Women's Lacrosse | 12/20/2022 2:40:53 PM
Linda Michele is entering her 12th season as head women's lacrosse coach at St. John Fisher University in 2022-23. During that time, Michele has built the St. John Fisher program into a regional and national powerhouse, culminating with a trip to the NCAA National Semifinals in 2021. She has won 10 straight Empire 8 Championships since joining St. John Fisher in 2012 and has a 158-44 record. In E8 league play, Michele is 64-10 and has led the Cardinals to 27 straight regular season wins since the 2018 season. Amazingly, Michele has never lost an Empire 8 Tournament game with a perfect 20-0 mark. The Cardinals reached the second round or better in the NCAA Championship five times overall.
Michele's scholastic coaching resume is equally as impressive. She served as the head coach at East Rochester High School where she compiled a career record of 160-40. Over 13 seasons, she guided the team to four Section V Championships and three New York State Final appearances. The East Rochester, NY native also coached at the Albany Girls Academy from 1990 to 1996, where she finished with a 78-14 record. She was also a standout field hockey coach at East Rochester, where she compiled a record of 185-28-12 and led the Bombers to three Class C Sectional Championships from 1999-2008.
Michele, who was inducted into the Rochester Chapter of US Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2008, has also served as the USWLA and US Lacrosse National Tournament Director, US Lacrosse coach and Empire State Games Western Region coach.
Linda Michele - Empire 8 Pioneer
Year at Current Institution/Total in College Athletics: 12th Year at St. John Fisher; 14th Year in College Athletics
College Attended/Class Year: SUNY Cortland ’82 (undergraduate)/Russell Sage College ’92 (masters)
Favorite Professional Teams: Buffalo Bills and New York Yankees
Favorite Movie: Remember the Titans
Last TV Show You Binge Watched: The Voice
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Peanut Butter Pandemonium
What Do You Enjoy Doing When Away From College Athletics? Hanging on a beach with family
Favorite or Dream Vacation Spot: St. Johns, United States Virgin Islands
Favorite Athletic Memory as a Coach? Every season provides me with special memories.
Who Was Your Greatest Mentor(s) and Why: My mom and dad, dad was a successful high school teacher/coach and growing up I learned to work hard, care about everyone, and make a difference in everything you do. My mom was an incredible person who helped mold my core values.
Most Rewarding Aspect of Being a Coach/Administrator: Helping young women grow as people, reach high, and live in their courage zone.
What Have You Learned About Yourself as a Leader and In Your Role: We are always evolving as a person, leader, and coach so be open to growth and change.
Recent Community Service Projects Your Teams or Departments Have Worked On: We love to volunteer as a team at Food Link and the winter Special Olympics.
How Does The Empire 8 Stand Out Among Other Conferences? It encourages athletes to be their best in the community, classroom, and playing fields.
How Did Title IX Play a Role For You as a Student-Athlete? It afforded me the opportunity to compete on multiple athletic teams in high school, and inspired me to pursue a degree in Physical Education in college.
How Has Title IX Impacted You After Your Collegiate Career? Title IX has provided me the opportunity to coach young women at the youth, high school, and collegiate levels. These experiences have allowed me to challenge myself and the athletes that I’ve been fortunate to coach in a multitude of ways.
What Do You Think Is the Greatest Impact of Title IX/How Has it Changed Your Life? Affording young women access to a variety of sport opportunities at the high school and collegiate levels. My involvement in athletics with young woman has been super gratifying, and has allowed me to form life long friendships.
How Has Title IX Changed the Collegiate Sports World? Title IX has provided women the opportunity to participate in a multitude of collegiate sports, receive financial assistance through scholarship opportunities, and be granted similar benefits and treatment.
What Can Be Done to Continue the Growth of Women’s Sports? Make sure we as woman continue to model being active, boost media exposure, continue to promote policies of gender equality, and encourage woman led sports teams.
Advice for Aspiring Student-Athletes: Follow your dreams, put in the work, and enjoy the journey!
Advice for Graduating Student-Athletes: Find ways to stay active your entire life, and give back to those programs that lifted you up along the way.
The Empire 8 Pioneers series celebrates 50 years of Title IX and highlights the growth of women's sports, while featuring a standout women's coach of administrator from each of the league's 10 institutions.
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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