TOWSON, Md. - Towson Athletics Hall of Famer, former All-American and Spalding University head coach Shannon Witzel has been named the new assistant coach for the Towson University women's lacrosse team, announced by head coach Kristen Carr on Friday afternoon.
Witzel returns to Towson after three years at the helm of Spalding University's women's lacrosse program. After being named the second head coach in Spalding history, Witzel led the Golden Eagles to historic success, including the team's first conference tournament appearance, back-to-back postseason berths and several all-conference honors. Witzel earned Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) Coach of the Year honors in 2024.
"I am honored to welcome Shannon back to Towson – her pride in Towson women's lacrosse is contagious," said Carr. "Shannon had a decorated playing career at Towson, winning a CAA Championship and earning a bid to the NCAA Tournament. Since then, she has built an accomplished career as both a collegiate assistant coach and head coach. [Witzel's] experience, leadership and competitive joy will be invaluable to our program. We are thrilled to welcome her home!"
"I'm incredibly honored and excited to join Towson University as an assistant women's lacrosse coach," said Witzel. "As a Towson alumna and a former women's lacrosse student-athlete, this program means so much to me, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to give back to the place that helped shape me both on and off the field. I want to sincerely thank Coach Carr for believing in me and giving me this opportunity. I can't wait to get to work with this team and be part of the continued success of the Towson women's lacrosse program."
Prior to joining Spalding, Witzel spent nine years as an assistant coach at the University of Cincinnati. With the Bearcats, she worked primarily with defense and goalies. Witzel helped Cincinnati to its best season in program history in 2018 and turned the program into a conference contender. Before joining Cincinnati, she made coaching stops at La Salle University and Eastern High School.
As a student-athlete at Towson, Witzel established herself as one of the nation's top midfielders. She set the program's single-season goals record with 71 in 2005 and concluded her collegiate career as Towson's all-time leading goal scorer with 208 goals. Witzel earned IWLCA All-Mid-Atlantic Region honors twice and was a three-time All-Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) selection. During Towson's 2005 CAA Championship season, she was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. Witzel was also named to the Tewaaraton Trophy Preseason Watch List in both 2006 and 2007. She was inducted into the Pennsylvania Tri-County Hall of Fame in 2016 and the Towson Athletics Hall of Fame in 2019.
