July 18, 2007
Notre Dame, Ind. – University of Notre Dame women’s lacrosse coach Tracy Coyne announced today that Meredith Simon `04, a 2004 first team All-American for the Irish has joined her staff as an assistant coach for the 2007-08 season. She replaces former teammate, Alissa Moser `02, who will attend law school this fall. Moser had served for three years as an assistant on Coyne’s staff from 2004 through 2007.
In making the announcement Coyne said, “We’re thrilled to welcome Meredith back to the Notre Dame family. She understands the expectations and demands of being a Notre Dame athlete and will be an invaluable asset to the team. Meredith gained valuable coaching experience while working at Towson. Not only are we excited about having another former player joining the staff, but she also brings fresh ideas to the program.”
Coyne added, “As a player, Meredith embodied all that we value at the University. Her enthusiasm and love of the game set her apart as a student-athlete. Now she will have the opportunity to inspire our current players with that same spirit.”
As an assistant at Notre Dame, Simon will work with the Irish attack on a daily basis while assisting with recruiting and team travel in addition to the day-to-day office operations. She rejoins the Irish as a coach after spending the last three seasons as an assistant at Towson University where she worked with the attack and the team’s goalkeepers. During her three seasons at Towson, the Tigers were 26-25 overall while capturing their first Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) title in 2005 and making their first NCAA Tournament appearance that season.
“I’m very excited to be back at Notre Dame, a place that I truly love,” said Simon. “This is a great opportunity for me to return to my alma mater and work with Tracy (Coyne) again. She had a huge impact on my development as a player. We have a strong team returning next season with some very talented offensive players. I am really looking forward to working with them on a daily basis.”
Meredith Simon finished her Notre Dame career with 109 goals and 49 assists for 158 points. She served as team captain in 2004 and was a member of two NCAA Tournament teams (2002, 2004).
|
 |
While at Notre Dame as a player (2000-04), Simon became the school’s first-ever first-team Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) All-American as she set a then Notre Dame single-season scoring mark with 74 points on 46 goals and 28 assists while leading the Irish to the NCAA tournament in 2004.
During that season, Simon also became the first Notre Dame player to be a nominee for the prestigious Tewaaraton Trophy as the top player in the nation. A two-time first team All-BIG EAST selection (2003, 2004), Simon was the BIG EAST co-attack player of the year in 2004, sharing the honor with Leigh Ann Zimmer of Syracuse. During 2004, the attack standout was also selected second team All-American by Inside Lacrosse Magazine and womenslacrosse.com.
A team captain as a senior, the Flemington, N.J., native finished her Notre Dame career ranked first in games played (64), third in goals (109), fourth in assists (49), third in points (158), tied for fourth in ground balls (123) and third in draw controls (91). She ended her career with what is now the fifth-longest point-scoring streak in the program’s history as she scored in 28 straight games, recording 68 goals and 35 assists for 103 points between March 25, 2003 and May 13, 2004. During her career, Simon was a member of Notre Dame’s first two NCAA tournament teams in 2002 and 2004.
The 25-year old Simon graduated with a degree in American Studies from Notre Dame in 2004 and was a Dean’s List selection four times. A graduate of Hunterdon Central High School in New Jersey, she was a three-sport standout in soccer, basketball and lacrosse. Simon was the second member of her family to play and serve as captain of a Notre Dame lacrosse team as she followed her brother, Eric `03 who captained the men’s team in 2003.