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Kim Wayne
Kim Wayne became head coach of the Davidson women's lacrosse program in July of 2008.
Wayne capped off her 15th year coaching at Davidson College with the 2023 season, leading the Wildcats to their third-straight winning record (12-6) and third consecutive season with 10 wins or more. The 'Cats also advanced to the Atlantic 10's semifinal round for the third time in a row, as four scholar-athletes earned postseason honors from the league. Freshman standout Allie Hartnett was named to the conference's All-Rookie and First Team All-Conference squad, while Margaret Anne Warner and Julianne Carey captured Second Team honors and Grace Fahey was named to the All-Academic squad.
2022 proved to be another fantastic season for Wayne and the Wildcats, as Davidson ended the regular season 12-4 overall, matching the program's record for most wins in a single season. With a second-consecutive appearance in the Atlantic 10 semifinal game, Davidson had defeated Duquesne in its quarterfinal matchup, 10-7, to capture its 13th win of the season and set a new program record for single-season victories.
For their regular season successes in 2022, seven Wildcats were represented on the Atlantic 10's All-Conference teams, as junior attacker Erin Cooke, sophomore defender Noelle Cegielski and junior goalkeeper Amanda Monahan all earned First Team honors, while seniors Gianna New and Emma Johnson were named to the Second Team. Freshman midfielder, and one of Davidson's leading draw takers, Riley Moore was also named to the All-Rookie squad, while senior Lauren Arkell rounded out the awards with an All-Academic nod. In addition to Monahan's First Team honor, the netminder was also named a USA Lacrosse Magazine Honorable Mention All-American selection, the first ever All-American recognition for a Wildcat.
After the 2020 season was cut short due to COVID-19, Wayne and the Wildcats returned to the field in 2021 with a vengeance, having one of their most prolific seasons in program history. After winning four of their first five games of the season, the 'Cats upset No. 16 Virginia Tech, 15-8, for the program's first win over a ranked opponent and helped Wayne earn her 100th career win at the helm of the program on the same night. From there, the Wildcats went on to have a 6-1 Atlantic 10 Conference season, clinching an A-10 tournament berth and landing 10 'Cats on the league's All-Conference lists.
As Davidson finished the season 11-4 overall, Wayne earned her first A-10 Coach of the Year honor, along with coaching the league's Rookie of the Year in Julianne Carey, who won seven Rookie of the Week titles, marking the most weekly awards won by a freshman in Atlantic 10 lacrosse history. To pair with the yearly honors, the Wildcats landed two players on the First Team, two on the Second Team, three All-Rookie selections and one All-Academic Team member for the most postseason honors for the program since 2015.
The 2019 season saw Wayne and the Wildcats get off to a program-best start 6-0 to open the season. Though the 'Cats would go on to finish 8-9 (2-7 A-10) for the season, five of those defeats were by four goals or less, including two that went down to the wire in one-goal setbacks. Despite missing out on the A-10 Championship for the first time in three years, Davidson was well represented on the postseason all-league list. Natalie Junior earned all-second team, Braeden Dial and Gianna New were named to the all-rookie team, and Sarah Kopp earned one of 11 spots on the all-academic team, her third straight appearance on the team. Dial would be named A-10 Rookie of the Week a school-record four times.
It was a double-digit win season in 2018, the first since 2014, as Wayne led Davidson to an 11-8 overall record, 6-2 on the road, and another solid 5-4 mark in A-10 play. She guided the Wildcats to the semifinals of the league championship for the second year in a row after downing VCU in the quarterfinals before falling to UMass to end the season. Twice the 'Cats registered four-game winning streaks during the season, the longest streak since a nine-game stretch during the 2014 campaign.
Five Wildcats were honored by the A-10 with postseason honors. Sarah Kopp and Rose Woolson were first team picks, while the freshmen duo of Olivia Carey and Natalie Junior earned spots on the all-rookie team. Kopp and Rachel Hianik were named to the A-10 All-Academic Team, which was the second year in a row for Kopp.
Wayne saw senior Christine Molinari and Woolson left their names etched throughout the record books. Molinari finished her career fourth all-time in assists and 10th in career points, while Woolson was one of the program's all-time great goalies as she ranked fourth in minutes, and third in saves (461) and goals against average (10.12). Her 162 groundballs is the most all-time.
In 2017, Wayne guided the Wildcats to an 8-10 record and a 5-4 league mark, while the program won its first-ever A-10 Tournament game with a huge 14-13 comeback victory against George Mason.
