Shannon McHale completed her fourth year at the helm of the Ithaca women's lacrosse program with the 2015 season. Securing a trio of Empire 8 Coach of the Year accolades, she has led the Bombers to four consecutive Empire 8 title games and a record of 48-24. McHale has guided the Bombers to a 27-2 record in Empire 8 regular-season action during her tenure. In 2012, Ithaca recorded a program-record tying 10 consecutive victories.
McHale spent 10 years as the head coach at St. John Fisher before coming to Ithaca. She led the Cardinals to eight straight postseason appearances, including a program-best 14 wins in 2007. Compiling a record of 98-70, she guided St. John Fisher to a pair of NCAA appearances, two Empire 8 Championships and two ECAC Upstate N.Y. Championships. McHale served as the Director of the CHAMPS/LIFE SKILLS program and the coordinator of the strength and conditioning intramural program.
Named 2007 Empire 8 Coach of the Year while, McHale served as the NCAA Division III Women's Lacrosse Championship Tournament site director as St. John Fisher hosted the championships in 2003 and 2004. In 2008 and 2009, she chaired the NCAA Division III Women's Lacrosse National Committee.
In 1994, McHale was named head women's soccer and women's lacrosse coach at Potsdam, a position she held for five years. She taught classes as an instructor in the Department of Health and Physical Education.
A 1992, graduate of Brockport, McHale was inducted into Brockport's Athletic Hall of Fame following her standout soccer career. She was a first team all-state selection for the Golden Eagles and was selected Brockport Woman of the Year.
McHale served as graduate assistant coach for the women's lacrosse team and a volunteer assistant women's soccer coach at Ithaca during the 1999-2000 academic year, while earning her master's in exercise and sport sciences and sport psychology.
She returned to Potsdam for the 2000-01 seasons before being named women's lacrosse head coach at St. John Fisher.
McHale holds professional certifications from the NCAA Women Coaches Academy, the NCAA Facilitation Workshop and the Athletes Performance Mentorship Program.
7/27/15
