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Katie Brand (Mastropaolo)
Katie Brand is entering her sixth season as the Bruins' head coach in 2022-23 as the leader of the most successful women's lacrosse program in the Pacific Northwest. The Bruins have amassed a 78-25 record in eight years as a program, have never had a losing season, and are 62-4 against Northwest Conference opponents since the conference began sponsoring the sport in 2015. Brand has never lost an NWC as coach, is a three-time NWC Coach of the Year, and has guided her team to three NCAA postseason appearances to date.
Brand led the Bruins to their second consecutive undefeated regular season inn 2022, and was named the NWC coach of the year for the third time. 10 of the 12 Bruin starters were named All-NWC, while senior Andrea Garcia-Milla became the fourth Bruin player and third under Brand to be named NWC Player of the Year. Fox suffered their only loss of the year in the first round of the NCAA Playoffs to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, the second straight postseason appearance for the Bruins
Fox had its entire starting 12 named All-NWC in 2021 as the Bruins earned their second trip to NCAA national play with their fourth straight undefeated NWC title season. For the first time in program history, the Bruins finished the regular season undefeated at 13-0 and suffered their only loss of the year to Illinois Wesleyan in the NCAA playoffs. The Bruins' 9-0 NWC record in 2021 put coach Brand at a perfect 40-0 against conference schools through her four seasons at Fox.
After leading the program to its first-ever NCAA postseason appearance in 2019, the Bruins' 2020 campaign was truncated by COVID-19. Even in the shortened season, the Bruins piled up new accolades as Jennifer Burke was named All-American Honorable Mention - the first such honor for not only the Bruins, but the entire Northwest Conference - and the Bruins stretched their undefeated NWC streak to 30-0 after wins over the 'Whits' prior to the pandemic. Burke was also selected both by Fox and by the NWC as the Woman of the Year for her sportsmanship and her excellence in the classroom and on the field.
Brand and the Bruins made their NCAA Tournament debut after logging a 12-0 Northwest Conference record and a 14-3 overall record in 2019. Two players were named All-Region, eight players were named All-NWC, Lois Ray was honored as NWC Player of the Year, and Brand was named NWC Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season. In addition to the All-NWC honors, Ray and Jennifer Burke were each named All-Region by the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA). The team tore up the record book in the 2019 season, setting new program season marks for wins (14), points (505), goals (300), assists (205), ground balls (303), draw controls (265), and saves (146).
In her first season at the helm, Brand guided the 2018 team to an 11-2 overall record and the Bruins' second straight undefeated Northwest Conference schedule (8-0). It was another historic season for the women's lacrosse team as they captured their third straight NWC Championship, their second NWC Player of the Year (Jess Hanson) and named eight athletes to the All-NWC team. Hanson also became the first Bruin to earn a spot on the IWLCA All-Region team. After leading the charge for the Bruins, Brand was named NWC Coach of the Year - a first in the women's lacrosse program.
Brand inherited the 2017 team that went 12-2 and an undefeated 8-0 in the Northwest Conference, claiming the program’s first-ever outright NWC championship. The Bruins shared the title of NWC champions in the 2016 season.
Brand joined the George Fox staff after a four-year career at the University of Mary Washington, where she graduated in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in geography. Brand was named the Virginia State Sports Information Directors’ Association College Division Women’s Lacrosse Player of the Year in her senior season. She was a star defender during her four-year stint, earning multiple accolades for leading the Eagles’ back line. Brand was named first-team All-American in her final year, as well as a two-time All-Region athlete and a three-time All-Conference player.
After graduating from UMW, she spent the 2015-16 year working as an international humanitarian aid worker across the country. She served as squad leader for the 11-month mission trip around the world, partnering with existing churches and organizations to further ministry and those in need. During her 11-month trip, she traveled to Albania, Romania, Greece, Zambia, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Peru, Ecuador and Chile.
Brand also has six years of coaching experience within the Nike Lacrosse Camps, the Randolph Macon Lacrosse Camp and the Seminole Summer Lacrosse League.
“I hope to bring a level of intensity and love for the game that I once played,” added Brand. “My hope is to support each student-athlete in their efforts to reach their highest potential on and off the field.”
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