Women's Lacrosse | 7/26/2021 1:49:00 PM
Head coach
Linda Michele of the nationally-ranked St. John Fisher College women's lacrosse team was included among the top coaches in her profession after being named one of eight 2021 Regional Coaches of the Year at the Division III level by the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association.
Michele led the No. 3 Cardinals (18-2) to their ninth consecutive Empire 8 Championship in 2021 after going unbeaten in conference play. With Michele on the sidelines, Fisher yielded just 21 goals over seven Empire 8 tilts and posted two shutouts in all while producing 133 goals of its own on the offensive end of the field.
At her best when the lights are brightest, Michele and Fisher would go on to run through the Empire 8 Championship after defeating fourth-seeded Hartwick College before defeating rival Nazareth College in the title game, giving her a perfect 18-0 mark in the Empire 8 Championship.
The 2021 Empire 8 Coach of the Year, Michele's squad made the most of its postseason appearance after she guided the Cardinals to their first-ever Regional Championship and Final Four appearance this season. Fisher's run included wins over three nationally-ranked opponents in the NCAA Championship including then No. 6 Catholic University, No. 16 William Smith College and then No. 10 Messiah College.
With Michele at the helm, Fisher finished its historic season ranked second in Division III in scoring defense at 4.70 goals per game and in total draw controls with 310. The team was 13th in winning percentage (.900) and scored 428 total points on the year – the fifth most of any team in Division III.
During the 2021 season, Michele mentored 10 All-Conference selections, three All-Region honorees, two All-Americans, the 2021 NCAA Elite 90 winner and coached Fisher to its highest ranking ever in the national poll – third overall.
One of the top coaches in college lacrosse, Michele has elevated Fisher into a national powerhouse since taking the reins in 2011. In that span, Fisher has reached the NCAA Championship in every season and has advanced to the Sweet 16 on four different occasions. Michele has produced over 50 All-Conference selections during her tenure along with numerous All-America honorees. The East Rochester native sports a 171-47 (.784) career coaching record and is Fisher's all-time leader in coaching wins in women's lacrosse with 148 to date.