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Kylee White
Kylee White, a four-time member of Canadian World Cup teams, has been the SDSU head coach for the last 11 years and is the only head coach in program history.
White has transformed San Diego State's fledgling program into a championship contender that won back-to-back MPSF conference titles in 2018 and 2019.
In 2022 while playing six teams that were ranked or receiving votes, the Aztecs went 7-8 and 5-5 away from San Diego, which tied a program record. Individually, Deanna Balsama set a school record for most points (73) and goals (62) in a season and became the first Aztec to be named the IWLCA All-Region Team. She finished fifth in the nation in goals per game.
Goalkeeper Sam Horan also finished among the nation’s best in saves per game (4th, 11.80) and ground balls per game (5th, 3.20).
Under White's guidance, the Aztecs enjoyed a tremendous season in 2019, posting double-digit victories in three straight years for the first time in program history, capped by their second consecutive MPSF crown. SDSU matched its school record with 11 wins and also tied a program standard with seven student-athletes earning a spot on the all-conference team, led by Harlowe Steele (52), Taylor Sullivan (35) and Kirstie Greenlaw (32), who became the first Aztec trio to finish with 30 or more goals in the same season. In addition, Jenny Buckland, Jill Haight, Marissa MacRae and Katy Sharretts garnered all-MPSF accolades, while eight student-athletes received academic all-conference recognition for excellence in the classroom. Not to be outdone, the Aztecs collected a league-high 14 MPSF Player of the Week Awards and were designated an IWLCA Academic Honor Squad for the fourth time in program history.
In 2018, SDSU established a program standard with 11 wins during a historic 2018 campaign, punctuated by its first-ever MPSF championship. The Aztecs also put seven student-athletes on the all-MPSF team, Harlowe Steele (38) and Haight (37), who gave the Scarlet and Black two scorers with 35 goals or more in the same season for the first time ever, while Greenlaw, MacRae, Sharretts, Mackenzie Lech and Elizabeth Rourke received all-conference distinction as well. Additionally, SDSU merited a league-high 15 MPSF Player of the Week awards during the regular season and had seven individuals garner MPSF all-academic accolades. As a team, the Aztecs were among the nation's best in the circle, averaging conference-high 15.26 draw controls per game, which ranked 14th in the country.
With White at the helm, SDSU completed another memorable slate in 2017, culminating in its first-ever postseason triumph with a conquest of Oregon in the quarterfinals of the MPSF Championships. Fueled by the offensive production of first-team all-MPSF honoree Kristen Hickey, as well as the defensive exploits of second-team selections Mackenzie Lech and Katrina Reeves, the Aztecs recorded double-digit wins for the first time in program history, finishing with a 10-8 mark overall. The Scarlet and Black posted a 6-1 record during a month-long homestand in March, including a pair of overtime wins over New Hampshire and Cal. The Aztecs displayed their tenacity on defense throughout the year, ranking 15th nationally with nearly 11 caused turnovers per game. Following the season, Lech, Reeves and Steele were named to the IWLCA Academic Honor Squad after earning MPSF all-academic distinction along with Natalie Peel.
Facing one of their most difficult schedules that included four teams ranked in the top 12 nationally, White led SDSU to a 4-11 record and 3-6 mark in conference play during the 2016 campaign. Despite their finish, the Aztecs allowed the second-fewest goals in program history (190), while Felice Artuso garnered second-team all-MPSF accolades. In addition, the Scarlet and Black excelled in the classroom, with nine players receiving MPSF all-academic distinction for the second year in a row.
In 2015, White piloted San Diego State to a 9-8 mark and a fifth-place finish in the MPSF, resulting in its second-straight MPSF Tournament appearance. The Aztecs set a program mark for wins and produced a school-record seven-game winning streak. San Diego State saw three of its own pick up all-MPSF accolades, as Christina Ricciardulli and Lauren Paul became the first two Aztecs to earn first-team honors, and Michaela Jarvis was named to the second team. The Aztecs also found success off the field, with nine student-athletes garnering MPSF All-Academic honors, a program best.
White led SDSU to its first postseason berth in program history in 2014, as the Aztecs began the season with a 4-0 mark, and set several new program records including most conference victories (4), most road victories (4) and most player of the week honors (6). San Diego State also had Michaela Jarvis, Christina Ricciardulli and Lauren Paul named to the all-MPSF second team, while the Aztecs played a challenging schedule that featured four teams that made the NCAA Tournament and six teams that were ranked or received votes in either the IWLCA Coaches Poll or the Brine Women's Media Poll.
