East Michigan News

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- Maddie Dugan has been named the head coach of Eastern Michigan University lacrosse, Vice President/Director of Athletics Scott Wetherbee announced today, Aug. 8. Dugan, the 2024 Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year, comes to Ypsilanti following a successful season with the University of Detroit Mercy where she guided the team to the championship game of the 2024 MAC Tournament as the fourth-seeded team.

"We are thrilled to welcome Maddie as the new head coach of our lacrosse program," said Wetherbee. "As the reigning Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year, she brings a proven track record of success and an infectious enthusiasm that aligns perfectly with our vision for the team. It was important for us to find an active head coach who could lead our program with the experience and drive to continue our growth toward a conference championship. Her deep ties to southeastern Michigan and a strong offensive mindset made her an ideal fit for Eastern Michigan. We believe Maddie will further elevate our program to new heights and inspire our student-athletes to excel both on and off the field."

The third head coach in program history, Dugan inherits a youthful roster that advanced to the MAC Tournament for the first time in program history in 2024 and returns nearly all its impact players, including goalie Maddie Porter (Montrose, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson), the 2024 MAC Freshman of the Year, and Mackenzie Blackwell (North Beach, Md./Northern), a 2024 All-MAC First Team selection that ranked among the top sophomores nationally in goals scored and draw controls.

"I want to thank Scott (Wetherbee) for the opportunity to be named head coach at Eastern Michigan for the women's lacrosse program," Dugan said. "Taking on the role of head women's lacrosse coach at Eastern Michigan is an incredible opportunity to continue to build a program with passion and dedication. I'm excited to bring a fresh perspective and drive to a team with immense potential, and I'm committed to fostering both individual growth and team success. I am very excited to get started and lead this team to a MAC Championship."

In her lone season leading Detroit Mercy Titans, she was named MAC Coach of the Year as Detroit Mercy was picked last in coaches' poll but made playoffs advancing to championship game where it fell 14-11 against Robert Morris University. UDM ended year making postseason first time since 2019 achieving first postseason win/championship appearance since 2016; six wins/three road victories were most since 2019.

Dugan worked with several top players in MAC including Cat Kopchia, 2024 MAC Offensive Player of Year/All-MAC First Team selection; four other Titans earned placement on All-MAC Second Team; additionally thirteen student-athletes named MAC All-Academic Team recording GPA of 3.47 during year; marking second season spent in Detroit serving as assistant coach during 2022 campaign working offense/draw specialists.

Between two seasons with Titans Dugan spent 2023 at The Woodlands High School (TX) leading team achieving overall record of nine-four ranking first Houston/sixth state advancing quarterfinals state tournament; players earned six All-District/four All-State/one Academic All-American accolade plus one player honored Jackie Pitts Award recognizing high school seniors going above/beyond service team/school/community.

From 2017-21 Dugan was head coach Trine University NCAA Division III program Angola Ind.; during five seasons leading Thunder helped rebuild steadily increasing win total first three years coaching helping squad achieve most wins since 2011 coaching three players all-conference awards final four seasons reaching MIAA Tournament quarterfinals final season.

Thunder set numerous single-season/career records points/goals/assists/draw controls among others; Trine squads standouts classroom coaching thirty-one total student-athletes MIAA Academic Honor Roll laurels GPA or higher achieving GPAs:3.61(2020)/3.60(2021).

She began coaching career Wartburg College Iowa(2014-15) assistant establishing first-year program helping achieve three-four mark conference play first season competition returning Alma mater Adrian College assistant(2015-16) helping achieve four-win improvement previous season working primarily attackers accumulating nine-eight goals per game totaling one hundred ninety-two points eighty-one point improvement previous season.

Outside collegiate ranks coached several highly successful club lacrosse teams Pure Advantage Lacrosse southwest MI elite high school athletes Medusa Lacrosse Club serving head coach Pure Advantage(2015-24); helming team again summer campaign twenty-twenty-five.

Dugan played collegiately Adrian two-time All-Conference performer attack including All-Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association(MIAA)First Team honors senior(2014); tallying one hundred fifty-nine points(one hundred six goals/fifty-three assists)during standout career helping Bulldogs four consecutive trips NCAA Tournament graduating Criminal Justice inducted Adrian College Athletics Hall Fame(twenty-twenty-four).

Native Rochester MI lettered four years Notre Dame Prep member twenty-ten CHSL sectional championship tabbed CHSL All-League(nine-ten)/honorable mention All-State senior.