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Eastern CT State University

Eastern Connecticut State Univ Athletics
 83 Windham Street Willimantic, CT 06226
Division 3 Connecticut Northeast
Public Medium Competitive team
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Devyne Doran

In the summer of 2023, Devyne Doran ’17 was appointed as the seventh permanent head coach in the 29-year history of the Eastern Connecticut State University women’s lacrosse program, becoming the first alumnus to assume that role.


A native of South Kingstown, RI, Doran returned to Eastern after playing four seasons (2014-17) and serving as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for two years (2018-19) under former head coach Christine Hutchison.


“I’m so happy to welcome Devyne back to the Warrior family,” said Director of Athletics Lori Runksmeier upon Doran's appointment. “Her commitment to our student-athletes’ experience was palpable during the interview process. I look forward to her engagement with our women’s lacrosse alumnae, and appreciate her passion for Eastern athletics.”


Doran was a four-year starter on defense under Hutchison and remained as an assistant coach under Hutchison before being named to her first collegiate head coaching position at Mitchell College prior to the 2020 season.


After two seasons at Mitchell, Doran was named head women’s lacrosse coach at Framingham State University prior to the 2022 season, compiling a two-year record of 23-16, 11-3 in the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference (MASCAC) regular season. In her first year, she led the second-seeded Rams to their first MASCAC tournament title and first appearance in the NCAA Division III tournament, the team finishing 11-8 overall and 6-1 in the MASCAC.


Under Doran In the spring of 2023, Framingham finished 12-8 overall and as the third seed, reached the championship game of the MASCAC tournament with wins over No. 6 Fitchburg State University and No. 2 Bridgewater State University, avenging a loss to Bridgewater in the regular season. Four Framingham players were named to the MASCAC All-Star team, three of them voted to the first team.


Offered Doran upon her selection: “I am proud to be named the next head women's lacrosse coach at Eastern Connecticut State University. Thank-you to Lori Runksmeier and the search committee for this amazing opportunity. I couldn't be more excited to return home to my alma mater and build upon the foundation of Eastern's success which I am so grateful to have been a part of. I am committed to Eastern's tradition of excellence by fostering a positive and competitive culture within the program. I can't wait to get to work on the 2024 season!”


Doran was hired as the fourth head coach in the history of the Mitchell women’s lacrosse program prior to the COVID pandemic which limited the team to two matches in 2020 and a total of 14 matches in two years (2020-21).


In addition to college coaching experience, Doran has served as head high school coach and youth club lacrosse coach for Massachusetts-based Central Lacrosse -- a developmental club -- and as a master clinic coach and head girls' lacrosse coach for 3d Lacrosse New England South.


As a senior in 2017 at Eastern, Doran repeated as Little East Conference Defensive Player-of-the-Year, and was additionally named All-Little East for the fourth straight year (third time to the first team), second-team IWLCA All-Berkshire Region, and became the first Eastern defender named to the IWLCA Senior All-Star Game. In her final playing season that year, Doran led Eastern to its second straight LEC regular-season title with a perfect 6-0 record (14-5 overall) and into the conference championship game. That year, she shared the conference lead in draw controls (63), tied for second in ground balls (54) and was third in caused turnovers (39), setting personal season-highs in all three of those categories. Her caused turnover total equaled the third-most in a season in program history. Offensively, she also chipped in nine goals and an assist in 2017.


In her career, Doran started all 66 matches in which she appeared, missing only one. She led the team in ground balls and caused turnovers every year and in draw controls twice. All-time, she ranks in a tie for third all-time in draws (193) and is seventh in ground balls (181).


Doran holds a B.A. Degree in Sociology from Eastern.

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Renee Gallagher

Renee Gallagher returns to the coaching staff for the third season, first under head coach Devyne Doran.


In addition to serving as a former assistant coach at Framingham State University in 2019-20, Gallagher brings extensive club coaching experience over the last four years, first as director of goalkeeping with the Bay State Bullets which serves the Metro North and Metro West regions of Massachusetts, and later as head coach of the Shoreline Lacrosse Club which serves southeastern Connecticut. At Framingham State, Gallagher assisted former Rams’ head coach James Rippey during the shortened Covid-19 season.


As a former four-year Division I collegiate athlete at the goalie position, the Long Valley, NJ native has brought substantial playing experience to the Eastern program. Gallagher joined the University of Massachusetts Lowell program in its second intercollegiate season in 2016. With the River Hawks, Gallagher appeared in 34 matches in goal with 20 starts. As a senior captain, she started all 17 matches, playing every minute in net. In her first season in a regular role in 2018, Gallagher posted career-highs of 11.08 goals-against average and .432 save percentage.

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