James Madison University | Official Athletics Site

Kateri Linville Hired as JMU Women's Lacrosse Assistant Coach
7/16/2019 4:30:00 PM | Lacrosse
HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison head coach Shelley Klaes-Bawcombe announced the hiring of Kateri Linville to the women's lacrosse coaching staff on Tuesday afternoon.
Â
In her assistant coach role, she will serve as the program's defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator.
Â
Linville is no stranger to JMU and the Colonial Athletic Association, having served the previous nine seasons as the head coach at Delaware (2011-19). During her time at her alma mater, she led the Blue Hens to a 79-75 record and 28-28 mark in league play, advancing to the CAA Championship semifinals on four occasions.
Â
"Kateri has shown that she's been able to lead a defensive unit and create a tenacious and competitive culture within her programs," Klaes-Bawcombe said. "Her work ethic and determination will inspire our team to continue its winning ways, and her connections as a former head coach will help us recruit elite student-athletes who aspire to win championships. This is an exciting time for JMU. We're hungry to go after a fourth straight CAA championship in 2020, something no other team has ever done in our conference's history. Who better to help lead the way than Coach Linville."
Â
"JMU is a place you can compete for championships, which as a competitor is super appealing," Linville said. "I love the CAA. It's such a gritty conference with great competition. We've competed against each other for a long time and I really respect and value what JMU is all about. It offers an awesome academic experience, partnered with great lacrosse. You can attract talent here, and student-athletes are going to have an amazing experience. Shelley wants to compete for championships both at the conference and national level and develop strong women. Player development is just as important to me as the winning, and I know that resonates with Shelley."
Â
In her nine seasons at Delaware, the program produced consistent success on the defensive side of the ball, ranking in the top 25 in scoring defense and top 30 in caused turnovers on six occasions. The Blue Hens were top 15 in scoring defense four times under Linville, including a three-year stretch in which they were fourth in 2015, 13th in 2016 and seventh in 2017.
Â
During her time in Newark, she produced 44 all-conference honorees including 16 First Team All-CAA selections, and five athletes who earned IWLCA All-Region awards. Linville's tenure produced Delaware's first CAA Defensive Player of the Year in Erin Wein, who garnered the award in 2016. Caitlin McCartney was 2012 Rookie of the Year and earned First Team All-CAA honors all four years. Casey Lyons was also a three-time First Team selection.
Â
Linville guided Delaware to four CAA Championship appearances in a five-year span, in which it matched up with JMU in each of those outings. The Blue Hens had five winning seasons under Linville's tutelage and registered four consecutive double-digit winning seasons (2013-16). The 2016 season saw UD open with an 8-1 record, it's best start to a season since the turn of the century, while also ranking third nationally with the third-fewest turnovers per game.
Â
Prior to her return to Delaware, she spent five years as an assistant coach at Notre Dame (2006-10), working closely with the defensive unit while also serving as recruiting coordinator. Linville helped the Fighting Irish to four NCAA Championship appearances, including three straight over her final three seasons. Her run with the program was highlighted by one of college lacrosse's biggest turnarounds, in which they advanced to their first and only national semifinals in 2006 in her first season while winning 12 more games than the season before. Notre Dame also won the 2009 Big East Tournament title and reached the NCAA quarterfinals that same season.
Â
Linville is credited with mentoring the Irish's first two defensive players to earn IWCLA First Team All-America laurels, with Shannon Burke gaining the accolade in 2009 and Jackie Doherty taking home the honor a year later. A total of eight players received postseason recognition during her five-year stint.
Â
"In terms of defense, I love paying attention to what players are doing when they don't have the ball, and I love the team aspect that comes from playing great defense," Linville said. "My role as defensive coordinator at Notre Dame helped catapult some of the philosophies we had at Delaware, and we were able to have a strong presence both in conference and nationally in terms of being gritty in our style of play and developing a strong defensive unit and players."
Â
Before Notre Dame, Linville joined the college ranks at Virginia, where she was a volunteer assistant under Julie Myers from 2004-05 while earning her master's degree. She was part of the Cavaliers' 2004 ACC and NCAA titles and helped the team make a return trip to the national championship game the next year.
Â
Linville began her coaching career in 2002 as a camp director and clinician for the German Club Lacrosse team. The following year, she served as volunteer assistant at her high school alma mater, Moorestown High School in New Jersey, helping the team win the state championship and rank second nationally.
Â
In addition to her collegiate coaching experience, Linville was an assistant coach for the Canadian Lacrosse Association Under 19 National Team from 2009-11, helping the team win the bronze medal at the 2011 FIL U-19 World Championship in Hanover, Germany.
Â
She also served on the NCAA Division I women's lacrosse regional advisory committee and IWLCA Regional All-American committee from 2011-14.
Â
Linville is a 2003 graduate of Delaware, where she earned her bachelor's degree in health and exercise science. She also graduated with a master's of education degree in sport and exercise psychology from Virginia in 2007.
Â
As a student-athlete at Delaware, Linville was a three-year letter winner in the midfield. She was part of UD's 2000 NCAA tournament team and helped the team to America East runner-up finishes in both 2000 and 2001. Linville was co-captain as a senior in 2003 and was an IWLCA Academic Honor Roll recipient.
