Howard University Women's Lacrosse

In July 2021, Howard University announced Karen Healy-Silcott as the Bison's new women's lacrosse head coach. "Coach Healy-Silcott brings a wealth of talent and experience to our Lacrosse program," said Howard Director of Athletics Kery Davis. "She is an inspirational leader who will be a terrific role model for our student-athletes both on and off the field. Please join me in welcoming her to the Bison family." Healy-Silcott arrives at Howard with over 20 years of coaching experience at various levels of competition. She is returning to Division I after spending the last four years in California as the Girls Director for the Firehawks Youth Lacrosse Club. Healy-Silcott also served on the Executive Board for the Oakland Lacrosse Club and is currently a member of the Jamaica National Women's Lacrosse team, most recently representing Jamaica in the last World cup qualifying event as a team captain. Prior to California, Healy-Silcott was the Head Coach at Bryant University. She led the team's successful transition from Division II to Division I and recruited many athletes who garnered academic and post-season accolades. Before taking the reins at Bryant, Healy-Silcott served as an assistant coach at the University of Massachusetts and an Assistant Program Director for Metro Lacrosse in Boston, MA. A 2002 graduate of Syracuse University, Healy-Silcott was a starter on the Inaugural Team. She earned 2nd team Regional All-American honors as a midfielder in both her freshman and sophomore years. Two ACL surgeries were an initial blow to her career, but Healy-Silcott fought back and, after a brief stint as a goalie, moved back onto the field, earning 2nd Team All-Big East Honors as a defender her senior season. She graduated with a degree in African American Studies. Originally from Freeport, N.Y., Healy-Silcott was a multi-sport high school athlete, earning Lacrosse, basketball, soccer, and cross country honors. In Lacrosse, she was a 2X US Lacrosse All American, Empire State Games MVP, 3X All-County, and 3X Team MVP.

Brentlinger as the new head coach of the Bison women's lacrosse program. "We are pleased to bring Coach Brentlinger into the Bison family," Davis said of the hire. "She is a talented young coach with impressive credentials and a desire to take our women's lacrosse program to new heights." Brentlinger brings to Howard a variety of experience within the sport of women's lacrosse and in athletics as a whole. Over the past three seasons (2013-15), Brentlinger served as Head Coach at Division II West Virginia Wesleyan. The 2015 campaign proved to be a breakthrough one for Wesleyan's program under Brentlinger's leadership, as the Bobcats completed the best season in school history, going 13-5 and reaching the inaugural Mountain East Conference (MEC) Championship Game as a 3-seed. Wesleyan earned 10 All-MEC honors in the process - four First Team, three Second Team, one Honorable Mention and two Freshman team selections. In addition, Wesleyan earned three MEC Player of the Week and three All-MEC Tournament selections apiece. Brentlinger also displayed versatility at Wesleyan, serving as Interim Head Tennis Coach and Game Day Administrator during her tenure. "I'm very excited to be named as the new coach here at Howard," Brentlinger said. "I believe a successful program can be built here so I'm just ready to get to work. I'd like to thank President Frederick and Ms. Davis for placing their trust in me." Prior to Wesleyan, Brentlinger spent the 2012 campaign as an Assistant Coach at Division II Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania. During her lone season at Bloomsburg, the Huskies captured the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) championship while earning six All-PSAC selections, the PSAC Rookie of the Year award and a PSAC Champion Scholar-Athlete award. The 2012 Huskies were also ranked 11th in the nation in scoring offense and broke several team & individual school records. The team also ranked in the top ten nationally in ground balls (fifth) and overall offensive points (seventh).  Brentlinger was a standout lacrosse student-athlete at Division I Longwood University in Virginia. She led the Lancers to back-to-back National Lacrosse Conference (NLC) titles in 2009 and 2010 as a sophomore and junior. Brentlinger also earned National Lacrosse Conference (NLC) MVP Midfield honors those seasons and was named a two-time NLC Player of the Week, NLC Player of the Year & All-Conference First Team as a junior in 2010. Additionally, Brentlinger was recognized as a Longwood University Scholar Athlete during her time as the school. Outside of her NLC honors, Brentlinger earned a WomensLacrosse.com Player of the Week Honorable Mention accolade in 2009 and was selected to the Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) University Division All-State Second Team in 2010. Besides her collegiate coaching experience, Brentlinger has extensive experience working with youth lacrosse. She has participated in several youth camps hosted by collegiate programs, including Robert Morris, Bucknell and her alma mater of Longwood. Additionally, she has been a part of numerous camps, clinics and leagues, including the Maryland United Lacrosse Club that she currently works with and the Mountain Ridge Elite (WV) program she created. Brentlinger graduated from Longwood University in 2011 with a Bachelors of Science in Exercise Science with a minor in Coaching and is currently pursuing her Master's Degree in Exercise Science from Fairmont State University in Fairmont, West Virginia.