George Washington University Athletics
Lacrosse Rounds Out Coaching Staff
8/19/2019 9:23:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
Monica Yeakel and Haley Hicklen join Colonials as Assistant Coaches
WASHINGTON – George Washington lacrosse head coach Jennifer Ulehla announced the hirings of Monica Yeakel and Haley Hicklen as assistant coaches, rounding out the team's staff for the 2020 campaign.
"I am excited for this excellent opportunity to work with Monica and Haley as we begin our journey leading a new era of the GW lacrosse program," said Ulehla.
"Monica has a champions mentality who, as a hall of fame player, has experienced success as a Division I head coach, assistant coach, and owner/director of a notable girl's lacrosse club program. She is a passionate leader who will work relentlessly to make a difference in the lives of our student-athletes while striving to win championships."
"Haley is a fierce competitor who exemplifies hard work, discipline and excellence. She has competed at the highest level as a collegiate standout and recent professional champion. Haley will inspire our players to be the best version of themselves each and every day as we work to build confidence, skill and team unity on our way to establishing a winning culture."
"Together, we will all work diligently to Raise this program Higher."
Yeakel gained significant coaching experience at the collegiate level between 1997-2008 as the head women's lacrosse coach at UMBC. She led the Retrievers to the NCAA tournament twice, guided UMBC to five Northeast Conference Championships and to the program's first-ever NCAA Division I Top-20 ranking. Yeakel took a team that finished 4-11 in 1996 and led the squad to the NEC title two years later, while garnering Northeast Conference Coach of the Year honors twice in her tenure.
Yeakel comes to GW after serving 11 years as the owner and director of the Diamonds Lacrosse Club.
"I am so incredibly excited to join the coaching staff at the George Washington University," said Yeakel. "I am honored to work alongside Coach Ulehla as we aim to take GW lacrosse to new heights as a perennial competitor in the Atlantic 10. I've always looked at GW with admiration and I'm excited to work with an Athletic Department that holds its student-athletes to a high standard. I want to express my sincere thanks to Director of Athletics and Recreation, Tanya Vogel, Associate Athletics Director, John Square, and Coach Ulehla for this opportunity."
Along with directing the Diamonds Lacrosse Club, Yeakel has worked with HoganLax Team Training developing high school coaches.
Yeakel earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from Loyola in 1994. She was a four-year starter for the Greyhounds, helping the squad to a 47-20 record from 1990-94. A star defender, Yeakel helped Loyola advance to the National Collegiate Semifinals in 1990 and 1994 and received IWLCA All-American First Team honors as a senior. She returned to her alma mater as a volunteer assistant coach in 2007 and stayed on through the Greyhounds' 2009 season. Yeakel was selected to the US Lacrosse Baltimore Chapter Hall of Fame in 2009.
Hicklen, the true definition of a student-athlete, graduated Magna Cum Laude in May 2019 with her Bachelor of Science degree in Sustainability and the Built Environment from the University of Florida. She begins her collegiate coaching career at GW after a record-breaking playing career for the nationally ranked Florida Gators. Hicklen and the Gators compiled a 66-16 win-loss record during her four years in Gainesville. As a senior captain, she graduated with four conference championships and four NCAA Tournament selections. The three-time Tewaaraton Nominee etched her name into the Gators' record book with program-highs in saves (556), groundballs (194) and minutes played by a goalie (3866:17). Along the way, Hicklen collected an impressive selection of accolades, including: IWLCA Second-Team All-American, 2 x BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year (2017, 2018), AAC Goalkeeper of the Year (2019), 3 x BIG EAST All-Tournament Team, AAC All-Tournament Team and IWLCA National Defensive Player of the Week (3/27/19).
"I am excited to be a part of building a championship program at GW, an institution that prides itself on its athletics and academics," said Hicklen. "The opportunity to work closely with Jenny Ulehla and John Square and the culture of determination, commitment, and respect were primary factors in my decision. It's clear that this team has potential to win now and it is our job to help them achieve their goals. I'm looking forward to helping these players discover new highs and achieve the best versions of themselves. I would like to thank Jenny Ulehla, John Square, and Tanya Vogel for this great opportunity. I would also like to thank Mandee O'Leary, Taryn VanThof, and Nadine Hadnagy from the University of Florida for always setting the bar high and their guidance during this process."
Hicklen was drafted up to play for the WPLL Baltimore Brave this summer where she competed among the best lacrosse players in the world and won the WPLL Championship title.
