Penn women’s lacrosse rounded out its coaching staff with the new addition of assistant coach Ally Deaver. Deaver previously served as assistant coach and defensive coordinator at Rutgers.
“We are thrilled to welcome Ally to our staff,” Penn women’s lacrosse head coach Karin Brower said in a Penn Athletics announcement. “She brings a wealth of knowledge and tremendous experience, having worked alongside alumna Melissa Lehman at Rutgers, focusing on goalkeeping, defense, and building strong player relationships.”
With Deaver’s help, the Scarlet Knights secured a spot in the Big Ten semifinals for four straight seasons. The program would reach new heights in 2022, where a historical 16 wins brought the team to a No. 10 ranking in the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association poll and a No. 16 ranking nationally.
Deaver is no stranger to the Philadelphia area, as she also previously served as an assistant coach at La Salle from 2017-19, where she worked as the defensive coordinator. Three defenders, including 2019 All-Rookie defender Amanda Farnsworth, were All-Atlantic 10 selections under Deaver’s time on the team. As for her playing career, Deaver competed for Penn State all four years of her collegiate career and led the team to an NCAA Final Four appearance in her senior season.
Deaver is also a recent graduate of the inaugural IWLCA Aspire Program. The program was an intensive educational opportunity that offered workshops and webinars for assistant coaches.
“Ally’s infectious passion for the game — and for Philadelphia — makes her a perfect fit for Penn women’s lacrosse. We know she’ll embrace the grit, fight, and pride we bring to the field every day,” Brower said.
Penn women’s lacrosse has been one of the Red and Blue’s strongest programs. Last season, the team notched a 12-7 overall and 5-2 conference record — good for third in the Ancient Eight. The program reached the NCAA tournament for the third straight season. In the quarterfinals, the Quakers faced a 17-12 heartbreaking loss against No. 3 Northwestern for the second straight year. Looking ahead to this spring, the Red and Blue plan to continue their deep tournament runs even with the graduation of program record holders Anna Brandt and Erika Chung.
“This program’s tradition, passion, and commitment to excellence are truly inspiring,” Deaver said in a press release. “I can’t wait to get to work with such an incredible staff and driven group of student-athletes. Let’s make something special happen.”
