Xavier Hires Hartford Head Coach Meg Decker To Lead The New Women’s Lacrosse Program

CINCINNATI - Xavier University Vice President and Director of Athletics Greg Christopher is excited to introduce Meg Decker as the head coach of Xavier's 19th sport, women's lacrosse, which will begin competition in the 2022-23 academic year. Decker comes to XU from the University of Hartford, where she has been the school's first-ever head coach since 2016, including four years of competition.

Decker, a two-time All-BIG EAST Conference selection as a player, is certainly no stranger to the league or when it comes to building collegiate women's lacrosse programs. She built the program from the ground up at Hartford. She helped build Virginia Commonwealth University's women's lacrosse program from scratch as an assistant coach, and was a student-athlete on the inaugural women's lacrosse team at the United States Naval Academy.

"Meg is the perfect fit as a positive, intelligent, energetic leader to get our program started," said Christopher. "Her experience starting programs at three schools, as a head coach, assistant and a player, stands out. She knows what it takes to start a program and to be the CEO of a Division I program. She has great familiarity with the BIG EAST Conference and has played lacrosse at a high level collegiately and at the professional level."

"I am very excited about this opportunity," said Decker. "I want to thank Greg Christopher, Susan Lipnickey and everyone whom I met during the search process at Xavier. Xavier is perfectly situated to be a force in the world of women's lacrosse. The history and culture of academic and athletic excellence provide a clear path for future success of women's lacrosse. Winning is in the DNA at Xavier. I am familiar with the strength of the programs in the BIG EAST Conference and have had the opportunity to both coach and play against many of them. I can't wait to get started."

Academic success has gone hand-in-hand with improved play on the field during Decker's head coaching career. The Hartford women's lacrosse team landed almost 90 percent of its roster on the America East Honor Roll the past two seasons and nearly 75 percent of the roster earned Commissioner's Honor Roll distinction for achieving a grade point average of 3.5 or higher. During that same period the offensive possession time doubled over the past two full seasons, 2019 and 2021, from 11 minutes to 22 minutes, the team increased its offensive possessions by 50 percent and doubled their goals per game.

In addition to Hartford from 2016-21 and VCU from 2014-16, Decker has coaching experience as the head coach of the Flash Club Women's Lacrosse in Tustin, Calif., and as the director of the Whirlwind Lacrosse Tournament in Newport Beach, Calif. Additionally, Decker is the New England Director for Trilogy's middle school Leadership and Lacrosse camp.

Outside of coaching, Decker served as a multi-year Committee Member and later became Committee Chair for the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Association Convention Planning Committee, planning and leading the annual event for all collegiate women's lacrosse coaches. She also served on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee for the University of Hartford Department of Athletics. Additionally, Decker was a contributing member of the America East Working Group considering how to best support the mental health of student-athletes through balancing their time obligations in academics and sport.

A native of Baltimore, Md., Decker enjoyed a standout collegiate career as the Division I Rookie of the Year at Navy (2008) and a BIG EAST standout at Loyola University Maryland (2010-2011), having sat out the 2009 season to satisfy transfer rules. She helped lead Loyola to a school-record 17 wins, the 2011 BIG EAST Championship and an NCAA Quarterfinal appearance in her final season. Decker finished her career with 113 goals and 154 draw controls as a collegian. She was a two-time All-BIG EAST selection at Loyola, which was a BIG EAST member in women's lacrosse from 2006-13.

After graduating, Decker was invited to the U.S. Lacrosse National Pool Tryouts in 2015. She had also been invited to the tryout in 2008 while still an undergraduate student. In the inaugural draft of the United Women's Lacrosse League, she was selected by the Philadelphia Force in 2016, where she spent two years as a midfielder. She continued her professional career with the Boston Storm, where she spent one season as a defender.

Decker, who studied chemistry and oceanography while at the Naval Academy, graduated from Loyola in 2011 with a degree in Psychology. She continued her education at Hartford, and will receive her master's degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology this December.

COACHING TIMELINE

Xavier - Head Coach (2021-present)
Hartford - Head Coach (2016-21)
VCU - Assistant Coach (2014-16)

PERSONAL

HOMETOWN - Baltimore, Md.
COLLEGE - Loyola University Maryland ('11)
FAMILY - Matt Zink (partner); Jaxon (son)

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING

KATIE WOODS, UCONN WOMEN'S LACROSSE HEAD COACH
"Having Xavier in the BIG EAST helps with the expansion of our game and adds to the already strong profile of our conference. Meg already has the experience starting a program and it's great to see her be able to use that experience to launch Xavier in '22-'23"

JEN ADAMS, LOYOLA UNIVERSITY MARYLAND WOMEN'S LACROSSE HEAD COACH
"Meg Decker is an incredible hire for Xavier. She will bring experience, passion, leadership and energy, not just as it pertains to lacrosse knowledge and skill development, but also with player relationships and connections. Meg understands what it takes to compete at the highest level as a student-athlete and she will no doubt lean on her successful experiences playing in the BIG EAST. I'm excited to follow along and watch Meg help put Xavier lacrosse on the map."

DANA DOBBIE, LOYOLA UNIVERSITY MARYLAND WOMEN'S LACROSSE ASSISTANT COACH
"Meg Decker cares wholeheartedly about the student-athlete experiences and is an incredible addition to the Xavier Athletic Department. Her passion and love for the sport is exactly what this program needs to get kick started. There is no doubt Meg will take this program to where it wants to go. She is a competitive leader with genuine passion and love for the sport."

MEREDITH BLACK, MARQUETTE WOMEN'S LACROSSE HEAD COACH
"I am thrilled for the addition of Women's Lacrosse at Xavier. We are so excited to welcome Meg and the team to our conference! Meg has just the experience needed to start this program because she has competed in the BIG EAST Conference and started a new program at Hartford. Her experience both as a player and head coach makes her such a great asset to this new program. I am excited to work closely with Meg and Xavier staff to welcome them to BIG EAST Women's Lacrosse!"

RICKY FRIED, GEORGETOWN WOMEN'S LACROSSE HEAD COACH
"Meg brings a wealth of knowledge, a competitive spirit and unmatched energy necessary to build a new program. She will develop a strong team that will play in her image; hard, aggressive and passionate. I am excited to welcome Meg, and Xavier, to the BIG EAST!"

KRISTEN SKIERA, VIRGINIA TECH WOMEN'S LACROSSE HEAD COACH
"It is so fitting that Meg has been selected to build the Xavier Women's Lacrosse program. Meg's passion for developing young women of character, building teams and competing at the highest level surely sets her up for success in this next chapter of her career. The Xavier athletic department is gaining an energetic, positive and infectious leader in Meg. I wish her and her family all the best on this journey to build yet another new program!"

ABIGAIL REHFUSS, SIENA WOMEN'S LACROSSE HEAD COACH
"I'm thrilled for Meg. She was a dynamic player at Loyola, and an even better teammate and friend. She's a natural leader who earns the respect of her players by making them laugh and feel cared about while still demanding their best. Even as a coach, she continues to be a real student of the game and is always pushing herself and those around her to grow and be creative. I can't wait to see what the future holds for her at Xavier!"

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