The Red Flash women’s soccer, field hockey and lacrosse teams will be led by new head coaches in 2024-25.
Brian Diaz assumed head coaching responsibilities of the women’s soccer program in June after serving as an assistant at Oakland University in Michigan for the last seven seasons.
“We appreciate how Brian has stepped into the role,” said senior team captain Lauren Pyle. “He has brought a lot of energy and intensity from the start, and he has shifted our mentality.”
A graduate of Tusculum University in Tennessee, Diaz also holds a master’s degree from South Alabama.
Mackenzie Allessie takes over as the new head coach of the field hockey team. A former member of the U.S. National Team and a 2023 graduate of Penn State, she played two seasons at Ohio State and three at PSU. Allessie finished her collegiate career with 61 goals and 45 assists and was a five-time All-American.
“I feel like this place is already home,” said Allessie, who inherits a team that advanced to the NEC Tournament last season.
Mackenzie is such a supportive coach,” said senior midfielder Alli Kirsch. “She pushes us every day to the next level.”
Like Allessie, new Red Flash lacrosse head coach Morgan Gott enters her first season at the helm of a collegiate program. She served as an assistant at SFU the last two seasons.
The Flash lacrosse squad posted an 18-14 record from 2023-24 and a 12-6 mark in NEC matches. The team advanced to the conference tournament each of the last two seasons.
“We are returning a lot of talent and are looking to integrate the new talent coming in,” said Gott, who played at Coastal Carolina from 2013-16.
“It definitely helps that we already worked with Coach Gott for the last couple of years,” said junior midfielder Julia Givens.
