Two years after resigning as the head women?s lacrosse coach at Georgetown University, Kim Simons is still involved with the sport.
Simons was added on at Bryn Mawr School as a co-head coach this winter, and in a press conference April 27, Simons and Gary Gait were named chairpersons for the First Annual Under Armour Lacrosse Classic.
“I had to think it over and understand the motivation for the tournament,” Simons said. She wanted to make sure the game of lacrosse was promoted in a positive way.
The Under Armour Lacrosse Classic will be held June 18 at Unitas Stadium at Towson University. The highlight will be Sunday?s boys and girls games between Baltimore and Washington D.C. underclassmen, and a girls and boys All-American game.
“I wanted to make sure the women would be equally represented,” Simons said. “[The games] will be a growing experience in the first year, but five years from now we will talk about it like a landmark in Baltimore and Maryland.”
In Simons? first year coaching on the high school level, Bryn Mawr has played to an 8-8 record. Simons said one of the biggest challenges she faces is preparation time. “We have to use games to get better and try new things,” Simons said.
Wendy Kridel, the athletic director and co-head coach for Bryn Mawr said: “We had a combination of things leading to her addition.”
Kridel had taken over more responsibility as the athletic director and was looking for help coaching, and Simons wanted to start working part time.
Simons started working part time at Bryn Mawr as a leadership counselor for student athletes and coaches at every level at Bryn Mawr.
“She is giving the players a little taste of what it is like to play at the next level,” Kridel said.
Simons spent nine years as the head coach at Georgetown and resigned in May of 2004 to spend more time with her family. At Georgetown, Simons had three Final Four appearances, two trips to the final game and a 113-43 record.
SIMONS STICKING WITH IT
» The Under Armour Lacrosse Classic will select 44 boys and 44 girls to make up the All-American teams. Simons is the chair of the women?s committee that will choose the players.
» Simons said that her team had a hard time finding a way to win during the regular season, citing five losses coming by just one goal. “If we can get over the hump and win these games the rest will follow,” Simons said. Bryn Mawr opened its 2006 playoffs with a 8-7 win over Severn School, according to the IAAM Web site.
