Head Coach Janet Grubbs [Red Rocket Photos]
May 7, 2009
FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University Director of Athletics Troy Austin has announced the retirement of veteran women’s lacrosse head coach Janet Grubbs, effective June 11. Grubbs compiled an overall record of 137-88-1 through 15 years (1995-2009) with the program, including a record of 11-6 this spring while winning the inaugural National Lacrosse Conference (NLC) Tournament Championship and being named the NLC Coach of the Year. Longwood will conduct a national search for a new head coach, according to Austin.
“Coach Janet Grubbs is a valued member of the Longwood Family and she will be missed,” said Austin. “She has built a championship-caliber lacrosse program at the Division II level, laid the foundation for a successful team in Division I, worked hard to establish a conference home for the Longwood women’s lacrosse team, and mentored quality student-athletes throughout her many years as a head coach.”
Grubbs led Longwood to consecutive appearances in the NCAA Division II National Championships (2002-03), including a national runners-up finish in 2003 while finishing 13-2 following a school-record 15-1 mark while advancing to the 2002 NCAA National Semifinals. The Lancers were ranked #1 in the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) National Poll for the final seven weeks of 2002 while completing an undefeated regular season at 15-0, earning Grubbs the IWLCA Division II National Coach of the Year honor. Longwood posted seven consecutive seasons with at least 10 wins from 1999-2005 (87-20-1), including an outstanding five-year period (2001-05) during which the program was 66-10. Grubbs led the Lancers to a record of 12-3 in 2005, the team’s first year playing a full Division I schedule during the school’s recent Division I Reclassification.
“My deep appreciation goes to President Cormier for all of her support and to Troy Austin and the Longwood Athletics staff and coaches for everything they do,” said Grubbs. “It is so difficult to leave at any time but especially now because the current players are outstanding and the incoming recruits are exceptional. But it’s time. I had a great, great ride here and I am so proud of all we’ve accomplished together.
“To the athletes, both now and before, I say you are the heart of the program. You are the ones that generated the plaques on my wall and the trophies in the case. As our Athletic Director, Troy Austin, quoted at our conference banquet, ‘We will either find a way, or make one.’ So … make it into the Top 20 next year - I will be behind you all the way!”
Grubbs was previously inducted into the Virginia Lacrosse Hall of Fame by the Charlottesville Lacrosse Foundation, Inc., a regional chapter of US Lacrosse, on October 23, 1999. She was among nine individuals inducted, and became the third member of that hall of fame with Longwood connections (Julie Dayton ‘81, Jane Miller). Grubbs was inducted into the Collegiate High School Athletic Hall of Fame in Richmond on November 6, 2004, one of eight individuals inducted for her athletic accomplishments while at the school.
Grubbs is a graduate of Ursinus (Pa.) College, and earned her master's degree in outdoor education from the University of Northern Colorado. Additionally, she served as the head coach for field hockey at Longwood from 1994-97 (34-34-1), and was the women’s lacrosse head coach at the University of Richmond from 1977-90.