Piedmont University

Piedmont College Dept of IC Athletics
1021 Central Avenue Demorest, GA 30535

Division 3 Georgia Southeast

Private Small Developing team

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Coaches

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Kirsten McKay

Extension 1173

Kirsten Smith enters her first season as the head coach of the women’s lacrosse team.

after spending one season at NCAA Division II Young Harris where she helped the Mountain Lions to an 11-7 record and a runner-up finish in the Gulf South Conference Tournament. DemorestSmith comes to

After the 2019 season, six players were named to the GSC All-Conference list while midfielder Erika Cross was named conference Player of the Year.

Prior to her arrival in Georgia, Smith spent three seasons at Wingate University where she served as the assistant coach for two seasons, before being named interim head coach for the 2017-18 year.

During her time with the Bulldogs, Smith helped coach 23 All-Conference players and had two players named to the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association’s Zag Sport Academic Honor Roll. As a team, Wingate was named to the Academic Honor Squad twice.

In 2017, the Bulldogs posted a school-record for victories (13) and advanced to the South Atlantic Conference women's lacrosse tournament championship game for the first time in the program's history. Wingate won 31 matches during Smith's three seasons with the program.

On the field, the 2015 Lenoir-Rhyne graduate completed her Bears' career with 110 points (85 goals and 25 assists), 90 ground balls and 28 caused turnovers. The midfielder served as a team captain during her senior season.

Smith received her bachelor's degree in exercise science with a minor in sports studies before obtaining her master’s degree in sport management from Wingate.

The Dunkirk, Md. native holds a US Lacrosse Level I coaching certification.

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Brooke Thacker

DEMOREST, Ga. - Head women's lacrosse coach Kirsten Smith has announced Brooke Thacker will be added as assistant women's lacrosse coach. Thacker arrives at Piedmont after spending the last two seasons at North Carolina Wesleyan College as the Battling Bishops' assistant women's lacrosse coach.

Thacker has experience across a variety of levels of lacrosse with her coaching career dating back to 2015. Most recently, she was a staff member at fellow USA South school North Carolina Wesleyan assisting in day-to-day practice preparation, player development and scouting.

"I'm very excited for the opportunity to join the women's lacrosse program and coaching staff at Piedmont," Thacker stated. "I look forward to working along side Kirsten and assisting her in continuing to build a successful program."

In the spring of 2019, Thacker worked at the middle school and high school level with The Saint Bernard School in Uncasville, Connecticut serving as the head middle school coach and assistant high school coach. Her tasks included planning and organizing practices, strategizing the development of players and educating young girls on the game of lacrosse.

She got her coaching start in 2015 working with the Southern Maryland Jets as an assistant lacrosse coach teaching defensive skills and leading position specific drills.

"We're so excited to welcome Brooke to our program," Smith said. "She brings a ton of experience and knowledge from playing at a highly competitive Division III program. She will make an immediate impact and help us reach new heights. We are so happy to have her."

Thacker was a five-year member of the Roanoke College women's lacrosse team serving as a captain from 2016-18. She was a defender who had 48 ground balls in her career including 22 her senior season and forced 36 caused turnovers with 21 in 2018.

She earned her bachelor of arts in criminal justice with a minor in psychology from Roanoke College in 2018. She is currently completing her master's degree in applied criminology through California University of Pennsylvania.

Thacker will assist Head Coach Kirsten Smith in all facets of the women's lacrosse program.