Walsh Launches New Women's Lacrosse Program

What's New, 2012-01-18

Walsh Names Joya Mitchell to Lead New Women's Lacrosse Program

Walsh University Vice President and Director of Athletics Dale Howard has announced the hiring of Joya M. Mitchell as the first women's lacrosse coach. Walsh will implement the sport for the 2012-13 academic year. It is anticipated that the program will compete in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC).

"We are pleased to announce the hiring of Joya Mitchell as our first women's lacrosse coach," said Howard. "She brings enthusiasm and tremendous lacrosse knowledge to our campus and is a great fit with our athletic program."

"I am thrilled to be first women's lacrosse coach at Walsh," echoed Mitchell. "It is a tremendous challenge and honor to start a program at the intercollegiate level. I'm looking forward to the challenge and to making Walsh University Lacrosse a success."

Mitchell earned her Bachelor of Education from the University of Toledo (2000) and her Master's of Science of Education from the University of Akron (2007). She earned her post graduate degree in Secondary Administrative Licensure from the University of Akron (2011).

She was the Head Girls Lacrosse Coach at Hudson High School from 2001-2010, after serving as the junior varsity coach (2000-2001). Mitchell took four teams to the State Final Four (2001, 2005, 2008, 2010) and has a record of 143-36-2. She was also the Head Coach for the University of Toledo Club Lacrosse Team (1999-2000).

Joya is still a coach and director of the Greater Cleveland Lacrosse winter and summer leagues. She has served in the position since 2000. She is a member of the Ohio Education Association (OEA), the Ohio School Girls Lacrosse Association (OSLA) and is on the board of the US Lacrosse-National Governing Board of Lacrosse.

She is employed currently at Hudson Middle School as an Intervention Specialist.