Eleven years in the past, Lisa Lindley wouldn’t have been blamed for pondering her profession as the pinnacle coach for Darien (Conn.) was over.
After a well-known victory by the Blue Wave within the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Convention remaining in opposition to Greenwich (Conn.), a newspaper carried an image of her giving encouragement to her goalie, Caylee Waters, whereas her palms had been on both facet of the helmet she was carrying.
The college district, for causes unknown however to itself, suspended Lindley for the remainder of the 12 months.
It’s the type of suspension which, normally, don’t end in a coach coming again to the identical place. However Lisa Lindley did. And in 2023, she authored maybe the one greatest season within the historical past of Darien women’ lacrosse.
For managing the entire expectations of being one of the best staff within the nation, having one of the best participant within the nation in Chloe Humphrey, enjoying an interstate lacrosse recreation with totally different guidelines from what the Wave are accustomed, all throughout a season by which she bought her five hundredth profession victory, Lindley is the plain selection for the TopOfTheCircle.com United States Coach of the 12 months for the 2023 season.
For the gamers of Darien, Lindley has develop into a giant a part of the material of this system and the wealthy tapestry of lacrosse within the area. Many gamers have had older sisters coached by Lindley, certainly one of solely a handful of women’ scholastic lacrosse coaches who’ve reached the 500-win mark.
“Seeing her ardour for the sport is so motivating,” says senior attacker Chloe Humphrey, whose sisters Nicole and Ashley additionally performed for Lindley. “She’s so good at instilling confidence into her gamers. She’s one of the best of one of the best and I’m so grateful to be coached by her.”
ALSO NOMINATED:
Dani Blanchard, Bethlehem (N.Y.) — A 12 months after top-seeded Bethlehem misplaced out within the Part II Class A semifinals, the staff gained the Class B title, advancing to the state semifinals
Tom Brandel, Eldersburg Liberty (Md.) — Not solely did the Lions win the Maryland Class 1A championship, the staff gained an in-season match that includes the opposite three sitting state champions. A exceptional and well-constructed staff and a tradition of profitable has come from this coach
Jill and Jen Carroll, Dover St. Thomas Aquinas (N.H.) — Introduced the Saints to this system’s first NHIAA state remaining in 15 years, although the staff misplaced to highly effective Bow (N.H.) within the title match
Taylor Cummings, Owings Mills McDonogh (Md.) — In her remaining season as head coach at her alma mater, she might have put in her greatest work, guiding the staff to an undefeated league file and the sixth IAAM Class “A” title she has gained as both a participant or a head coach
Wealthy Hayden, Chantilly Paul VI (Va.) — Probably the most resilient groups in all of the land, this staff discovered a whole lot of classes in some early defeats, then superior to the championship remaining of the WCAC and misplaced, however went on to win the VISAA large-school match
Carrington King, Charlottesville St. Anne’s-Belfield (Md.) — The Saints, having put collectively some outcomes in opposition to top-level groups in 2022, continued their kind in 2023, sweeping two matches at Spring Fling and making all of it the best way to the VISAA remaining
Meredith Frank McGinniss, Hingham Notre Dame Academy (Mass.) — Introduced the Cougars to a well-earned third title in 4 seasons with a 19-5 win over Wayland (Mass.) within the MIAA Division 2 state title match
Jackie Pierce and Sharon Robinson, Greenwich Sacred Coronary heart (Conn.) — Performed Darien (Conn.) powerful in an April matchup and gained the four-team Prep Invitational on the finish of the season, though the cancelled Features for Brains matchup might need actually proven the nation how good this staff actually was
Emily Wescott, Woolwich Kingsway (N.J.) — Following on the heels of the varsity’s area hockey state title final fall, she guided the Dragons to the state remaining recreation in Group IV, solely to lose to Ridgewood (N.J.)
