Julie Myers Steps Down After 28 Years Leading UVA Women’s Lacrosse

June 22, 2023
Julie Myers locked in a handshake of one of her players

Women’s lacrosse coach Julie Myers, left, thanked her players after resigning, saying it was an honor and a privilege to lead them. (UVA Athletics photo)

University of Virginia women’s lacrosse head coach Julie Myers has resigned after directing the UVA program for the past 28 years.

Myers, whose resignation was announced Wednesday, took her teams to the postseason each year except for 2020 when NCAA spring championships were canceled due to the pandemic. During her tenure, no other Division I coach matched that accomplishment. 

Myers’ record at UVA stands at 349-181 (a .659 winning percentage). Her win total ranks fifth overall in NCAA Division I women’s collegiate lacrosse history and 11th overall for all NCAA divisions.

She was just the third head coach in the Virginia program’s history. As a student-athlete, assistant coach and head coach, Myers has been associated with the UVA program for 37 years.

“Leading the Virginia women’s lacrosse program for the past 28 years has been an opportunity of a lifetime, and a lifetime it has been,” she said. “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 is the mother of three: Kelsey, Timmy and Kevin. Kelsey was a senior on the Stanford women’s lacrosse team in 2023 while Timmy was a freshman for the Cavaliers’ men’s lacrosse team this past season.

“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,” Myers said. “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 led UVA to the 2004 NCAA championship and a total of eight championship weekend appearances during her career. She compiled a 32-26 record in NCAA Tournament play, which ranks sixth all-time in tournament wins and fourth in tournament games coached. 

During her time on Grounds, Myers led the Cavaliers to ACC titles in 1998, 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Excellence Here Goes Everywhere, To Be Great and Good In All We Do
Excellence Here Goes Everywhere, To Be Great and Good In All We Do

“Julie Myers has established an amazing legacy at the University and her name is synonymous with UVA women’s lacrosse,” Director of Athletics Carla Williams said. “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.”

With Virginia’s national championship victory in 2004, Myers became the first person in women’s lacrosse history at the NCAA Division I level to win a title as a player (1991) and a head coach (2004). She also won one as an assistant coach (1993). Following the 2004 season, she was named the national coach of the year by the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association. She also received national coach of the year honors in 2008.

Myers’ teams produced eight national players of the year, three national rookies of the year and 13 members of U.S. national lacrosse squads. Myers has also been a member of the Tewaaraton coaches’ committee that selects the nation’s top lacrosse player.

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