FRANKLIN, Mass. – August 7, 2023 – Dean College Director of Athletics George Martin has announced the hiring of Justin Dionne as the next head coach of the women's lacrosse team.

"I am excited to welcome Justin Dionne to Dean College as the next women's lacrosse head coach," said Martin. "Justin's passion and enthusiasm for lacrosse will convey to our student-athletes. His vast lacrosse experience is a great asset to Dean, which will continue to help advance the program."

"I would first like to thank Mr. Martin and the rest of the search committee for this amazing opportunity," said Dionne. "I'd also like to thank those who have helped me throughout my career and those I consider my mentors for preparing me for this next step in my career. I'm truly excited for this next chapter in my coaching career and the next chapter for Dean College Women's Lacrosse. I look forward to continuing to build a great program and create a culture and team the players and community can be excited about. Building this program will take patience, hard work, and dedication from this coaching staff and the players, and I'm excited to lead the way! Go Bulldogs!"

Dionne comes to Dean after spending the previous four seasons at Wabash College. He joined the Wabash men's lacrosse coaching staff as an assistant coach and offensive coordinator in December of 2019. After four seasons as the Offensive Coordinator, Dionne was named interim Head Coach for the final six games of the 2021 season before returning to assistant coaching role for the 2022 season.

During his tenure at Wabash, Dionne helped the program raise the overall roster numbers each year. In addition, the offense was able to break multiple individual and team school records and elevate its numbers and percentages for each major statistical category. In 2023, the offense had its best year statistically in school history, along with two top-5 goal scorers in the conference and a top-3 assist-man in the conference. The team also finished in the top five in the conference in all major offensive team categories, which included a conference leading 65% assisted goal number.

Dionne spent the most recent summer coaching with Penguins Select Lacrosse Club, which features some of the top players in the Greater Boston area. He coached the offense for the 2027 team, filled in when needed for other high school aged teams, and helped run positional practices for the attackmen for groups 2028-2024.

The Orlando, Fla. native earned a Bachelor of Science in Communications at Hiram College in Hiram, Ohio where he was a 4-year starter on the lacrosse team. The three-time team captain played midfield and attack. Dionne holds multiple school records including most starts in school history and most assists in a game, season and career. The 2019 All-NCAC Team selection graduated fourth all-time in career points.

Dionne takes over a Dean Women's Lacrosse program that is coming off a historic season led by Ashley Magruda-Wood. The Bulldogs posted program records in overall wins (9-9) and conference wins (7-6), while also becoming the first Dean women's program to make a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) tournament appearance.

"I would like to thank Ashley for stepping into the Head Coaching position for the last two seasons," said Martin. "Her leadership of the program and mentorship of our student-athletes were instrumental in both the success and growth of the Women's Lacrosse program."