WESTMINSTER, Md. - McDaniel College Director of Athletics Jeremy Shepherd announced on Friday that head women's soccer coach Sandy Lagana Bly is being promoted to Associate Athletic Director.
 
Lagana Bly will also serve as Senior Woman Administrator and take over several duties, including NCAA compliance.

"Sandy will be excellent in this new role and I'm thrilled to have her as part of our administrative team," said Shepherd. "Her experience and leadership will be instrumental in enhancing the student-athlete experience, and I know she will continue to have a significant impact on our athletics department."

As a result of this promotion, Lagana Bly will step down after 11 seasons as the head women's soccer coach at McDaniel. The winningest coach in program history, she posted a 144-57-24 record for a .693 winning percentage. She led the team to nine postseason appearances, including five NCAA tournament appearances and four in the ECAC. The Green Terror won the 2021 Centennial Conference championship and back-to-back ECAC titles in 2018 and 2019. She also guided the team to a school record 18 wins in 2016 and 2021.

Lagana Bly headlined five Centennial Conference Coaching Staff of the Year honors, including selections in 2021 and 2023. She also earned regional coaching honors in 2013 and 2023. The Green Terror also boasted five All-Americans, two Centennial Conference Defensive Player of the Year and one Centennial Conference Player of the Year selections during her tenure. Off the field, the team had three Centennial Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year honorees.

This past fall, Lagana Bly led McDaniel to the second round of the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Championship and a No. 25 ranking in the final United Soccer Coaches Top 25 Poll. The Green Terror also posted three wins against nationally ranked teams, No. 1 Messiah, No. 8 Johns Hopkins, and No. 17 Swarthmore.

"Coaching soccer and coaching at McDaniel College have been one of the greatest joys of my life, my passion, my obsession, my biggest commitment," said Lagana Bly. "As I reflect on my career, I always come back to our players. I am so grateful to have coached so many hard working, inspiring, kind women. Together, along with our coaches, we accomplished more than I could have ever imagined. This program allowed me to dream and gave me the most beautiful final season."

Prior to McDaniel, Lagana Bly spent five seasons as the head coach at Ferrum from 2007-11 and one at Mary Baldwin in 2006. She has a career record of 183-121-32 in 17 seasons as a college soccer coach.

Lagana Bly is a native Sykesville, Md. who graduated from South Carroll High School in 2000. She went to play women's soccer and women's lacrosse at Bridgewater (VA) before graduating in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts in communication studies. She later earned her Master of Science in kinesiology and recreation studies with concentrations in athletic administration and coaching from James Madison in Dec. 2006.

Lagana Bly is married to David Bly who currently serves as an assistant track and field coach at McDaniel. The couple has a son, Brooks.
 
"I am so proud to continue to be a part of the McDaniel community," said Lagana Bly. "I appreciate Jeremy for giving me the opportunity to work alongside him as a Green Terror and look forward to the next chapter in my career."