Kelly McPartland joined Wagner as the women's lacrosse coach in July of 2021.
A two-time National Champion at Maryland, current member of the Athletes Unlimited Professional Lacrosse League, and most recently an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of Delaware, was named head women's lacrosse coach on July 19, 2021.
In her first season on Grymes Hill, McPartland guided the Seahawks to a 5-2 NEC mark and seven All-NEC competitors. The Seahawks led the NEC with 319 ground balls, 169 caused turnovers, and 9.94 ground balls per game.
McPartland also helped guide AIleen Hannan to an NEC Defensive Player of the Year nod and an All-ECAC recognition.
During her second season in 2023, McPartland led the Seahawks to a 9-8 overall record and a 7-1 mark in NEC play. McPartland helped guide Aileen Hannan, who won her second consecutive NEC Defensive Player of the Year honor. Along with Hannan, Lauren DiStefano was named NEC Goalkeeper of the Year and was also named a USA Lacrosse Honorable Mention All-American. The Seahawks made their eighth NEC title game appearance in nine seasons.
During the 2023 season, Aileen Hannan finished the regular season second in the NEC with 27 caused turnovers and 1.93 caused turnovers per game. She also finished fifth with 2.64 ground balls per game and eighth with 3.57 draw controls per game. Hannan's ground ball and draw control totals ranked first on the Seahawks.
Hannan's ground balls per game ranked 31st nationally as her caused turnovers per game totals rank 23rd in the nation.
DiStefano ended the regular season leading the NEC with 3.21 ground balls per game. The West Islip, NY native finished second in the NEC in goals against average, save percentage and saves per game.
DiStefano's 9.89 goals against average ranks 20th in the nation while her 3.21 ground balls per game ranked seventh in the nation.
During the 2024 season, McPartland helped guide the Seahawks to the NEC semifinal for the 10th consecutive season, Wagner also picked up two First Team All-NEC honorees in seniors Kelsey Scheidel and Ryan Murphy. It was the seventh consecutive season Wagner has had at least two First Team All-NEC honorees.
McPartland inherited a Seahawk program that, under Michelle Tumolo, reached a Northeast Conference-record seventh consecutive conference tournament championship game in 2021. Tumolo recently accepted the head coaching position at Army West Point.
Prior to her two seasons with the Blue Hens, McPartland spent the 2015-2019 seasons as an assistant at Columbia University, where the Lions made the program's first-ever trip to the Ivy League Tournament in 2018. A Farmingdale, N.Y. native, McPartland is also a former coach of the Long Island Yellow Jackets lacrosse club, whose players have gone on to D-I programs across the country.
McPartland also played professionally in the Women's Professional Lacrosse League (WPLL) as a midfielder for the Fight. Prior to joining the WPLL for its inaugural season in 2018, she played for the Long Island Sound in the United Women's Lacrosse League for two years. In November 2018, McPartland was part of a 15-player team that traveled to Japan with the WPLL to help continue growing the sport around the world.
As a member of the US Women's National Lacrosse Team from 2011 to 2015, McPartland won a gold medal for Team USA at the 2011 FIL Women's U-19 World Lacrosse Championship in Hanover, Germany.
Prior to joining Columbia, McPartland spent four years as a standout midfielder at the University of Maryland. As a Terrapin, she helped lead Maryland to back-to-back National Championships in 2014 and 2015. As a junior, she finished the season with 61 goals and 94 points on her way to earning All-American honors. A team captain as a senior, McPartland was also a three-time NCAA All-Tournament Team member and a three-time selection to the Tewaaraton Award Watch List (2013, 2014, 2015).
McPartland graduated from Maryland in 2015 with a bachelor's degree in hearing and speech sciences.
What They're Saying About Kelly McPartland
"Kelly cares deeply about those around her and will help the women's lacrosse student-athletes get better both on and off the field."
– Cathy Reese, University of Maryland Head Women's Lacrosse Coach
"Kelly's knowledge of the game, recruiting ability, and passion for the sport make her an exceptional coach. Wagner is very fortunate to be getting one of the best in the game."
– Amy Altig, University of Delaware Head Women's Lacrosse Coach
"Kelly understands what it means to compete at the highest level and I have no doubt that her experiences will help her in this new exciting journey!"
– Lauren Kahn, Iona College Head Women's Lacrosse Coach
