Furman University Women's Lacrosse

Gail Wallach, the 2025 Big South Coach of the Year, is in her second season as head coach of the Furman women’s lacrosse program. She was announced as the fourth head coach in program history on May 6, 2024. In 11 seasons as a head coach, Wallach has amassed a 128-54 overall record paced by seven 10-win campaigns including a 14-4 mark in her first season leading the Paladins in 2025. Wallach guided Furman to its best season in school history last year, leading the program to a school record 14 victories and a share of the Big South Regular Season Championship for the first time in school history. The Paladins set program records for points (447), goals (299), assists (148), and draws (308) in a season while leading the Big South in points, assists, draws, shot percentage, and goals against average. Furman would rank second in the conference in goals. The Paladins also boasted one of the top offensive attacks in the country during her first season. Furman led the nation in shot percentage (.528) and ranked in the top-10 in assists per game, draws per game, points per game, free position percentage, scoring margin, and scoring offense. Seven players earned All-Big South recognition in 2025 highlighted by Big South Co-Offensive Player of the Year Anna Roser, Big South Midfielder of the Year Paige Harman, and Big South Freshman of the Year Lily Toole. Roser, Harman, and Sofija Buzelis were first team picks, while Andrea Fisher and Skylar Hilmer were selected to the second team. Roser led the Big South in goals, school record 79, and was fourth nationally in goals per game and fifth in goals. Harman, who totaled single season-records of 106 points and 54 assists, topped the league in points and assists and ranked 11th or better nationally in assists, assists per game, and points. Buzelis finished with a program single-season record of 115 draws, which tied for first in the Big South. Wallach came to Greenville after spending two seasons as head coach at Anderson (S.C.) University in Anderson, S.C. She guided the Trojans to a 24-11 record over her two seasons, including a 15-3 mark in 2024, an appearance in the South Atlantic Conference Tournament semifinals, and the program's first-ever Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Poll Top-25 ranking. She was hired as the program's first-ever head coach in 2021 and promptly guided Anderson to a 9-8 record in 2023. The Trojans had the league's top scoring offense in 2024 with 302 goals and sported seven all-conference performers, including the SAC Attacker of the Year, Alicia Cannon, and the SAC Freshman of the Year, Rayne Dobson. Anderson scored over 20 goals in a game seven times highlighted by a 24-1 victory over Mars Hill. In 2023, Wallach led Anderson to a 9-8 record in its first year as a program that was highlighted a 7-3 mark at home. She coached three all-conference selections in Cannon, who was also voted the SAC Freshman of the Year, Hannah Thomas, and Jackie Tiongco. As a team, the Trojans ranked second in the SAC in clears and ninth nationally in NCAA Division II. Wallach was hired at Anderson after also starting the University of Alabama in Huntsville program from scratch and leading the Chargers for six seasons. Under her leadership, Huntsville posted a 74-22 (.771) overall record and made an appearance in the Gulf South Conference tournament championship five times. UAH claimed the league's regular season title in 2017 and won back-to-back GSC Tournament championships in 2019 and 2021. The team posted a program-best 16-3 record in 2019 and captured its first-ever GSC Championship. During her time at Huntsville, Wallach's teams led the nation in scoring in 2016, 2017, and 2018. She coached one Alabama Sports Writers Association Small College Athlete of the Year, three Gulf South Players of the Year, a trio of GSC Freshmen of the Year, a GSC Defensive Player of the Year, one GSC Top Ten Award winner, and 22 All-GSC performers. Wallach began her coaching career at Emmanuel (Ga.) College and led the Lions for two seasons. She coached four all-conference selections and one All-American in 2014 after leading to the team to a 9-10 record and semifinal appearance in the National Women's Lacrosse League (NWLL) tournament. She has also made stops in her career as head women's basketball coach at Rutgers University-Camden, Drew University, and Washington College. Wallach mentored 17 all-conference selections during her basketball coaching career. Before taking over head coaching duties at Washington, Wallach served as an assistant coach for the women's basketball and lacrosse programs. Wallach graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Kean University and earned her MBA from the University of Phoenix. She was a three-sport performer at Kean and is a member of the Cougars' Hall of Fame. Wallach served as team captain on the women's lacrosse squad while earning All-NJAC honors. She was a two-time All-NJAC and ECAC selection on the hardwood and was also selected a Kodak/WBCA D-III All-American following the 1996-97 season. She is tied atop the Cougars' record book for single season scoring average and owns the school record for most made free throws in a season. Wallach also lettered in field hockey.

