Kathy Taylor is a retired women's lacrosse coach whose career spanned more than three decades across high school and collegiate competition. She is the 2018 NCAA Division II national champion, the 2018 IWLCA Division II National Coach of the Year, and a former president of the International Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association.
Over 16 seasons as a collegiate head coach she compiled a 233-76 record, developed 35 All-Americans, and led teams to four consecutive NCAA Final Fours, building a reputation as one of the most respected figures in the women's game. Her official site is kathytaylorlacrosse.com.
Coaching career
Taylor coached across every level of the sport, from high school through Division I. At Fayetteville-Manlius High School she grew a single team into five programs over 18 years, went 245-62-3, and won back-to-back New York State Championships in 2004 and 2005.
Her collegiate record was 212-29. At SUNY Cortland she posted a 115-17 mark with four straight Final Fours, and at Le Moyne College she went 97-12 and won the 2018 NCAA Division II national championship, defeating Florida Southern 16-11 in Tampa. She later served as head coach at Colgate University. A 1984 Cornell graduate, she was the first Cornell women's lacrosse player named to the All-Ivy League First Team and holds a master's degree in counseling.
Leadership in the sport
Taylor's influence reached well beyond her own bench. Elected by her peers in 2017, she served as president of the International Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association and sat on the U.S. Women's National Team Selection Committee.
Those roles placed her among the people who set standards for the game as a whole. Selecting national-team talent and leading the coaches association are responsibilities that go to figures other coaches trust, and they extended her reach from a single roster to the broader structure of the sport.
Coaching philosophy
Former players and colleagues consistently describe her style as demanding yet supportive, built around long-term development, leadership, and preparing athletes for success well beyond lacrosse. The throughline of her career was a simple but exacting belief: athletes are capable of more than they think when they are supported, challenged, and trusted.
Across more than 50 player testimonials, the recurring theme is not wins and losses but the confidence and resilience she instilled. One former player, now a U.S. Army major, has credited Taylor's coaching as the foundation of her military leadership. That emphasis on the person behind the player is what former athletes tend to name first, ahead of any title or record.
Press and media
Taylor has written and spoken publicly about coaching standards and accountability in women's athletics. In an OutKick op-ed, Tough Coaching Isn't The Problem; Soft America Is, she argued that demanding coaching is not the same as misconduct. Her perspective has also been covered in features by Grit Daily and The Daily News Online.
She has appeared on several sports and leadership podcasts. Recent episodes include Game Changers with host Linda Martindale, Beyond the Scoreboard, and A Coach's Perspective, where she discusses coaching philosophy, resilience, and the role of high standards in youth and college sports. A fuller archive is collected on her press page.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Kathy Taylor?
Kathy Taylor is a retired women's lacrosse coach with more than 30 years of experience at the high school and collegiate levels. Her career record as a head coach is 233-76, and she won the 2018 NCAA Division II national championship at Le Moyne College.
What is Kathy Taylor's coaching record?
Her career head-coaching record is 233-76, including a 212-29 collegiate record. At SUNY Cortland she went 115-17, at Le Moyne 97-12, and at Fayetteville-Manlius High School 245-62-3 with two New York State Championships.
What is her biggest coaching achievement?
She led Le Moyne College to the 2018 NCAA Division II national championship and was named IWLCA Division II National Coach of the Year that season, capping four consecutive NCAA Final Four appearances.
Did she hold leadership roles in the sport?
Yes. She was elected president of the International Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association in 2017 and served on the U.S. Women's National Team Selection Committee.
Where can I read or hear more from Kathy Taylor?
Her writing, press coverage, and podcast appearances are collected at kathytaylorlacrosse.com/press, including op-eds and interviews on coaching and accountability.