McGee Hired as Assistant Lacrosse Coach

BOULDER – Sam McGee, former attacker for Colorado lacrosse, was hired as the assistant coach for the Colorado Buffaloes Lacrosse team, head coach Ann Elliott Whidden announced Friday, July 26.

McGee returns to CU after graduating in 2023 with a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership. This will be McGee's first Division I coaching endeavor after coaching at the club level for the last year.

"I am so excited to welcome Sam back to Boulder as an assistant coach," head coach Ann Elliott Whidden said. "Sam made a huge impact on our program in her two seasons playing as a graduate transfer from St. Joeseph's. She has a lot of experience that I believe will be really beneficial as she transitions into her first collegiate coaching role. Her familiarity with our systems, style of play on offense and the draw will be a big asset to us. Additionally, Sam has a lot of great experience coaching at the club level that will translate both on and off the field. I could not be more excited to hire my first former player as a full-time assistant coach. The passion and commitment that comes with coaching at a school you played for is unmatched. We are really looking forward to having Sam on board with the rest of our staff."

As a two-year starter for the Buffs, McGee totaled 88 goals, 64 draw controls, eight assists and 96 points. She also picked up 19 ground balls and caused 16 turnovers. A significant performance for McGee came at Arizona State on March 26, 2023, where she had six goals. Prior to competing at CU, McGee played all four years of her undergraduate campaign for Saint Joseph's University. In her time at St. Joe's, she totaled 85 goals, 31 assists, 16 draw controls, 21 caused turnovers, 29 groundballs and 116 points.

"I am thrilled to return to CU to join the women's lacrosse team as an assistant coach," assistant coach Sam McGee said. "I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to play at CU myself and found a family here. CU holds a special place in my heart, and the opportunity to come back to a place where I feel so at home and contribute to a program I deeply admire is truly exciting. I am eager to work with our talented and dedicated athletes, helping them achieve their goals both on and off the field. Being part of such a passionate and driven coaching staff is an honor, and I look forward to bringing my experiences and enthusiasm to the team."

McGee was born in Abington, Pa., went to Abington High School and played club lacrosse for Phantastix Lacrosse Club. Her father, Jason McGee, also played lacrosse at West Chester (1990-1994) and saw coaching stints at Abington HS and St. Joe's.

McGee replaces Nicole Beardsley, who was the assistant coach the previous two seasons before moving on to coach at Stanford.

In 2024, the Buffs (13-6, 5-2 Pac-12) came in second in the Pac-12 conference after falling to Stanford, 11-8, in the Pac-12 Championship match. Colorado ended the season ranked 20th in the USA Lacrosse poll and 22nd in the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) poll. Senior attacked Madeline Pisani and sophomore defender Jess Peluso were both earned USA Lacrosse Magazine All-America Honorable Mentions at the end of the 2024 season, and four Buffs were chosen for the All-Pac-12 Team. The Buffs are coached by 11th-year head coach Ann Elliott Whidden 122-67 (.646), who was named IWLCA West/Midwest Region Coach of the Year (2017 and '18), was the 2018 Pac-12 Coach of the Year and 2017 MPSF Coach of the Year.

For more information on the Colorado women's lacrosse team, a complete schedule and results, please visit CUBuffs.com. Fans of the Buffs can follow the team on Instagram and on Twitter @CUBuffsWLax.

Colorado University Athletics

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Sam McGee

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