Christopher Newport University Director of Athletics Todd Brooks today named Lisa Valentine women's lacrosse coach. Valentine will become the fourth head coach in the 15-year history of the CNU program after leading St. Mary's College of Maryland for the last five seasons.
 
"I'm very excited to welcome Lisa to the Christopher Newport family," Brooks said. "She has done a terrific job at St. Mary's and has all of the attributes needed to be a successful leader. I believe she will have an immediate positive impact on our student-athletes and the women's lacrosse program."
 
Valentine compiled an overall record of 49-39 with the Seahawks, and a mark of 22-15 in the Capital Athletic Conference. The Stevensville, Maryland, native led the squad to a 13-5 record last season, including a 6-2 mark in the CAC.
 
"I would like to thank President Paul Trible and Director of Athletics Todd Brooks for this incredible opportunity," Valentine said. "Christopher Newport is a special place that harbors an elite level of support for its student-athletes. I look forward to joining the CNU community and helping the women's lacrosse program compete at a championship level."
 
Valentine is a 2006 graduate of the University of Maryland, where she played on the women's lacrosse squad from 2002 to 2006. She was a part of Terrapin teams that reached the NCAA Tournament all four years, including the Final Four in 2003.
 
She previously served as Senior Assistant Coach of the women's lacrosse program at Washington College of Maryland from 2008 to 2011. Valentine was named head coach at St. Mary's prior to the 2011 season, and guided the Seahawks to a pair of trips to the semifinals of the CAC Tournament in 2013 and 2015. The program registered its first victory over a Top 20 team since 2010 this season when St. Mary's posted a 10-9 win over 17^th ranked Washington College.
 
Valentine will take over a youthful CNU program that finished 9-8 this season and 5-3 in the CAC with just one senior on the roster. She takes over from Carolyn Query, who led the Captains to six NCAA Tournaments over the last eight seasons.