Fort Lewis College women’s lacrosse head coach Julia Decker announced her resignation Friday. According to a FLC news release, the resignation is effective June 30.
Decker coached the Skyhawks for three seasons. She led the team to a winning record and made the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament in each of the three seasons.
“It really just came down to me wanting to be closer to my family,” Decker said. “It’s tough to travel here and New York is a long ways away. I hope to keep coaching but find a situation that allows me to stay a little closer to my loved ones.”
Decker will leave FLC with a 26-18 overall mark and a 14-8 record against league opponents. The team finished 9-7 in her debut season replacing highly-successful coach Kelsey MacDonald and 8-6 in Decker’s second campaign. Both seasons ended with opening-round playoff losses in the RMAC Tournament. The Skyhawks got over the opening-round playoff hump with a 12-9 win against Westminster. It was the second playoff win in program history and the first since 2014.
“I’m so proud to have had the opportunity to coach such a great group of women,” Decker said. “I’ll always cherish the time I spent with the team more than anything.”
Fort Lewis will begin the search for a new coach immediately.
“We are very sad to see Julia leave our department but respect her desire to be closer to home,” said outgoing athletic director Gary Hunter in a news release. “She has our lacrosse program competing at the highest level in the RMAC. Her commitment to the academic as well as athletic success of our student-athletes is greatly appreciated. We wish her well.”
jfries@durangoherald.com
