will be forever grateful for all of these experiences, while representing the University of Virginia," Myers said. "I wish the team all of the very best in its next chapter for the program.”

Virginia will now begin a search to find a successor for Julie Myers to become just the fourth head coach in the history of the UVA women's lacrosse program. 

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