WEST HARTFORD – The University of Hartford Department of Athletics has selected Meg Decker to be the program's first head women's lacrosse coach, Director of Athletics Anton Goff announced today. Decker joins the Hawks after helping to build the Virginia Commonwealth University women's lacrosse program from scratch as an assistant coach and being a player on the inaugural women's lacrosse team at the United States Naval Academy.

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"Going through the process of bringing in a coach for a team that has not yet been created was far different than any other coaching search I have experienced," Goff said. "The fact that Meg has been through the startup process as both an assistant coach and as a player provides her with a unique perspective that will serve our program well in its growth. She also brings with her a combination of knowledge and enthusiasm that will help our fledgling women's lacrosse team achieve great success early on."
 
Goff announced the addition of women's lacrosse as a varsity sport in October 2015 with the program set to begin competition during the 2017-18 school year. The Hawks will be the eighth of the nine America East schools to sponsor women's lacrosse, with Maine the only conference member without the sport.
 
"It is an incredible honor to be selected to coach at the University of Hartford as we begin to make our mark on the ever-growing world of women's lacrosse," Decker said. "I am so grateful to Anton Goff, Senior Associate AD Holly Strauss-O'Brien, and the rest of the search committee for bringing me on board for this adventure. Building the Hawks women's lacrosse program creates more opportunities for young women to pursue a quality education, discover their individual life purpose, and play the sport they love. Let the adventure begin!"
 
Decker spent two years as an assistant to VCU Head Coach Jen O'Brien, assisting with the building of the program from her hiring in 2014 and helping to coach the team in its first season as a varsity program in 2016. In this role, she simultaneously recruited three different recruiting classes, blended recruited student-athletes with existing club team players, and fundraised and marketed for the newly-founded program.
 
The Rams were ranked highest among the five first-year Division I programs in 2016 and team members earned two Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week honors and one A-10 Player of the Week laurel. The program won its inaugural game, 21-9 over Gardner-Webb and later earned a conference victory over St. Bonaventure.
 
Decker has also amassed coaching experience by serving as the head coach of Flash Club Women's Lacrosse in Tustin, Calif., and as the director of the Whirlwind Lacrosse Tournament in Newport Beach, Calif. She has also been an individual instructor, coaching midfielders and draw specialists nationally.
 
The native of Catonsville, Md., had a standout playing career, spending two years at Navy (2008-09) and two at Loyola (2010-11). At the college level, she was an All-American in her debut season, finishing sixth in the nation in goals per game and 10^th in the nation in draw controls. She was named LaxPower.com National Rookie of the Year that campaign. In total, Decker scored 113 goals and collected 154 draw controls as a collegian. She helped lead Loyola to a Big East championship in her final season and to a school-record 17 wins and an NCAA Quarterfinal appearance. 
 
A two-time All-Big East selection, Decker was invited to the U.S. Lacrosse National Pool Tryouts in 2015. In May of 2016 she was selected in the inaugural United Women's Lacrosse League Draft by the Philadelphia Force.