Women's Lacrosse | 9/15/2020 9:59:28 AM
Kristin St. Hilaire begins her 14th season as head coach of the Utica College women's lacrosse team and fourth year as Assistant Athletic Director in 2020-21. She is the program's all-time leader in coaching wins as she has compiled a 109-79 overall record. St. Hilaire has coached seven IWLCA All-Region selections, and has had a winning record in each of the last nine seasons with the program. Her players consistently receive Academic Honor Roll honors from the IWLCA as well.
During the 2019 season, the Pioneers set new single-season program records for wins (13) and conference victories (six) in a season. They made it to the Empire 8 Tournament in consecutive seasons for the first time in program history. St. Hilaire picked up her 100th career victory and, along with her staff, earned Empire 8 Coaching Staff of the Year and seven players earned All-Conference recognition. The continued growth of the program was on full display to start the 2020 season, as the team darted out to a dominant 4-0 start before the season was halted due to COVID-19.
St. Hilaire, a native of Syracuse, N.Y., native played Division I lacrosse at the University of Massachusetts from 2002-05. She earned Atlantic 10 All Conference First Team honors all four years. St. Hilaire set school records for ground balls, forced turnovers, and draw controls. In 2004 she was named Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year.
Kristin St. Hilaire - Today's Leaders
Institution: Utica College
Title: Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach/Assistant Athletic Director
Year at Current Institution: Entering her 14th season as Head Women's Lacrosse Coach and fourth year as Assistant Athletic Director
College Attended/Class Year: UMass ’05 (undergraduate), Utica College ‘16 (graduate)
Playing Career (if any, collegiately or professionally): UMass Women's Lacrosse (2002-2005)
Favorite Professional Athlete/Pro Team: NFL quarterback Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints
Favorite Movie: Bridesmaids
Favorite TV Show: Big Brother
Last TV Show You Binge Watched: Cobra Kai
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: I don’t really like ice cream but if I am having one it’s probably vanilla dipped in cherry
Recent Community Service Projects Your Teams or Departments Have Worked On: Community service is an essential part of the Utica College women’s lacrosse program. Each year we participate in over a handful of community service events. These include projects such as the Intergenerational Fall Clean-up, volunteering at the Root Farm and Presbyterian Nursing Home, mentoring at MLK Elementary, while playing games dedicated to various charity organizations.
How Does The Empire 8 Stand Out Among Other Conferences: The Empire 8 is committed to building well-rounded student-athletes. This conference prides itself on fostering a culture of teamwork and sportsmanship.
Favorite Athletic Memory from Your Time as a Player in College: In 2003, we were playing Richmond in the Atlantic 10 semifinals. We were down 7 with 8 minutes remaining in the game. As a team, we stuck together and never gave up. We ended up coming back and tying the game, sending the contest into overtime. With 40 seconds remaining in overtime, we scored the game winning goal, putting us in the championship. It was a moment I will never forget.
Favorite Memory as a Coach/Administrator at Your Current Institution: I have so many fond memories from my time here at UC. A few that come to mind are the win in 2014 at Houghton that (at the time) marked the most wins in a season in program history. The 2018 campaign was a special one, with UC returning to the E8 championship for only the second time in school history. But my favorite memory is probably the entire 2018-19 season. That team was determined, focused and committed. We recorded victories over teams we had lost to the year prior, including our first win over Stevens. It was amazing to see the hard work and preparation that every member of our program put in, pay off.
Who Was Your Biggest Mentor and Why: I have quite a few mentors that I cherish in my life but the one that has had the most impact on my coaching career would be former Ithaca College Head Coach Karen Hollands. Prior to becoming the head coach at UC, I was Karen’s assistant at Ithaca for two seasons. She taught me so much about what it takes to be a successful leader and the importance of work-life balance. To this day, I know if I ever needed anything, I can call her for advice.
Most Rewarding Aspect of Being a Coach/Administrator: The absolute most rewarding aspect of being a coach is having the opportunity to make a difference is a young person’s life. In some cases that influence can be as simple as teaching a new skill or instilling confidence. Other times, coaches can have an effect that truly impacts someone’s life.
What Have You Learned About Yourself as a Leader and In Your Role: I have learned to be me. Nothing more, nothing less. Sometimes as leaders we can get caught up in who we are supposed to be. There is great value in learning from the leaders in your life, past and present. And in some cases you may find yourself emulating those skills. But at the end of the day, as a leader, you must genuinely be yourself.
What Type of Leader Are You: For me, transparency and consistency are critical values of strong leadership. I try to lead by example. If I am asking my student-athletes to bring energy and focus, then I must be willing to do the same. One expectation I have for my players is to strive to improve every day. Likewise, I must also be willing to find new ways to continuously improve.
What Are Some Positive Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic You Have Experienced? One positive effect of the pandemic is the humbling reminder to never take anything for granted. This past spring, our team was off to a 4-0 start with hopes of having one of our most successful campaigns in program history. Then suddenly our season came to an abrupt end. None of us knew that last game was our last game, which reminded us all that tomorrow is never promised.
How Have You Had to Adjust as a Coach or Administrator to the Pandemic? One adjustment I have had to make as a coach during this pandemic is learning how to slow down. Anyone that knows me will tell you I am always on the go. As a wife, mother and college lacrosse coach, my plate is pretty full and I am usually balancing these things while going 100 miles per hour. This slowing down paired with the social distancing and training restrictions this fall, will allow us to be more focused on individual skills and team building.
One Thing Most People Do Not Know About You: One thing people may not know about me is that I played Pop Warner football for eight years. It was the first sport I played and I absolutely loved it!
Advice for First-Year Student-Athletes: Take it one day, one thing at a time. As a young college student-athlete, we can get in the habit of looking at the big picture and trying to take everything on at once. Learning time management skills is a major benefit to being a student-athlete. Do not let yourself get overwhelmed. Rather, focus on what you are doing in that moment and the specific task at hand. From there, the big picture will fall into place.
Advice for Graduating Student-Athletes: Although you may not be putting the uniform on every day, being a student-athlete will always be a part of you. Take what you have learned from college athletics and carry it with you for the rest of your life. There is value in both in both the good and bad.
The Empire 8 Conference's “Today’s Leaders Compete Here” Series features a coach or administrator from one of its member institutions who exemplifies leadership.
ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit
www.empire8.com.
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