For the second year in a row, three Wildcats were honored by the A-10 with Nicole Pettiglio earning a spot on the all-second team at midfield, while Shayne Antolini earned a spot on the league's all-rookie team. Sarah Kopp was honored for her success on the field and in the classroom by being named to the all-academic team to become the first Wildcat to earn a spot on the team.
Under the guidance of Wayne, the senior duo of Pettiglio and Annie Brockett left their names in the record books. Pettiglio had a career and team-high 55 draw controls, good for sixth-most in a single season, and ended with 86 total to place her 10th all-time. Brockett, a two-time A-10 All-Tournament Team pick, left Davidson with her name in the record books, ranking seventh in career goals (102) and just outside the top-10 in points with 123. Her 50 goals this year were tied for third-most all time in a single season.
It was another solid season in 2016 for Wayne and the Wildcats, who reached the A-10 Tournament for the first time in just their second year in the league. Davidson registered a 5-4 record in A-10 play to earn the fifth seed, closing the year out strong by winning three of its final five league games. Despite falling the Saint Joseph's in the first game of the tournament, 10-7, the 'Cats had a respectable 8-9 overall record on the year to improve by two wins from the previous season.
A trio of Wildcats were honored by the A-10 with defender Holly Thomas and goalie Rose Woolson each earning a spot on the second team, and Sarah Kopp getting one of the 12 spots on the all-rookie team. It was Thomas' second time on the all-second team.
Wayne coached another one of the Wildcats' all-time program leaders as Emma Sissman graduated in 2016 as the all-time leader in draw controls with 237. Sissman, who set the single-season draw controls mark at 75 in 2014, also finished her career ranked in the top-10 all-time in goals with 133 and points at 153. In 2014, Sissman ranked third in the single-season record book with 50 goals, one of just three Wildcats to reach that mark in a season.
The 2015 season marked a new beginning for Wayne and the lacrosse program as it moved to the A-10 for its 22nd season. Davidson went 6-10 overall on the year and 3-5 in conference play during Wayne's seventh season. The Wildcats collected their first league win with a 9-7 win at home over George Mason. Of the 'Cats' five A-10 defeats in A-10, three of them were decided by a single goal.
Wayne saw four players earn all-league honors at the end of the season. Emily Rademacher and Holly Thomas were each named to the A-10 All-Second Team, while the freshmen duo of Paige Farrar and Rachel Hianik were two of the 12 first-year players to be named to the A-10 All-Rookie Team. For the second year in a row, Wayne saw one of the all-time great players in program history graduate under her leadership as Emily Cooke finished her storied career. Cooke left Davidson second all-time in points and set the career assist mark with 123. Cooke along with freshman Christine Molinari each won Davidson's first A-10 weekly awards, earning player and rookie of the week honors, Feb. 16.
It was another successful year and a memorable one in 2014 as Wayne collected her 50th career win during the season and became the program's all-time winningest coach on her way to coaching the Wildcats to a school-best 12 wins (12-7). She earned her 50th victory in 13-9 road win at Longwood, Apirl 25. Earlier in the month, the 2013 Big South Coach of the Year won her 47th career game to set the program mark for most coaching wins, surpassing Mary Schwartz, who had collected 46 during her eight year tenure (1996-2003).
Wayne again coached one of the top players in the Big South when freshman Katherine Rueger was named the league's freshman of the year. She was also named to the All-Big South Second Team along with Ann Fucigna and Emily Cooke. Earning a spot on the first team under Wayne in 2014 was Paige Logan, Emma Sissman and Emily Rademacher. Logan was named to the Big South All-Academic Team.
The Wildcats went 6-1 in their final season in the Big South and reached the championship game for the second year in a row, before falling to High Point. In addition to the school-record 12 wins, Davidson rattled off a new school-best nine-game win streak, topping the seven set a year ago. It also set a single-season record for draw controls (247) to surpass the previous mark of 235 set in 2011. Individually, Wayne saw Sissman set the all-time record for draw controls in just two years and set a new single season mark with 75.
Wayne saw three players earn Big South Weekly awards with Rueger taking home the rookie of the week twice, Fucigna and Sissman earning the offensive player of the week once each and Logan earning a defender of the week award.
Wayne had the privilege to coach one of the program's all-time best players in Fucigna. The senior graduated from Davidson holding the all-time records for goals (192) and points (261), while ranking third in career assists with 69.
Wayne's fifth season in 2013 was one of the best in program history. She guided the Wildcats to the inaugural Big South Regular Season Title with a perfect 7-0 mark in league play and they finished with an 11-7 overall record, tying for most wins in a year. Davidson also set at the time a program-best with a seven-game win streak during the season. For her great accomplishments, Wayne was named the Big South Coach of the Year, the first coach's honor of her career. She coached the Big South Offensive Player of the Year Emily Cooke, while seeing seven 'Cats earn first or second team honors. Davidson advanced to the Big South Championship game before falling in a closely-battled contest to High Point, 9-7. Three Wildcats were named to the all-tournament team.
