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Villanova University

Villanova, PA 19085
Pennsylvania Northeast
Private Medium Developing team
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Jill Batcheller

Jill Batcheller was named the head coach of the women’s lacrosse team on June 26, 2021. Batcheller previously spent three seasons as head coach at Drexel University and six seasons at Bryant University.


While coaching the Dragons, she posted a 24-15 overall record in three seasons. After two seasons of rebuilding, Batcheller led Drexel to a 13-3 overall mark, a berth in the CAA championship game, an at large bid to the NCAA Tournament and the program’s first-ever top-10 national ranking. The 2021 season marked the first-ever appearance in both the conference title game and the NCAA Tournament for Drexel.


For her efforts during the 2021 season Batcheller became the first Drexel women's lacrosse coach to earn CAA Coach of the Year honors. She was also instrumental in helping Karson Harris garner CAA Player of the Year distinction and Zoe Bennett earn CAA Goalkeeper of the Year accolades. A total of nine dragons earned All-CAA honors for their on-field performances in 2021. In addition, Harris and Colleen Grady were named to the IWLCA All-American second and third teams becoming the first Drexel players to claim All-America honors in the same year.


Prior to her stint at Drexel, Batcheller spent six years as the head coach at Bryant University from 2013-18 where she led the Bulldogs to three NEC conference championships, five straight NEC regular season titles from 2014-18 and an overall record of 77-33 (.600).


She began her coaching career at Saint Joseph's University as an assistant from 2008-09 before moving on to Brown University as the top assistant from 2010-12.


Batcheller is a 2007 graduate of Syracuse University where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Sport Management and was a four-year starting midfielder for the Orange. She became the eighth player in school history to reach 100 career points, leading the program to its first Big East championship in 2007. Batcheller went on to receive a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Saint Joseph's in 2009.


A native of the Philadelphia area, Batcheller played high school lacrosse at Archbishop Carroll High School in Radnor, Pa.

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Kelsea Donnelly

Villanova University head women’s lacrosse coach Jill Batcheller announced the hiring of Kelsea Donnelly as assistant coach on August 20.


Donnelly joins the Wildcat coaching staff after previously serving as assistant coach under Batcheller for the last six years, at Drexel University and Bryant University. While at Drexel, she worked directly with the team’s starting goalie Zoe Bennett, who earned CAA Goalie of the Year and IWCLA DI All-Region First Team selection in 2021. In her two years at Bryant, she oversaw a group that posted back-to-back seasons allowing less than 10 goals per game.


During her collegiate career at Towson Donnelly was the starting goalkeeper from 2013-2015 and was twice named to the All-CAA First Team. In her three seasons as starting goalkeeper, she tallied 56 games and averaged a .470 save percentage and a goals against average of 8.8.


She also currently plays for the Baltimore Brave of the Women’s Professional Lacrosse League.


Donnelly earned her Master’s degree in Sports Administration from Liberty University in 2019 and Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences from Towson in 2015.

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Madison Lesher

Villanova University head women’s lacrosse coach Jill Batcheller announced the hiring of Madison Lesher as assistant coach on August 20.


Lesher begins her first season on the Villanova coaching staff in 2021, after previously serving as assistant coach under Batcheller for the last six years, at Drexel University and Bryant University. In her third season with the Dragons, she directed a defensive effort that ranked 35th in the country, holding opponents to 11 goals per game and causing 7.19 turnovers per game. At Bryant, the team led the NEC in goals against average and save percentage in 2017 and finished second in the conference in 2018.


As a student-athlete, Lesher was a defender at Loyola (Md.) from 2013-2016. She was named the first ever three-time Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year and a two-time defensive All-American.


She was drafted by the Baltimore Ride in the United Women's Lacrosse League draft in May 2016 and now plays for the Philadelphia Fire in the Women's Professional Lacrosse League.


Lesher earned her Bachelor’s degree in Communication from Loyola (Md.) in 2016.

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Michael Corrado

The 2021-22 season marks Mike Corrado’s 16th year as the head coach at Villanova and his 27th overall with the program. Corrado was appointed head coach during the summer of 2006 after being named associate head coach one year earlier.


The 2019, 2013, 2010 and 2009 BIG EAST and CAA Coach of the Year has led the Wildcats to unprecedented

success in recent seasons. Over the last 15 seasons, Corrado has garnered a .549 overall winning percentage. His career record currently stands at 118-98.


The 2021 season marked the ninth straight year Villanova has qualified for the BIG EAST Tournament: the most of any current member in the league.


The Wildcat got an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament in 2018 this marked the third time in program history Villanova entered the big dance. Corrado led the Wildcats to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 2009 and then again in 2011.


