EMMANUEL ALUMNA NAMED HEAD WOMEN'S HOOP COACH AT LESLEY
June 28, 2011
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Lesley University named Emmanuel College alumna Leah Lipschitz the new Head Coach for the Lynx Women's Basketball Team. Lipschitz is a 2008 graduate of Emmanuel College and a former standout on the Saints' Women's Basketball Team.
Today, Lesley University's Director of Athletics Stanley Vieira announced Lipschitz as the fifth women's basketball coach in the history of the program at Lesley. Lipschitz joined the Lynx after two seasons as an Assistant Coach at GNAC rival Mount Ida College. "We feel very fortunate to select Leah to lead our program. Leah, having worked at Mount Ida and played at Emmanuel, truly understands the Division III landscape," Vieira said. "She brings a wonderful background and a real passion to recruit and build upon a very successful playing career."
Lipschitz was a former player at Boston University from 2004-2006, before transferring to Emmanuel for her junior and senior seasons. As a collegiate student-athlete, Lipschitz helped lead the Saints to two GNAC titles and consecutive NCAA Tournament bids, including a trip to the Sweet 16 in 2006-07. That season, Lipschitz helped the Saints to a program-record 29 wins.
Upon graduation, Lipschitz began her coaching career at Archbishop Molloy High School in Briarwood, NY, where she served as an assistant varsity and junior varsity coach in 2008. Lipschitz quickly transitioned back to collegiate ball, joining the Mount Ida staff in 2009. While at Mount Ida, she helped lead the Mustangs to the program's first Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) playoff birth in program history.
"I am truly honored to be selected to lead the women's basketball program. After visiting the campus and meeting with Mr. Vieira and the rest of the Athletic Department, it is clear that I share the same passion and work ethic as they do," commented Lipschitz. "It is an exciting time to be a part of Lesley Athletics, as well as the women's basketball program, and I am thrilled to become a part of this community," said the first-year head coach.
Lipschitz was born and raised in Queens, NY, where she was a first team All-Queens and All-New York City selection out of Benjamin Cardozo High School. A two-time Jewish All-American, she was named one of the Top 50 players in New York City by Metro High School Sports Magazine. Lipschitz received a bachelor's of arts degree in psychology with a concentration on health counseling from Emmanuel in 2008.
The Lynx went 16-11 last season, advancing to the New England Collegiate Conference Championship for a third-straight season and winning 16 or more games for a third year in a row. Lipschitz is one of several Emmanuel alumnae coaching basketball at area high schools and colleges.
- Courtesy of Lesley University Sports Information