Kristen Skiera tabs Shannon Gilroy as Associate Head Coach of lacrosse programKristen Skiera tabs Shannon Gilroy as Associate Head Coach of lacrosse program
Lacrosse

Kristen Skiera tabs Shannon Gilroy as Associate Head Coach of lacrosse program

BLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech head coach Kristen Skiera announced the hiring of Shannon Gilroy as associate head coach of the Hokies on Monday. Gilroy and Skiera have worked together for the past five years at Army where Gilroy held the same title.
 
"I am super grateful and excited to welcome Shannon and her fiancé Pat to Blacksburg," Skiera said of Gilroy. "When I think about our goals and vision for the program at Virginia Tech, Shannon is the perfect coach to help them come to fruition. I have had the luxury of working with Shannon over the past five years at Army and have witnessed her unbelievable work ethic, poise and ability to develop confident athletes and leaders. I am so excited for the student athletes in our program to be able to be mentored and developed by Shannon."


 
Gilroy joined the Army West Point women's lacrosse coaching staff in August 2016 and in just five years on the staff helped develop Army into not only one of the top draw control and offensive units in the Patriot League, but also in all of Division I. Over the past three seasons, the Black Knights have finished in the top four in the league in draw controls and inside the top-four in goals per game while setting program records in numerous offensive categories. During that stretch, the Cadets have also ranked inside the top-30 nationally in draw controls per game.
 



Offensively the Cadets put on a strong showing, finishing third in goals per game (12.78) while topping the rankings in shots per game (31.78). The high-powered Army attack guided the team to a 5-2 conference record and a five-game win streak to end the regular season. Gilroy's guidance also resulted in a league-best 11.44 turnovers per game. 

Despite a shortened 2020 season in which the Black Knights were one of just eight teams in Division I with an undefeated record, Gilroy had the Cadets on a scoring tear through the first seven games of the year. On top of carrying a 7-0 record, the Black Knights boasted the nation's top draw control unit after winning 68 percent of their draws. Army had scored in double figures in each of the seven outings while ranking 15th nationally in goals per game (15.29).

Gilroy was part of program history during the 2019 season as the Black Knights played to a program-best 14-5 record and a third-place finish in the Patriot League standings after recording a 6-3 mark in league play. Army played in its first-ever league tournament and claimed a, 12-9, win in the quarterfinal round versus Lehigh at Michie Stadium. The successful season also included a seven-game winning streak to start the year, a program-high nine home wins and countless records broken.

Gilroy worked closely with Jackie Brattan, who led the nation in free position shot percentage as a sophomore and became first cadet in program history to eclipse 100 draw controls in a single season. Julianna Dworschak and Samantha Stewart also were threats on the draw, compiling career highs of 87 and 79, respectively. The trio were one of just three in 2019 to all record over 70 draws for the season, joining the likes of Boston College, Notre Dame and Maryland. For the season, Army finished 16th nationally in draw control percentage (.574) and tied for 17th in draw controls per game (15.32).

Gilroy also helped coach Brattan, Stewart, Manuela Cortes and Caroline Raymond to All-Patriot League postseason honors. Raymond was additionally tabbed the rookie of the year in the Patriot League and by the ECAC following a year in which she set the program record for points and assists.
 
In 2018, Gilroy also worked with one of the deepest draw control units in the nation as Amy Johnston (85), Stewart (47), Brattan (46) and Dworschak (42) were one of just eight units with four different players recording 40 or more draw controls, along with Boston College, Coastal Carolina, High Point, Maryland, Navy, Princeton and San Diego State.

She mentored Johnston to the program's first All-Patriot League First Team honors and at the time, a program-record 85 draw controls. Johnston became one of two players in program history at the time to eclipse 100 career points, joining teammate Rachel Hornick. 

The Black Knights were equally deep in the attacking zone with eight players posting 20 or more points, six of whom eclipsed the 20-goal mark. Hornick led the offensive group for the second consecutive year in goals (25), assists (23) and points (48), documenting the program's first season with 20 goals and 20 assists.
 
In her first season at Army, Gilroy instructed Hornick to the program's first 50-point season with 40 goals and 13 assists. She also worked closely with Army's first postseason honorees as Manuela Cortes and Kiersten Spencer were named to the All-Patriot League Second Team.
 
Prior to West Point, Gilroy worked primarily with the attack and midfield units at Vanderbilt and mentored Second Team All-BIG EAST honorees Kelly Chandler and Emma Dagres. 
 
Gilroy also brings a wealth of top-level playing experience, including competing on the United States Women's National Lacrosse Team since June 2015. She was one of 24 players to represent the United States during a foreign tour to England in the summer of 2016.
 
She has gained additional experience as a member of the Long Island Sound of the United Women's Lacrosse League, the world's first-ever professional women's lacrosse league. Gilroy was drafted 10th overall by Long Island during the inaugural United Women's Lacrosse League Draft in April 2016.
 
Prior to playing at the national and professional levels, Gilroy enjoyed a standout playing career at the University of Florida, where she was a two-time finalist for the Tewaaraton Award presented annually to the top player in the nation.
 
A three-time All-American at Florida, Gilroy helped lead the Gators to three conference titles and four appearances in the NCAA Tournament, including a trip to the Final Four in 2012. She was named BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year in 2015, while earning All-Tournament Team honors each year. - in the American Lacrosse Conference (ALC) in 2012, 2013 and 2014 and in the BIG EAST in 2015. Additionally, Gilroy was named ALC Midfielder of the Year in 2014 and was an Inside Lacrosse BIG EAST Player of the Week.
 
Gilroy finished her career ranked tied for eighth in the NCAA Division I record books in career goals (256) and tied for 16th in points (320).
 
Gilroy graduated from Florida with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English in 2015.