Julie Myers Steps Down As Virginia Women’s Lacrosse Coach

One of the longest tenured coaches at Virginia announced her resignation on Wednesday. Julie Myers, who had been the head coach for women’s lacrosse for 28 years and a member of the program in some capacity for 37 years, made her decision to step down from the program.

“Leading the Virginia’s women’s lacrosse program for the past 28 years has been an opportunity of a lifetime and a lifetime it has been,” Myers said in a news release. “While it is hard to leave a place and people that you love so deeply, I am excited to explore leadership opportunities outside of athletics. I am also looking forward to spending time being a parent cheering for my own kids from the college sidelines. They have supported and loved my UVA teams since the day they were born here in Charlottesville. … I am so very lucky and will be forever grateful for all of these experiences, while representing the University of Virginia. I wish the team all of the very best in its next chapter for the program.”

Myers was just the third coach in the history of the program that dates back to 1976. She finished her UVA career with a 349-181 (.659) all-time record. Her win total places her fifth all-time in Division I history.

She owned a 32-26 record in NCAA Tournament play, which ranks sixth all-time in tournament wins and fourth in tournament games coached, and earned a spot in the event in every year of her tenure when the tourney was played. During her time with the Cavaliers, Myers won a National Championship as a player (1991), as an assistant coach (1993), and as a head coach (2004). She was the first person at the NCAA Division I level to win a women’s lacrosse national title as a player and as a head coach.

Myers led her team to the the title game in three consecutive years from 2003-2005, an achievement reached by only five other coaches in NCAA women’s lacrosse history. The Hoos reached the finals of the NCAA Championships 8 times.

In addition to that success on the national stage, Myers carved out numerous championships in conference play as well. Virginia won the ACC in 1998, 2004, 2006, 2007, and 2008. The Hoos reached the ACC Tournament final in 9 of the 22 years it was held. She was named ACC Coach of the Year in 2002 and 2008.

“Julie Myers has established an amazing legacy at the University and her name is synonymous with UVA women’s lacrosse,” Virginia director of athletics Carla Williams said in a news release. “Her contributions to the University and the sport, as a student-athlete, assistant coach and head coach are enormous. She has dedicated four decades of her life to educating, developing and mentoring young women on and off the field. Her impact on her players cannot be overstated as the women under her tutelage have gone on to ultra-successful careers and made an impact in their own communities. We are thankful she will remain in Charlottesville and close to the University to continue to support the program she helped build into a national standard.”

Beyond the wins and team accomplishments, Myers also helped guide numerous players to individual success. She coached 8 National Players of the Year, 3 National Rookies of the Year, and 13 members of United States National Lacrosse teams. She coached 1998 NCAA Woman of the Year Peggy Boutilier (Williams), 2004 Tewaaraton Trophy winner Amy Appelt (Slade), and numerous other All-Americans.

Myers thanked all of those players and others as part of her resignation.

“Thank you to all of my players, their families, my staff, all of my co-workers, and the athletic department and other supporters who have all been integral to the success of this women’s lacrosse program, to my career and to me personally,” Myers said. “Especially to my players. It has been an honor and a privilege to coach each of you. While I am incredibly proud of the many accomplishments we have enjoyed through the years, I will treasure most the memories and the relationships this profession of coaching has provided for me.”