A native of Towson, Maryland, Hicklen has coached and consulted independently over the years as well as working within the prominent Sky Walkers Lacrosse Program.
"I am excited for this excellent opportunity to work with Monica and Haley as we begin our journey leading a new era of the GW lacrosse program," said Ulehla.
"Monica has a champions mentality who, as a hall of fame player, has experienced success as a Division I head coach, assistant coach, and owner/director of a notable girl's lacrosse club program. She is a passionate leader who will work relentlessly to make a difference in the lives of our student-athletes while striving to win championships."
"Haley is a fierce competitor who exemplifies hard work, discipline and excellence. She has competed at the highest level as a collegiate standout and recent professional champion. Haley will inspire our players to be the best version of themselves each and every day as we work to build confidence, skill and team unity on our way to establishing a winning culture."
"Together, we will all work diligently to Raise this program Higher."
Yeakel gained significant coaching experience at the collegiate level between 1997-2008 as the head women's lacrosse coach at UMBC. She led the Retrievers to the NCAA tournament twice, guided UMBC to five Northeast Conference Championships and to the program's first-ever NCAA Division I Top-20 ranking. Yeakel took a team that finished 4-11 in 1996 and led the squad to the NEC title two years later, while garnering Northeast Conference Coach of the Year honors twice in her tenure.
Yeakel comes to GW after serving 11 years as the owner and director of the Diamonds Lacrosse Club.
"I am so incredibly excited to join the coaching staff at the George Washington University," said Yeakel. "I am honored to work alongside Coach Ulehla as we aim to take GW lacrosse to new heights as a perennial competitor in the Atlantic 10. I've always looked at GW with admiration and I'm excited to work with an Athletic Department that holds its student-athletes to a high standard. I want to express my sincere thanks to Director of Athletics and Recreation, Tanya Vogel, Associate Athletics Director, John Square, and Coach Ulehla for this opportunity."
Along with directing the Diamonds Lacrosse Club, Yeakel has worked with HoganLax Team Training developing high school coaches.
Yeakel earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from Loyola in 1994. She was a four-year starter for the Greyhounds, helping the squad to a 47-20 record from 1990-94. A star defender, Yeakel helped Loyola advance to the National Collegiate Semifinals in 1990 and 1994 and received IWLCA All-American First Team honors as a senior. She returned to her alma mater as a volunteer assistant coach in 2007 and stayed on through the Greyhounds' 2009 season. Yeakel was selected to the US Lacrosse Baltimore Chapter Hall of Fame in 2009.
Hicklen, the true definition of a student-athlete, graduated Magna Cum Laude in May 2019 with her Bachelor of Science degree in Sustainability and the Built Environment from the University of Florida. She begins her collegiate coaching career at GW after a record-breaking playing career for the nationally ranked Florida Gators. Hicklen and the Gators compiled a 66-16 win-loss record during her four years in Gainesville. As a senior captain, she graduated with four conference championships and four NCAA Tournament selections. The three-time Tewaaraton Nominee etched her name into the Gators' record book with program-highs in saves (556), groundballs (194) and minutes played by a goalie (3866:17). Along the way, Hicklen collected an impressive selection of accolades, including: IWLCA Second-Team All-American, 2 x BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year (2017, 2018), AAC Goalkeeper of the Year (2019), 3 x BIG EAST All-Tournament Team, AAC All-Tournament Team and IWLCA National Defensive Player of the Week (3/27/19).
"I am excited to be a part of building a championship program at GW, an institution that prides itself on its athletics and academics," said Hicklen. "The opportunity to work closely with Jenny Ulehla and John Square and the culture of determination, commitment, and respect were primary factors in my decision. It's clear that this team has potential to win now and it is our job to help them achieve their goals. I'm looking forward to helping these players discover new highs and achieve the best versions of themselves. I would like to thank Jenny Ulehla, John Square, and Tanya Vogel for this great opportunity. I would also like to thank Mandee O'Leary, Taryn VanThof, and Nadine Hadnagy from the University of Florida for always setting the bar high and their guidance during this process."
Hicklen was drafted up to play for the WPLL Baltimore Brave this summer where she competed among the best lacrosse players in the world and won the WPLL Championship title.
A native of Towson, Maryland, Hicklen has coached and consulted independently over the years as well as working within the prominent Sky Walkers Lacrosse Program.
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