Whitten guided her team to a 9-6 overall record and 4-3 Atlantic Sun record and appearance in the A-Sun tournament. On May 30, 2012, Furman University director of athletics Dr. Gary Clark announced that Rachel Shuck Whitten, associate head coach at the University of Denver, has been named Furman's first women's lacrosse coach. Whitten, a native of Annapolis, Md., spent six seasons at the University of Denver, serving as an assistant coach from 2007-11 before being promoted to associate head coach prior to the 2012 season. During her tenure at Denver, the Pioneers amassed a 71-36 (.664) record, won three Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) regular season championships, and ranked among the nation's top 20 teams three times. In 2012 Denver posted a 12-3 record and 6-1 mark against MPSF opponents, leading the nation with 12.6 caused turnovers per game and ranking tenth nationally in scoring offense (13.93 goals per game), while posting the nation's 11th-best scoring margin at 4.2.  The team's 12-game winning streak was the longest in Denver women's lacrosse history. The Pioneers concluded the 2010 season with a 13-5 record and went a perfect 6-0 in league play.  Denver advanced to the finals of the MPSF Tournament but was edged by Stanford, 11-10, in double overtime, to finish the season ranked 20th nationally.  Pioneers Ali Flury, Natasha Davies, and Lexi Sanders were named to the IWLCA All-West Region second team, while Flury earned All-American accolades. The 2008 squad also went undefeated in MPSF play, earning a final ranking of 15th nationally.  In Whitten's first two seasons at Denver, the Pioneers posted a combined 29-9 record, including a perfect 10-0 slate in regular season league play. A two-time All-American at Loyola University in Baltimore, Md., Whitten helped the Greyhounds advance to three straight NCAA tournaments from 2002-04, including an appearance in the 2003 Final Four.  Loyola ranked among the nation's top five teams her first three seasons, finishing the 2003 campaign as the top-ranked team in the country.  Whitten, who remains the school's all-time career leader with 120 assists, was nominated as a junior and senior for the Tewaaraton Award, which is presented annually to the NCAA women's lacrosse player of the year. A 2004 graduate of Loyola with a bachelor's degree in business administration, she is married to Marty Whitten of Verailles, Mo., and the couple welcomed their first child, Aleni Lou Whitten, in the summer of 2014.

Furman head women’s lacrosse coach Gail Wallach announced the addition of former Paladin Sydney McClure as an assistant coach on December 18, 2025. A native of Marietta, Ga., McClure returns to Furman after spending the fall season on the coaching staff at Central Michigan. She will work primarily with the Paladin attackers. "I'm thrilled to return to Furman as a coach," said McClure. "This place and program hold a special place in my heart. Last year, Gail and her staff pushed the program to new heights and I'm excited to be a part of that continued success. Go 'Dins!" She played her freshman season at Furman under former head coach Rachel Shuck Whitten in 2021, helping the Paladins tie a then-school record 12 wins and earn the program's second SoCon regular season championship. McClure finished fifth on the team that year with 36 points on 23 goals and 13 assists. "Sydney is a proven winner and leader with character and integrity," Wallach stated. "She is a dynamic, young offensive coordinator who will bring a lot of excitement and explosiveness to our offense. Sydney's playing career and love for Furman is going to be impactful to our student-athletes, both on and off the field. I am excited to have her on staff and part of the Furman family again!" McClure transferred to Coastal Carolina in 2022 and was a four-year letterwinner for the Chanticleers. She was part of the 2024 ASUN championship team and, as a senior, set the program's single season goals record with 56 while adding 25 assists and 81 points. McClure garnered first team All-ASUN honors twice. McClure concluded her career in Conway with 201 points on 120 goals and 81 assists. She graduated cum laude from Coastal Carolina in 2024 with her bachelor's degree in sport communication, earning IWLCA Honor Roll and ASUN All-Academic honors, and is currently pursuing a master's in sport management from CCU with an expected completion of 2026.

