In 2001, at just 23 years of age, Head Coach Jill Lessne began building the Adelphi University Women's Lacrosse program. She is now in her fifth year at the helm of the extremely successful Panther program. Through her first four seasons, she has guided the Panthers to a 38-13 overall record and coached seven of her athletes to become All-Americans.
The 2004 lacrosse season marked the first time a women's sport at Adelphi University won a National title when Lessne led the Panthers to an NCAA Division II National Championship victory. Her team concluded the season 13-1 and garnered four All-Americans. For her coaching achievements, the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Association, as well as Inside Lacrosse named Lessne the Division II Coach of the Year. Her team set new school records for most overall wins (13) and longest winning streak (11.) In addition, the Panthers finished the 2004 season ranked in the top three in every NCAA statistical category.
Lessne's coaching success began in 2001 as she guided the newly formed varsity team to 4-6 inaugural season. Just four years into Lessne's career, the Panthers rocketed to a 2004 National Championship. Lacrosse Magazine recently voted the Panther's the number one Division II program in its 2005 preseason poll. This establishes Lessne's Panthers as one of the top teams in the nation and continued success within her program is highly anticipated.
In addition to the team's athletic success, Lessne's student-athletes excel scholastically in the classroom. Lessne's team was honored with achieving the highest Grade Point Average of all the participating teams at the NCAA Division II National Championship Festival in Orlando, Florida for both male and female sport programs.
In 2003, Lessne's third season as the head coach, her team began showing signs of a successful program as the Panthers concluded their season with a 9-2 record. They were edged out of the 2003 NCAA Tournament after falling to eventual champions C.W. Post in their final season's contest. The Panthers still finished in the top five in all NCAA statistical categories, which included a number one ranking in scoring defense.
In 2002, Lessne led the Panthers to an 11-4 season, which produced an All-American in sophomore Katherine Hock. This same squad also set a then record of 11 wins, which included a seven game winning streak.
Lessne received her Bachelor's of Science in Elementary Education from Temple University in 2000. As a member of their collegiate lacrosse team, Lessne played an attack wing/third home for the Temple Owls. In her freshman season her team advanced to the NCAA Final Four.
A native of Levittown, NY, Lessne participated in four years of lacrosse and tennis at MacArthur High School, graduating in 1995. She received All-County and All-Conference honors in lacrosse.
Lessne is in her fifth year as an Elementary School teacher in the West Hempstead UFSD, and she teaches third grade. In addition, in 2003 she received her Masters in Literacy at Adelphi University. Lessne is currently earning her second Masters degree, this time in Leadership and Technology (School Administration) at Adelphi.