The Aztecs made good progress under White the second season in program history, finishing with eight wins overall and three victories in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) play. In the process, SDSU had a program-best four-game winning streak from March 10-22, capped off with its first victory over conference foe Oregon. In addition, the Aztecs had three players earn MPSF Player of the Week honors, as sophomore Christina Ricciardulli, sophomore Bailey Ewing and sophomore Madison Wallace were each all-MPSF second-team selections.
In her first season at San Diego State, White led the Aztecs to five victories in their inaugural campaign, including two wins in MPSF action. SDSU claimed its first victory in program history on Feb. 17 with a 14-9 decision over Cincinnati at Aztec Lacrosse Field. SDSU then earned a close 11-10 win vs. Saint Mary's (March 2), followed by cruising to a 15-8 victory over Fresno State in the Aztecs' final home game (March 20). SDSU closed out its first season on a high note by winning two of its last four games, including a 19-6 victory at Regis University (April 7) and a close 13-12 win at Saint Mary's (April 13).
It addition to the successful campaign, White coached two players to all-conference honors in her first year on Montezuma Mesa. Madison Wallace and Meris Walsh garnered all-MPSF second-team honors after each had a tremendous first year as an Aztec. Wallace started all 15 games in defense for SDSU, while collecting 25 ground balls and causing 11 turnovers on the season. Walsh, meanwhile, also started 15 contests en route to scoring a team-high 47 goals and adding three assists for a team-leading 50 points in her sophomore campaign.
"Kylee White has participated in lacrosse at the collegiate and international level as both a student-athlete and coach," said former San Diego State Director of Athletics Jim Sterk. "She possesses a tremendous will to win, and an intensity and drive to build our program the right way. As a former scholar-athlete and all-Big Ten performer, Kylee understands that having a great program means not just achieving success on the playing field, but developing our student-athletes as scholars and citizens."
"It's an honor to be selected as the first head women's lacrosse coach at San Diego State University," White said. "I'm excited to join the Aztec family and to help continue the development and growth of lacrosse in the West. SDSU has a great tradition of academic and athletic excellence and I'm looking forward to building a program that encompasses these same standards."
In 2010, White came to Montezuma Mesa after spending two seasons at Loyola University in Baltimore, Md., where she served as the first assistant coach, instructing the midfield and defensive players. White was also the coordinator of recruiting and team travel.
Women's lacrosse became the 19th collegiate sport at SDSU in 2012 and the first addition since 2000, when women's indoor track and field began competition.
During her two years at Loyola, the Greyhounds went 22-13 (.629) and earned a trip to the 2010 BIG EAST Tournament for the first time in program history, while leading the nation in caused turnovers per game in both 2009 and 2010. In addition, White helped coach a second-team All-American in 2010 and four all-region selections.
"I learned a lot (in) two years with Loyola University," White said. "I wanted to thank (Loyola head coach) Jen Adams for her mentorship in preparing me for this incredible opportunity."
Prior to Loyola, White returned to her alma mater at Ohio State in 2008, where she served as an assistant coach. While in Columbus, White helped the Buckeyes to a 10-8 record. OSU finished the season ranked 11th in the country in ground balls per game.
Before Ohio State, White worked three seasons on the staff at Stanford where she helped the Cardinal to three Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) Championships. Stanford became the first program west of the Mississippi River to earn a bid to the NCAA Division I Championships.
White was also an assistant coach of Canada's U-19 team that finished fourth in the 2007 World Championships. Four of the players White coached were named to the All-World Team after the competition.
A native of London, Ontario, Canada, White has played in four IFWLA World Cups for her native country. In 2001 and 2005, she helped Canada to a pair of fourth-place finishes. White led the Canadians to its first bronze medal in 27 years in the 2009 World Cup, and propelled them to a silver medal in the 2013 World Cup played in Canada. At the 2005 tournament, she ranked in the top five for caused turnovers per game and was nominated for the All-World team. In November 2016, White was inducted into the London (Ontario) Sports Hall of Fame.
A four-year letterwinner at Ohio State, White (formerly Kylee Reade) was a four-time Buckeye scholar-athlete pick and an Academic All-Big Ten performer on three occasions. She co-captained the 2002 squad to an 11-5 mark, runner-up finish in the American Lacrosse Conference, and Ohio State's first NCAA bid. White caused 28 turnovers in 2001 and still ranks among the OSU all-time leaders in caused turnovers and ground balls.
White was a four-year member of the Ohio State Student-Athlete Advisory Board and served as a co-captain of the inaugural Ohio State women's varsity hockey team in 1999-2000.
White also played on the inaugural U19 Canadian National Team in 1995 and helped lead the team to a fourth-place finish at the First World Championship.
The former Kylee Reade earned her bachelor of science degree in education in 2002. She and her husband Todd White have two sons, Lincoln and London.
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