Last season, the Shippensburg University women’s lacrosse team went 5–11 in the very difficult Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). This season, the program looks a little different.

At the helm of the program this season is someone who has extensive knowledge of PSAC lacrosse and overall knowledge of the game. For SU, Nicole Miller is a perfect fit.

Miller, a 2014 graduate of East Stroudsburg University, has a vast understanding of what it takes to be successful in the conference — being just two years removed from playing in it. Shippensburg University hired Miller to be its new lacrosse coach on July 12.

As a member of the East Stroudsburg lacrosse team, Miller was a four-year starter in the midfield and possessed a strong scoring ability. Over the course of her collegiate career, Miller tallied 107 goals, which places her in the Top 15 for goals scored in East Stroudsburg history. Miller scored 35 goals in her senior season, earning herself East Stroudsburg’s Most Valuable Player award. In Warriors history, she is fourth all-time with 15 career hat tricks.

‘The overall love I have for the game day in and day out is what drew me to getting into the collegiate level of coaching,” Miller said. “Being able to play Division II and compete in that last ever career game as a senior, I knew I was not ready to part from the collegiate level play of this sport.”

So Miller built on what she already accomplished. While playing at East Stroudsburg, she was a volunteer club lacrosse coach, while also volunteering at her high school’s lacrosse program.

It did not take long for her to earn an opportunity to coach, as she joined the staff at York College in 2015. While coaching at York, she was able to learn under Jen Muston. Muston has been a very successful coach, building her program up each year, while leading them to five-straight NCAA Playoff appearances.

Watching a program having an extremely successful turnaround, Miller looks to bring a winning culture to the SU program.

“I am looking to instill commitment, accountability and being focused every day, on and off the field,” Miller said. “This is essential to me to begin building a new culture for the team and, essentially, have the outcomes that we look forward to the most.”

Miller knows it is going to be a challenge to accomplish her goals in the very competitive PSAC.

“It’s a great feeling being on the other side now, as a coach, in the conference I was able to compete in for four years,” Miller said.

“There is not an easy game all season. Every game we play will be a battle, but I am ready to challenge the players to step up to each game, stick to the game plan and play the full 60 minutes with heart and hustle.”

For Miller, the opportunity to be the head coach of the SU program is something very special.

“Everyone has their dream jobs, and being a head women’s lacrosse coach one day was mine,” she said. “I am extremely grateful to have this opportunity to start my head coaching career here at Shippensburg University.”

The fall season began on Sept. 7, giving Miller her first opportunities to instill a new winning culture with the program.

Miller will return to her alma mater April 12, 2017, for a matchup with the Warriors — this time on the other sideline.

“I think it’ll be strange playing on my field where I spent endless hours playing on, but at the same time I also just want to look at it as just another conference game,” Miller said. “I want to go into that game just like any other game with the best prepared game plan.”

The SU lacrosse team will begin its season Feb. 27 at Wilmington Delaware University.

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