Young Harris College Director of Athletics Jennifer Rushton announced the women’s lacrosse head coach Samantha Hurley will step down from her position to become head coach at NCAA Division I’s Radford University.
“I would like to thank Samantha for her tireless efforts in leading YHC lacrosse over the past four years,” said Rushton. “She has provided tremendous leadership for all of the young women she has coached. She is a rising star in the coaching profession and I wish her all the best at Radford University.”
Radford is located in Radford, Va., and competes in the Big South Conference. Hurley becomes just the second head coach for the Highlanders’ women’s lacrosse program.
“I am extremely appreciative of the opportunity Young Harris College, Jennifer Rushton and Randy Dunn have given me to build a growing competitive lacrosse program for the past four years,” said Hurley. “I will miss my student-athletes and the strong supportive community.”
Hurley led the Mountain Lions to a 33-25 record over her four seasons in the Enchanted Valley with two regular season Gulf South Conference titles and one GSC Tournament crown. In 2018, Hurley led Young Harris to a program-best 14 wins as they finished the year ranked fifth in the South Region in the NCAA Division II regional rankings.
The two-time GSC Coach of the Year recipient had 16 players named to the All-Gulf South team during Hurley’s time at Young Harris. Hurley coached three players that earned GSC recognition. Erika Cross was named the GSC Co-Player of the Year in 2019, Ella Hancock was named the 2021 GSC Freshman of the Year and Hannah Sacristan was tabbed the 2018 GSC Defensive Player of the Year.
Hurley came to the Enchanted Valley after spending a year as an assistant coach at Mercer University, located in Macon, Ga. Hurley helped guide the NCAA Division I Bears to a 13-6 record in 2017 as they tied for third place in the Atlantic Sun Conference. The 13 wins also was the most in the program’s short three-year history.
A a national search for Hurley’s replacement will be conducted.