Israel Lacrosse Names National Women’s Head Coach

Lauren Paul Norris has been named head coach of the Israel National Lacrosse Team, which will compete in the 2013 Women’s World Cup, the Israel Lacrosse Association announced this week.

“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to coach internationally, and lead Israel to its first ever World Championship,” said Paul Norris, who is an assistant coach at High Point University in North Carolina. “I am looking forward to being a part of an organization that is geared toward developing young leaders, giving back to its community, and dedicating their time to the development of the game in Israel.”

“Lauren’s resume really speaks for itself,” said Scott Neiss, director of the Israel Lacrosse Association. “We’re extremely confident in Lauren’s coaching ability, her passion for the sport and her commitment to developing the game in Israel. It’s clear she has the experience and the vision to lead our women’s program.”

Paul Norris was a four-time Jewish All-American at Franklin & Marshall College in Pennsylvania, where she led the team to a 68-10 record between 2000 and 2003. She was also a two-time All-American, three-time first team All-Metro Region player and a three-time All-Centennial Conference first team member. She was the first player in team history to score 100 goals and register 100 assists in her career.

Paul Norris went on to be a coach at her alma mater from 2009 to 2012, leading the Diplomats to the 2009 NCAA Div. III championship and Centennial Conference titles in 2009, 2010 and 2011. She was also named Coach of the Year in 2009, as the first coach ever to win the national championship in her first season. Her first jobs after graduation were as assistant coach for Pennsylvania’s Lafayette College in 2004 and then Dickinson College, in the same state, for two seasons.

Israel will make its world championship debut at the 2013 Women’s World Cup, held near Toronto in July.

Israel’s roster will be composed of Israeli players as well as Jewish players from abroad, in accordance with the regulations of the Federation of International Lacrosse. The team will train in Ashkelon for the first week of July before flying as a team to Toronto on July 9.