Corrado’s squads have consistently played the best competition in the nation and the Wildcats strength of schedule has ranked in the top-5 in the NCAA every year dating back to 2009 according to laxpower.com. Additionally, in 2014 Corrado was chosen to coach in the prestigious USILA North/South All-Star game, where he led the South squad to a convincing 16-10 victory over the North. Corrado returned as an assistant coach for the South squad in 2016.


Corrado has led several players to individual accolades since being appointed head coach. Over the past 15 seasons, 11 student-athletes have earned USILA All-America honors, seven have been earned conference major honors and a total of 55 have been chosen for all-conference laurels. Also, during his time as the head coach at Villanova nine student-athletes have earned USILA Scholastic All-American honors. A total of 20 Wildcat’s have been selected to play in the prestigious USILA Division I North/South Senior All-Star game in recent years, with Jack Rice taking home MVP honors in 2013 and Vigilante earning the same distinction in 2012.


In his time at Villanova, Corrado has served in several capacities including mentoring the defense and serving as the recruiting coordinator. His expertise specifically lies with coordinating defensive efforts, and in 2003 and 2004, the Wildcats scoring defense ranked first and seventh in the nation, respectively. In 2005, Villanova improved to fourth in the country, allowing just 7.13 goals per game.


In November of 2005, Corrado was inducted into the Villanova Varsity Club Hall of Fame, being just the fourth lacrosse player to ever receive this honor. Previous inductees from the men’s lacrosse program include Bob Adams (Class of 1980), Bill Hook (1980) and teammate Drew Cunningham (1985).


A former standout defenseman for the Wildcats, Corrado is in his second stint at Villanova having also served as an assistant under former Head Coach Randy Marks from 1992-95. Upon leaving Villanova, Corrado took a position at Conestoga High School before accepting a head coaching position with the Haverford High School varsity men’s lacrosse team.


As a student-athlete, Corrado was a four-year starter at Villanova from 1984-1987. He was the team’s Rookie of the Year in `84 and named co-captain and Most Valuable Player in his senior season when he collected a team-high 93 ground balls. For his career, Corrado tallied four goals and five assists from the offensive

end of the field and was an All-County player for Islip (N.Y.) High School prior to becoming a Wildcat.


Upon graduation in 1987, Corrado served four years in the U.S. Navy where he was based out of Norfolk, Va. He is a veteran of the Persian Gulf War and retired as a Commander from the Naval Reserves.


Corrado received his Master’s degree in Education from Temple University in 2002. Michael and his wife, Valerie, live in Drexel Hill, Pa. with their son, Matthew.

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Simon Connor

Simon Connor returns to the Villanova sidelines for his 16th season as the top assistant on Michael Corrado's staff and his 11th as Associate Head Coach for the 2021-22 season. Connor was promoted to his current position in June, 2010.


Throughout his duration under Corrado, Connor has helped Villanova reach national recognition as one of the top lacrosse programs in the country. He is heavily involved in all aspects of the program and is directly responsible for the inception and direction of the offense, preparing scouting reports, designing game plans, assisting in player development and acting as the recruiting coordinator.


The 2021 season marked the ninth-straight year Villanova has qualified for the BIG EAST tournament: the most of any current member of the league. Connor has helped lead the team to 10 conference tournaments over the past 11 seasons as a member of both the BIG EAST and CAA conferences and guided Villanova to their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearances in 2009. The Wildcats also returned to the NCAA Tournament in 2011 and 2018.


Villanova's squads have consistently played the best competition in the nation and the Wildcats strength of schedule has ranked in the top-5 in the NCAA every year dating back to 2009 according to laxpower.com. Additionally, in 2014 Connor was chosen to coach in the prestigious USILA North/South All-Star game alongside head coach Mike Corrado, where the staff led the South squad to a convincing 16-10 victory over the North.


Connor has led several players to individual accolades since being appointed associate head coach. Over the past ten seasons, 11 student-athletes have earned USILA All-America honors, eight have been named conference Player of the Years and a total of 55 have been chosen for all-conference laurels.


Nationally, Connor has guided 14 former players into the professional lacrosse ranks most recently Christina Cuccinello and Jake Froccaro.


Connor, a midfielder for the Wildcats in 2001-02, battled injuries throughout his time as a student-athlete before compartment syndrome sidelined his playing career at the end of his sophomore season. He began his coaching career as the head assistant and offensive coordinator at Harriton High School in Rosemont, Pa. before becoming the offensive coordinator at Whittier College in California. In his one year at Whittier, the Poets finished with an 8-7 record.


A 2004 Villanova alumnus, Connor holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. He currently resides in Philadelphia, Pa.

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