Julie Myers steps down as UVA women's lacrosse head coach

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (CBS19 SPORTS) -- After 28 years at the helm of Virginia women's lacrosse, head coach Julie Myers resigned from her position on Monday.
Myers has led the Cavaliers to the NCAA Tournament in all 28 seasons as head coach, outside of the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. No other Division I coach has equaled that mark during the last three decades.
“Leading the Virginia's women's lacrosse program for the past 28 years has been an opportunity of a lifetime and a lifetime it has been,” Myers said. “While it is hard to leave a place and people that you love so deeply, I am excited to explore leadership opportunities outside of athletics. I am also looking forward to spending time being a parent cheering for my own kids from the college sidelines. They have supported and loved my UVA teams since the day they were born here in Charlottesville."
As a student-athlete and assistant coach, Myers' time with Virginia dates back 37 years. She took over the program in 1996 from longtime coach Jane Miller, as only the third head coach in program history.
Myers finishes her career at UVA with a record of 349-181 (.659), which ranks fifth-most in NCAA Division I women's college lacrosse history and 11th most among all divisions.
"Julie Myers has established an amazing legacy at the University and her name is synonymous with UVA women’s lacrosse,” said Virginia director of athletics Carla Williams. “Her contributions to the University and the sport, as a student-athlete, assistant coach and head coach are enormous. She has dedicated four decades of her life to educating, developing and mentoring young women on and off the field. Her impact on her players cannot be overstated as the women under her tutelage have gone on to ultra-successful careers and made an impact in their own communities. We are thankful she will remain in Charlottesville and close to the University to continue to support the program she helped build into a national standard.”
In 2004, Myers led Virginia to the program's third NCAA title after previously helping the Cavaliers win their first title as a player in 1991 and second as an assistant coach in 1993. Over her 28 seasons under Myers, UVA made eight Championship Weekend appearances and five ACC titles.
“Thank you to all of my players, their families, my staff, all of my co-workers, and the athletic department and other supporters who have all been integral to the success of this women's lacrosse program, to my career and to me personally," Myers said, "Especially to my players. It has been an honor and a privilege to coach each of you. While I am incredibly proud of the many accomplishments we have enjoyed through the years, I will treasure most the memories and the relationships this profession of coaching has provided for me.
“I am so very lucky and will be forever grateful for all of these experiences, while representing the University of Virginia. I wish the team all of the very best in its next chapter for the program.”
Virginia finished last season 11-7, but did not advance past the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament for the ninth-straight season.