In addition, a few other records fell during Wayne's fifth campaign. Davidson tied a school bench mark for home wins with eight and broke the single-season record for goals with 229, which had been set in 2012 with 222. Wayne saw Cooke set the single-game record for assists with 10 and tied the single-game points mark with 11 vs. Kennesaw State, Feb. 25. The sophomore also went on to set the single-season record for assists (55) and points (87). Junior Ann Fucigna became the program's all-time record holder in goals with 153 and points at 197. Senior goalkeeper Jessica Melby set the program's single-game mark for goals against average at a Big South-best 8.36.
During her fourth season, 2012, Davidson went 8-10 with a 4-3 NLC mark. The Wildcats reached the semifinals of the NLC Tournament for the third year in a row, before falling to High Point. They closed the year winning four of their last five games, including a season-best three-game win streak near the end of the regular season. Under the guidance of Wayne, four 'Cats were named All-NLC, including Ann Fucigna who garnered first team honors. The sophomore had a record-setting season as she set the program's single-season mark for goals (51) and points (74). Fucigna's 23 assists were also good for third-most in a Wildcat single-season. In addition to the four all-league players, three other Wildcats were named to the NLC All-Academic Team.
In 2011, Wayne guided the 'Cats to a 6-12 overall record and 4-3 in the NLC. Davidson won its first-round game vs. Liberty in the NLC Tournament, hosted by the Wildcats, but fell to Jacksonville in the semifinals. After starting the season with five straight defeats, Wayne got the Wildcats rolling heading into the tournament, winning four of its last six games to finish out the regular season. Wayne again coached the league's top defensive player as Lily Graham won the honor for the second year in a row. Davidson also placed three players on the NLC First Team and one on the second team, while putting a pair of 'Cats on the all-tournament team. Wayne also coached one of the top freshman in the league in Ann Fucigna, who tied a Wildcat single-season record with 49 goals.
Wayne's second year, 2010, saw Davidson return to a conference as the Wildcats joined the National Lacrosse Conference and had a very successful inagurual season. Wayne guided the 'Cats to a 5-1 NLC record, good for second place, and a 9-9 overall mark. Davidson advanced all the way to the conference championship game where it faced No. 1-seeded Longwood, before seeing its season come to an end. The Wildcats put seven players on All-NLC First and Second Teams combined, and had the league's top defender in Lily Graham and top goalkeeper in Michelle Pav. The Wildcats also put three players on the NLC All-Tournament Team. Wayne had the pleasure of coaching the school's new all-time goal scorer, and single-season goal and points leader in senior Jen Crawford.
In her first year, Wayne guided the Wildcats to a 6-10 mark. Davidson started out the Wayne era with wins in five of its first seven games, including scoring the program’s first wins against CW Post, Central Connecticut State and Suny Cortland. Also in her first season, Wayne helped Davidson earn a spot in the newly formed National Lacrosse Conference, April 21, 2009. It’s the first time they have been in a conference since playing in the American Lacrosse Conference from 2002-05.
Wayne joined the Wildcat athletic staff after working as an assistant coach for two years at Columbia University in New York, N.Y., where she was reunited with the Lions' head coach Kerri Whitaker. Wayne was a student-athlete for Syracuse lacrosse while Whitaker was an assistant coach for the Orange. Her main responsibility while at Columbia was as the defensive coordinator as she was solely in charge of the Lions' defensive unit and goalkeepers.
Prior to her two-year stint at Columbia, Wayne was an assistant lacrosse coach at Johns Hopkins University where she primarily worked with the Blue Jays’ attacking unit. Before her time at JHU, Wayne also spent two years at James Madison where she worked with the Dukes' defensive unit. Both JHU and JMU attained national rankings during Wayne's tenure; with the Blue Jays ranking as high as No. 2 and the Dukes as high as No. 4.
A native of Scarsdale, N.Y., Wayne was a four-year starter at Syracuse and earned third team All-America honors from Inside Lacrosse and first-team Regional All-America honors. The Orange competed in the NCAA Tournament in each of her four seasons. Upon her graduation, Wayne held numerous records at Syracuse, which since have been broken. At one time she had the most assists in a season, most assists in a game and total career assists, along with most points in a single game.
Wayne earned a Bachelor of Science degree in information management technology from Syracuse in 2003. In 2006, she received her master’s in Kinesiology with a concentration in sports management from James Madison.
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