Springfield College Women's Lacrosse

Mullady has brought the Springfield College women's lacrosse program to new heights, as in 2015, the Pride made its first appearance in the national rankings, and at the end of 2016, Springfield College was ranked No. 10 in all of Division III according to Lacrosse Magazine. The Pride finished the 2016 season with a program-best 16-6 record, and reached the NCAA Championship Sweet 16 for the first time in team history. Mullady, who graduated from Springfield College in 2000 with a degree in physical education, still holds Springfields all-time record for points in a season with 77, and ranks fifth all-time in career points with 162. She completed a masters degree in Educational Leadership from Walden University. Mullady re-entered the collegiate coaching ranks after most recently spending several years coaching high school and youth lacrosse in Connecticut. In addition to being the girls lacrosse coach for Hall High School in West Hartford, Conn., Mullady has become a prominent figure in the Connecticut girls lacrosse scene. In 2009, she was named the President of the Connecticut High School Coaches Association for high school lacrosse and has been the coach of the U-15 Connecticut Select Team since 2000. On the college level, Mullady served as the head coach for the Central Connecticut State University womens lacrosse program from 2003-2005. Since her graduation from Springfield College, Mullady has been a physical education teacher at the Renbrook School, Conard and Hall High School, Capital Prep Magnet School, as well as most recently at Windsor High School. She also is involved in a variety of camps in the area, including the Peak Performance and Total Lacrosse Camps. Since 2003, she has been the Strength and Conditioning Coordinator as well as the Director of Field Hockey and Lacrosse at Sportsworld, an indoor sport facility in Connecticut. In addition, Mullady founded Lax Plus Club, which is a club program to prepare high school athletes from Western Massachusetts and Hartford County for college lacrosse. 2010 10 8 0 Kristen Mullady 2011 11 6 0 Kristen Mullady 2012 11 8 0 Kristen Mullady 2013 11 8 0 Kristen Mullady

Jennifer Thomas '14 enters her fourth season at the helm of the Springfield College women's lacrosse program for the 2025-26 academic year. Last season, Thomas led her team to a 14 win season and an appearance in the semifinal round of the NEWMAC Championship Tournament. Six of her student-athletes were named to All-Conference teams and two were IWLCA All-Region selections.  The 2024 campaign saw the Pride earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament and host a national tournament game for the first time since 2006.  Thomas and her staff was chosen as the NEWMAC Coaching Staff of the Year as the Pride won the regular-season conference title and had five student-athletes chosen to the NEWMAC All-Conference Teams, including just the second NEWMAC Rookie of the Year in program history. In 2023, Thomas guided the Pride to 11 wins and an appearance in the NEWMAC Championship semifinals. She coached three student-athletes who earned All-Conference accolades from the NEWMAC. A standout for the women's lacrosse program during her time as a student-athlete at Springfield College, she helped lead the Pride to New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Championships in 2012 and 2013. Thomas also served as a team captain during her career at Springfield. Thomas spent the previous two years at Johnson & Wales University, where she was named the GNAC Coach of the Year in 2022 and led the Wildcats to an appearance in the 2021 NCAA Division III Championship Tournament, after winning the 2021 GNAC Championship. Under Thomas’ leadership, the Wildcats also earned the Team Sportsmanship Award in 2022. Prior to her time in Providence, Thomas spent five years as the head coach at Western Connecticut State University and also had stints as an assistant coach at Mercyhurst University and Mount Holyoke College.  Thomas was on former head coach Kristen Mullady’s first NEWMAC Championship teams in 2012, and repeated in 2013.  She is the granddaughter of Springfield graduates, Emerson W. Dunton ‘56 and Marjorie M. Dunton ‘54 & ‘56. Emerson W. Dunton ‘56 was inducted into the Springfield College Hall of Fame in 2011, while Thomas was pursuing her undergraduate degree. Thomas graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Movement and Sports Studies, Physical Education from Springfield College in 2014 and a Masters of Science in Organizational Leadership with a concentration in Sports Leadership from Mercyhurst University in 2020. Thomas will take over a Springfield College women's lacrosse program that has a storied history of success and will become just the eighth head coach in the program's history.

Springfield College Director of Athletics, Dr. Craig Poisson is pleased to announce that Ellsa Peabody has been named as the next full-time assistant coach for the Springfield College women's lacrosse program.   "I'm thrilled to step into this new role within the program and excited to continue collaborating with the coaching staff and student-athletes here on Alden Street," said Peabody. "I'm excited to build on the success of the 2024 season and keep pushing the program's growth and progress forward. I'm incredibly grateful for the chance to work with such a supportive and motivating coaching staff, program, and community here at Springfield College."   Peabody was a four-year women's lacrosse student-athlete at Division III Muhlenberg College where she graduated with a degree in psychology in 2023. Peabody appeared in 39 career games and scored 15 goals to go along with 18 assists for 33 points for the Mules as she earned spots on the Centennial Conference Academic Honor Roll and the IWLCA Academic Honor Roll in 2022 and 2023.   "Coach Peabody's high energy and passion for women's lacrosse is evident and I am looking forward to her impact on our women's lacrosse student-athletes," said Poisson.   Peabody came to Springfield in the fall of 2023 to obtain her masters degree in psychology with a concentration in athletic counseling while serving as a graduate assistant under Thomas. In her first season, 2024, Peabody helped Springfield to a record of 15-5 as the program earned a spot in the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament.  "We couldn't be more excited to have Ellsa join our staff as a full-time assistant coach," said Head Coach Jenn Thomas. "Ellsa has a tremendous love for the game and a deep commitment to developing our student-athletes both on and off the field. Her knowledge, energy, and leadership will be a huge asset to our program, and we're excited for the impact she will have on our team's success."