Sarah Farley is in her second season as an assistant coach with the Furman women's lacrosse program. She works primarily with the Paladin offense and draw. During her first season on staff, Furman won a school record 14 games and captured a share of the Big South Regular Season Championship for the first time in program history. The Paladins advanced to the semifinals of the Big South Women’s Lacrosse Championship after going undefeated at home with a school record 10 victories and began the season 5-0, matching the best start in school history. She coached four All-Big South selections, three first team and one second, in 2025 highlighted by Big South Co-Offensive Player of the Year Anna Roser, Big South Midfielder of the Year Paige Harman, and Big South Freshman of the Year Lily Toole. Roser set a single-season record with 79 goals and led the Big South in goals while ranking fourth nationally in goals per game and fifth in goals. Harman compiled new program single-season marks for points and assists, leading the Big South in both categories, and sat in the top-10 nationally in points, assists, and assists per game. Toole turned in the best offensive season by a Furman freshman in program history, finishing 85 points on 64 goals and 21 assists. Sofija Buzelis, another All-Big South pick, tied for first in the Big South with a school single-season record 115 draws. As a team, the Paladins led the nation in shot percentage and ranked in the top-10 in assists per game, draws per game, points per game, free position percentage, scoring margin, and scoring offense. Furman topped the Big South in points, assists, draws, and shot percentage, and was second in goals. The Paladins totaled new single-season school records in points (447), goals (299), assists (148), and draws (308). Farley, a native of Costa Mesa, Calif., joined the Paladins after spending one season as an assistant coach at Mercyhurst University in Erie, Pa. She coached two All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) selections at Mercyhurst in Whitley Easton (first team) and Amanda Bailey (second team) while five earned player of the week citations. Farley served as the program’s offensive coordinator and helped organized travel logistics for away games. Prior to her time at Mercyhurst, Farley coached one season at the University of Nottingham in Nottingham, United Kingdom. While earning her master’s degree, she coached the lower university team and played on the top squad. She coached multiple practices each week, biweekly games, and created the plans for each practice. Farley also brings other coaching experiences to the Paladins. She began in 2018 as a member of IMG Academy’s staff before moving into a coaching assistant role at the University of Alabama at Huntsville in 2019. She served as a coach for the Huntsville Lacrosse Association from 2020-22. Farley spent time as an assistant coach for Huntington Beach High School in 2022 while offering private lessons. She played for Huntsville from 2020-22, which included one season under Wallach in 2021. After not playing in 2020, Farley was named to the GSC Honor Roll in 2021 while accumulating 36 goals over two seasons highlighted by 21 in 2022, which ranked fifth on the team. Farley began her collegiate career at Central Michigan University in 2018 where she played in 11 games, compiling three goals and one assist, was a Southern Conference Commissioner’s Medal recipient, and earned SoCon Academic Honor Roll accolades. She then transferred to Lindenwood University for the 2019 season where she recorded 14 goals in 15 games. Farley attended Newport Harbor High School where she was a three-year letter winner. A Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce Top 15 Athlete Award recipient, she was a team captain and MVP her senior season after totaling 42 goals, 38 ground balls, 34 caused turnovers, and 60 draws. Farley was an all-county team pick by Orange County Lacrosse and, in 2016, garnered first team Sunset League selection. She earned her master’s degree in entrepreneurship, innovation, and management from Nottingham in 2023. Farley received her bachelor of science in marketing from Huntsville in 2022.