Â
In her assistant coach role, she will serve as the program's defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator.
Â
Linville is no stranger to JMU and the Colonial Athletic Association, having served the previous nine seasons as the head coach at Delaware (2011-19). During her time at her alma mater, she led the Blue Hens to a 79-75 record and 28-28 mark in league play, advancing to the CAA Championship semifinals on four occasions.
Â
"Kateri has shown that she's been able to lead a defensive unit and create a tenacious and competitive culture within her programs," Klaes-Bawcombe said. "Her work ethic and determination will inspire our team to continue its winning ways, and her connections as a former head coach will help us recruit elite student-athletes who aspire to win championships. This is an exciting time for JMU. We're hungry to go after a fourth straight CAA championship in 2020, something no other team has ever done in our conference's history. Who better to help lead the way than Coach Linville."
Â
"JMU is a place you can compete for championships, which as a competitor is super appealing," Linville said. "I love the CAA. It's such a gritty conference with great competition. We've competed against each other for a long time and I really respect and value what JMU is all about. It offers an awesome academic experience, partnered with great lacrosse. You can attract talent here, and student-athletes are going to have an amazing experience. Shelley wants to compete for championships both at the conference and national level and develop strong women. Player development is just as important to me as the winning, and I know that resonates with Shelley."
Â
In her nine seasons at Delaware, the program produced consistent success on the defensive side of the ball, ranking in the top 25 in scoring defense and top 30 in caused turnovers on six occasions. The Blue Hens were top 15 in scoring defense four times under Linville, including a three-year stretch in which they were fourth in 2015, 13th in 2016 and seventh in 2017.
Â
During her time in Newark, she produced 44 all-conference honorees including 16 First Team All-CAA selections, and five athletes who earned IWLCA All-Region awards. Linville's tenure produced Delaware's first CAA Defensive Player of the Year in Erin Wein, who garnered the award in 2016. Caitlin McCartney was 2012 Rookie of the Year and earned First Team All-CAA honors all four years. Casey Lyons was also a three-time First Team selection.
Â
Linville guided Delaware to four CAA Championship appearances in a five-year span, in which it matched up with JMU in each of those outings. The Blue Hens had five winning seasons under Linville's tutelage and registered four consecutive double-digit winning seasons (2013-16). The 2016 season saw UD open with an 8-1 record, it's best start to a season since the turn of the century, while also ranking third nationally with the third-fewest turnovers per game.
Â
Prior to her return to Delaware, she spent five years as an assistant coach at Notre Dame (2006-10), working closely with the defensive unit while also serving as recruiting coordinator. Linville helped the Fighting Irish to four NCAA Championship appearances, including three straight over her final three seasons. Her run with the program was highlighted by one of college lacrosse's biggest turnarounds, in which they advanced to their first and only national semifinals in 2006 in her first season while winning 12 more games than the season before. Notre Dame also won the 2009 Big East Tournament title and reached the NCAA quarterfinals that same season.
Â
Linville is credited with mentoring the Irish's first two defensive players to earn IWCLA First Team All-America laurels, with Shannon Burke gaining the accolade in 2009 and Jackie Doherty taking home the honor a year later. A total of eight players received postseason recognition during her five-year stint.
Â
"In terms of defense, I love paying attention to what players are doing when they don't have the ball, and I love the team aspect that comes from playing great defense," Linville said. "My role as defensive coordinator at Notre Dame helped catapult some of the philosophies we had at Delaware, and we were able to have a strong presence both in conference and nationally in terms of being gritty in our style of play and developing a strong defensive unit and players."
Â
Before Notre Dame, Linville joined the college ranks at Virginia, where she was a volunteer assistant under Julie Myers from 2004-05 while earning her master's degree. She was part of the Cavaliers' 2004 ACC and NCAA titles and helped the team make a return trip to the national championship game the next year.
Â
Linville began her coaching career in 2002 as a camp director and clinician for the German Club Lacrosse team. The following year, she served as volunteer assistant at her high school alma mater, Moorestown High School in New Jersey, helping the team win the state championship and rank second nationally.
Â
In addition to her collegiate coaching experience, Linville was an assistant coach for the Canadian Lacrosse Association Under 19 National Team from 2009-11, helping the team win the bronze medal at the 2011 FIL U-19 World Championship in Hanover, Germany.
Â
She also served on the NCAA Division I women's lacrosse regional advisory committee and IWLCA Regional All-American committee from 2011-14.
Â
Linville is a 2003 graduate of Delaware, where she earned her bachelor's degree in health and exercise science. She also graduated with a master's of education degree in sport and exercise psychology from Virginia in 2007.
Â
As a student-athlete at Delaware, Linville was a three-year letter winner in the midfield. She was part of UD's 2000 NCAA tournament team and helped the team to America East runner-up finishes in both 2000 and 2001. Linville was co-captain as a senior in 2003 and was an IWLCA Academic Honor Roll recipient.
JMU Lacrosse | 2025 NCAA Tournament | Dukes Prepare for the Blue Devils
Friday, May 09
JMU Lacrosse | JMU Captures 2025 AAC Title
Monday, May 05
JMU Lacrosse | Dukes Punch Ticket to 2025 AAC Final
Sunday, May 04
JMU Lacrosse | Try Lax Clinic
Friday, March 28