Kelsey Shewbridge '18G Named Head Women's Lacrosse Coach

6/7/2023 10:00:00 AM | By: JCUSID

While pursuing her Master of Arts in English at JCU, Shewbridge was an assistant coach for the Blue Streaks from 2017-18.

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS – The John Carroll Women's Lacrosse program has a new head coach.

The Blue Streaks' new head coach is an experienced leader with great familiarity of John Carroll University and the Division III lacrosse world.

Kelsey Shewbridge '18G is the new head coach of JCU Women's Lacrosse. She most recently served as an assistant coach at Bates College.

"I am thrilled to have Kelsey back in the Blue Streak family," said Director of Athletics Brian Polian '97. "She brings a unique combination of familiarity with John Carroll and the OAC, as well coaching experience from some of the top conferences in Division III women's lacrosse. I believe that with her expertise and vision, she is the perfect person to lead our program to a successful future, on and off the field. Congratulations to Kelsey and welcome back to JCU!"

Shewbridge sports six years of coaching experience at the Division III level. The Medina native got her start in coaching as a volunteer assistant for John Carroll Women's Lacrosse during the 2017 and 2018 seasons.

"This is a full circle moment for me, as this is a program I know well and a school I love," said Shewbridge. "As I look at the program and the student-athletes, I see unlimited impact potential. The student-athletes are hungry for more, and I am too. I love skill building and on-field interaction, but I also want to be a guide and a mentor, too. The administration and support system is strong enough to help us achieve our goals. I'm ready to rock and roll."

Shewbridge arrives in University Heights following a season-long stint at Bates College. The Bobcats tallied 5 wins this past season, the most for the program since 2019. Bates plays in one of the toughest Division III conferences in the country, the NESCAC (New England Small College Athletic Conference).

Shewbridge served as an assistant coach at Baldwin Wallace for the 2021 and 2022 seasons. The Yellow Jackets tripled their win total from 2021 to 2022, returning to the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament in 2022. Previously, she was an assistant coach at Kenyon College for the 2019 season. While at Kenyon, she helped guide the Owls to a 13-5 overall record, a 6-2 mark in the North Coast Athletic Conference, and a quarterfinal appearance in the NCAC Tournament.

While pursuing her Master of Arts in English at JCU, Shewbridge was an assistant coach for the Blue Streaks from 2017-18. She aided the coaching staff in a number of ways, including teaching defensive skills and strategies, implementing practice plans, evaluating player performances, analyzing game film, and helping with recruiting. Shewbridge also served as a teaching and research assistant in the John Carroll Department of English.

During the 2017 season, the Blue Streaks tallied an 11-5 overall record, 6-2 in OAC play. John Carroll improved to 14-3 overall and 7-1 in OAC play in 2018. Both seasons ended with trips to the OAC Tournament Semifinal.

Shewbridge also enjoyed an outstanding playing career at the University of Mount Union. During her time in Alliance, the Purple Raiders won three OAC Championships and made three trips to the NCAA Tournament. Mount Union made it to the third round of the big dance in 2015.

The Medina High School graduate appeared and started in 70 career games for Mount Union, tallying 22 goals and 11 assists. The defensive midfielder also notched 78 groundballs and 43 caused turnovers. Shewbridge finished as a three-time All-OAC and Academic All-OAC selection, and notched an Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) All-Great Lakes Region Second Team honors in 2016. She graduated from Mount Union in 2016 with a Bachelor of Arts in English.

"I want to thank Brian Polian for this opportunity to make an impact at a place I love," said Shewbridge. "I'm so thankful for my family and their support over the years. I also want to thank Renee Olson at Bates, who has given me the confidence to be ready for this role. I also want to thank Jess Good at Kenyon, as she has a strategic mind and taught me how to do on-field coaching the right way and how to build team chemistry.

"It's all about building a strong foundation with values that everyone wants to buy into. And at John Carroll, it's about the people. I can't wait to jump back into the John Carroll community."

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