Cambridge, Mass-- Lesley University Athletics Director, Jen Viana, announced the hiring of Stephanie Smyrl as the Associate Athletics Director for the Lynx. Smyrl joins Lesley from fellow NECC foe Wheelock College where she served the Wildcat's Athletic Department for 11 years. In her tenure at Wheelock, she served as the Associate Athletics Director and Senior Womens Administrator for 9 years, and Assistant Athletic Director in her first year (2008-09).
"I am thrilled to have Stephanie join our athletic's staff at Lesley University," said Viana. "She is very familiar with the NCAA Division III landscape and comes to us with a wealth of knowledge and experience as an athletics administrator. I have no doubt that Stephanie will add tremendous value to our department and make an immediate, positive impact on the overall student-athlete experience," Viana concluded.
During her first four years at Wheelock, Smyrl simultaneously worked in an administrative role while serving as the women's soccer head coach. By guiding the program for four years, between 2007 and 2010, she is the most tenured coach in the program's eight-year history. Additionally, Smyrl finished out the fall of 2010 as the interim men's soccer head coach. Under Smyrl, Wheelock won NECC Sportsmanship Awards in 2008 and 2010 and the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Sportsmanship Award in 2007. Her 2010 men's team also corralled a league sportsmanship nod.
Before arriving at Wheelock, Smyrl spent two years as the girls' soccer head coach at Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School. In her first year, she guided the team to the Division III North championship title, a first for the program. In the same season, the team advanced to the state championship game, a tremendous turnaround after going 3-9-4 the prior fall.
Smyrl began her coaching career at Endicott College, where she served as a women's soccer assistant coach for two years, in 2003 and 2004. The team won The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC) Tournament titles and earned an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament both years, combining to go 34-8-2 overall and 23-1 in the league. She completed her master's degree in business administration at Endicott while working full time as both a coach and the sports information intern.
Smyrl graduated in 2003 from Stony Brook (NY) University, where she majored in English. A four-year member of the women's soccer team, the Pittsburgh native was named co-captain her senior year. She was an active member of the Dean's Student Life Advisory Council and served as the female president for the institution's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). During her senior year, Smyrl was selected for the University's Annual Undergraduate Recognition Award in Leadership, and she also received an Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Merit Award.
"I want to thank Athletics Director Jen Viana and the rest of the Lesley staff that have extended a warm welcome to me as I join the Lynx family," says Smyrl. "I am honored to be a part of an institution and athletic department whose values align with my own. In my 11 years at fellow NECC member Wheelock College, I have seen the growth and success of Lesley Athletics and I am excited to be a part of the team moving forward."