New Ireland National Team Head Coaches appointed

Ireland Lacrosse is proud to announce the appointments of Meghan Smith as Head Coach of Ireland’s inaugural Women’s 6s National Team and Joe Hiltz as Head Coach of Ireland’s inaugural Women’s National Box Team.

No stranger to Ireland Lacrosse, Meghan Smith joined Ireland Lacrosse as an Assistant Coach for Ireland’s inaugural U19 Women’s National Team which participated in the World Lacrosse U19 Women’s World Championships held in Peteborough, Ontario in 2019. Meghan continues in that role for the Ireland U21 Women’s National Team that will represent Ireland at the European Women’s U21 Lacrosse Championship in Prague, Czech Republic this coming July. Meghan also served as Head Coach for Ireland’s Festival Team (Team Éire) at the 2022 Women’s World Championship. Following a stellar playing career at St Anselm’s College (Manchester, NH) Meghan returned to her alma mater in 2015, now serving in her 8th year as Head Coach.

Smith on her appointment….”I am so excited and honored to be named the Head Coach of the first Women’s 6s Team! Ireland Lacrosse is such an amazing organization that I have loved being apart of with the U19 staff. I cant wait to continue to help grow the game in Ireland and compete internationally with this new sixes format! #COYGIG

Joe Hiltz, a Peterborough, Ontario native has been involved in every aspect of the box game, spanning over 35+ years (amateur & professional player, coach, official, organizer, administrator). Joe presently serves the Ontario Lacrosse Association as the Ontario Series Lacrosse Commissioner. He is also the Head Coach & General Manager of the Oshawa Outlaws in the Arena Lacrosse League.

Hiltz on his appointment….“I am excited to bring my knowledge of and passion for the game to Ireland’s new women’s box lacrosse program. It is an honour to be a part of the Irish lacrosse community. I look forward to helping develop the women’s box program and to work alongside Ireland’s dedicated coaches, players and organizers.

On these two most recent appointments, Ireland Lacrosse CEO Michael Kennedy added… “We are delighted to add Meghan and Joe to our group of Ireland National Team Head Coaches.  These appointments are particularly important as it now means we have achieved gender equality across our eight national teams, with men’s and women’s teams across all disciplines (field, box, 6s) and age-profiles (senior & U19/U20/U21), which is an important element of our new Strategic Plan 2023-2026.  I would like to thank Ireland Lacrosse National Teams Director John Cavanaugh for leading the appointment process, and our other Ireland National Team Head Coaches who also assisted.

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