Thankful to inherit a strong foundation and eager to lead a program to the next step, Julia Decker is anxious to get to Durango.
Fort Lewis College named Decker the new head coach of the Skyhawks’ women’s lacrosse team Monday. Previously an assistant coach at Division I Fresno State University, Decker is taking on her second head coaching job after previously leading Hilbert College in Hamburg, New York.
Decker replaces Kelsey MacDonald, who was fired following a 10-7 season and runner-up finish in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the program’s best season in history.
“I know Fort Lewis has had a strong program in recent years, and I really give props to Kelsey MacDonald. She really got this program going the right direction,” Decker said in a phone interview with The Durango Herald. “It is really exciting taking over a team that played in the championship game of the RMAC last year. We are looking to progress on that to be on top of the conference.”
FLC athletic director Gary Hunter said he was impressed with Decker’s enthusiasm and her maturity.
“We are extremely excited to have Julia join the Skyhawk family,” Hunter said in a news release. “...She has a diverse background at the NCAA Division I and III levels, and she will be a great fit for Fort Lewis College and Durango.”
Five FLC players were included in the interview process. Many players were outraged when MacDonald wasn’t retained, but they voiced their support for Decker after the decision was announced.
“Good day for skyhawks lacrosse,” sophomore defender and midfielder Megan Longtain wrote on Twitter on Monday night.
Decker had served as an assistant at Fresno State since 2012. In 2013, Fresno State statistically had its best season.
Decker believes her ties to the California area will help her in recruiting athletes to FLC.
“I think Fresno and Fort Lewis look at a lot of the same type of athletes and the same areas as well,” she said. “I’m excited to use my contacts in the San Diego and Bay areas where lacrosse is a little bigger and more developed. Even my contacts in Denver with a few club teams will help.”
Decker was the head coach at Hilbert College for the 2011-12 season, helping develop a first-year program. FLC still is a young program, too. The Skyhawks just completed their first season in the RMAC after spending their first five years of existence in the Western Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association.
“I have got that experience working with newer programs and know what it’s like, and I’ve been a part of programs that have been around the block for a while,” Decker said. “I feel well-balanced as far as that goes, and I know what it takes to win championships and put in the work.”
Decker won an Eastern College Athletic Conference title as a player with State University of New York at Brockport in 2008 and helped lead the Golden Eagles to a runner-up finish in 2007. She was a team captain in 2009 and graduated SUNY Brockport with the second most career points with 204 and the third most goals with 141. She was named to the All-State University of New York Athletic Conference team as an attacker in 2008.
“I started playing as a midfielder and got pushed back to defense. After that, I moved on up to the attack end. I think I can definitely use that to draw on experiences now as a coach,” Decker said. “I have experience to work with all positions of a team. Overall, as a player, I did mostly play attack, and I’m excited to incorporate some different looks on attack.”
Decker now is the third head coach at FLC. MacDonald coached the team for four seasons after replacing Kelley Queisser McPeak, who coached FLC’s first two seasons.
“I can’t wait to get started and get in touch with the team,” Decker said. “Durango is a really cool area, and I’m excited to get out there.”
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
FLC Lacrosse
PREVIOUS COACHES
Kelsey MacDonald (2011-14)
32-29 overall, 17-12 conference
Kelley Queisser McPeak (2009-10)
1-18 overall
Durango Herald
