ASTON, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — Neumann University has a new head coach for women’s lacrosse.
Jackie Neary spent nearly three decades coaching at Cabrini University in Radnor, leading the field hockey and women's lacrosse programs — the latter of which she led to 21 NCAA Tournaments, including this past season as her team competed at an elite level, despite the school's imminent closure.
“As an athletic department, we really made it our mission to take care of the student athletes that were there, their families, and bring some closure for alumni,” she said. “So, you know, we were grateful for this last year. There's some schools that just close. The fact we were given this last year was sort of a gift to have that time to re-engage with so many people and just end on a good note.”
She’s also a member of Ridley High School and Cabrini Halls of Fame and even won a national championship in college as a player at Temple University.
And this past week, she was named head coach of Neumann’s women’s lacrosse team. She will also serve as an assistant athletic director there.
“... I have to say that the icing on the cake was I got a call from Sister Marguerite from Neumann (former vice president for mission and ministry, now retired), welcoming me to Neumann,” Neary said. “That sort of made my heart leap. So that was the icing on the cake getting that call from her.”