Stetson University Athletics

Veteran collegiate lacrosse coach Sue Murphy was named head coach of the Stetson Women's Lacrosse program ahead of the 2025 season… Brought more than two decades of collegiate head coaching experience to DeLand, including successful NCAA Division I tenures at Boston University and Richmond. Murphy's first two seasons with the Hatters have focused on establishing a competitive foundation while developing the program within the ASUN… The 2026 season included several significant milestones, highlighted by Stetson's first victories over Liberty and Coastal Carolina, back-to-back overtime wins to open ASUN play and multiple postseason and academic honors. Murphy took over the Stetson program with extensive experience building and leading successful collegiate lacrosse teams… Her first two seasons in DeLand have centered on player development, competitiveness and establishing a foundation for continued growth within the ASUN Conference. That progress became especially visible in 2026 as the Hatters recorded multiple program-first victories and showed an ability to win close conference games… Stetson opened ASUN play with consecutive overtime victories and finished the conference schedule with three wins. Stetson's 2026 campaign included one of the most dramatic wins in program history when the Hatters earned a 12-11 overtime victory at Liberty… Ryley Heilmann tied the game with 11 seconds remaining in regulation before Kathleen Nichols scored the game-winning goal in overtime. The victory marked Stetson's first win over Liberty and moved the Hatters to 2-0 in ASUN play after opening conference action with back-to-back overtime victories. Stetson also earned its first victory over Coastal Carolina during the season and finished conference play with three ASUN wins. Individual development accompanied Stetson's progress during the 2026 season… Freshmen Ryley Heilmann and Mickey Thomas were selected to the ASUN All-Freshman Team. Six Hatters — Sydney Jenkins, Anya Lucia Phillips, Maya Sellinger, Lexi Bird, Kathleen Nichols and Heidi Cross — earned ASUN All-Academic recognition. Bird led the Hatters with 45 points, recording 22 goals and a team-high 23 assists… Nichols led Stetson with 30 goals… Heilmann produced 25 goals and seven assists during her freshman campaign while also leading the team with 44 draw controls. Murphy spent six seasons as head coach at Boston University, compiling 55 victories while developing the Terriers into a nationally recognized program… Was named America East Coach of the Year in both 1999 and 2000. Her 1999 team recorded 15 victories before the Terriers climbed as high as No. 11 nationally in 2000 and earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament… Boston University rose as high as No. 6 in the national rankings the following season. Murphy coached 21 All-Conference selections during her tenure with the Terriers. Murphy continued her Division I head coaching career at Richmond, recording 76 victories over eight seasons… The Spiders captured three consecutive Atlantic 10 regular-season championships from 2006-08 and three consecutive A10 Tournament Championships from 2005-07. Richmond climbed as high as No. 9 nationally during Murphy's tenure… She was named Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year in both 2005 and 2006. Murphy coached 30 All-Conference players at Richmond, including seven Atlantic 10 Player of the Year honorees. Murphy returned to collegiate coaching as head coach at Pfeiffer University in 2024… The Falcons recorded seven victories during her season leading the program before she accepted the head coaching position at Stetson. Murphy began her collegiate head coaching career at Muhlenberg, where she led both the lacrosse and field hockey programs. Murphy's coaching experience extends beyond the collegiate game… She served as head coach of the United States Developmental Team from 2001-06. In 2011, Murphy launched STORM Lacrosse in central Virginia, developing travel teams while using her collegiate network to help more than 230 student-athletes continue their lacrosse careers at the college level. She merged the STORM Lacrosse travel teams into the Richmond Strikers organization in 2018 and served as Director of Coaching through 2020… Murphy has also operated the Beach Blast Lax Tournament in Lewes, Del., since 2012. Murphy's collegiate head coaching career includes stops at Stetson, Pfeiffer, Richmond, Boston University and Muhlenberg… Has accumulated more than 150 career victories and has led teams to eight or more wins in a season nine times. Her résumé includes four conference Coach of the Year awards, six combined Atlantic 10 regular-season and tournament championships, an NCAA Tournament appearance and top-10 national rankings at both Boston University and Richmond. Murphy was a standout collegiate lacrosse player at the University of Massachusetts… Earned All-America honors twice during her career with the Minutewomen. Following her collegiate career, Murphy continued competing at the national level as a member of the U.S. Lacrosse National Squad from 1990-92. Murphy earned a Bachelor of Science in sport management from the University of Massachusetts in 1990. Murphy has two daughters, Abby and Sara… Abby competed in field hockey at Appalachian State and Queens, while Sara played collegiate lacrosse at Winthrop.