IWLCA Release

Worcester State University women’s lacrosse senior Chloe O’Brien (Sturbridge, Mass.) recently took part in the Future Leaders of the Game: Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Students of Color Coaching Symposium.

The two-day event included a series of online seminars focusing on coaching lacrosse and preparing for a career in athletics interspersed with smaller group discussions and networking opportunities. O’Brien was one of 37 student-athletes nationwide representing NCAA Divisions I, II, and III, and the NAIA selected to participate in the Symposium.

O’Brien, who is Hispanic, describes herself as a self-taught goalkeeper, who never had a designated goalie coach growing up, referring instead to YouTube videos and clinics. “I see a real void in the game for young players who are interested in becoming a college goalie,” she said. “There is so much opportunity for them, but very little instruction. Knowing my experience, I would like to give back to my community by coaching a town team and hope to eventually coach a high school team and, perhaps, a college team.”

O’Brien said the session that stood out the most was led by Williams College head coach Alice Lee, called “Leading with Why.” “I had never sat and thought about what made me play lacrosse in the first place and what drew me to it,” said O’Brien. “I do not know the person I would be today without the sport. The most important thing that I took away from this presentation is how much I want to pass on my knowledge and passion of lacrosse to others through coaching."

The opportunity to participate in the IWLCA’s first ever Students of Color Coaching Symposium was one O’Brien simply couldn’t pass up. “I was thrilled to be chosen for the (symposium) and it was special to be able to represent Worcester State,” she said. “The other participants came from much larger universities and well-known lacrosse programs. It was very interesting learning about their programs and experiences.”

O’Brien currently works as a certified nursing assistant in the Alzheimer’s unit at The Overlook, a retirement community in Charlton, Mass. Last spring, she was featured in a story about her work at The Overlook during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her long-term goal is to become a sports psychologist and coach women’s lacrosse at the collegiate level.

Parts of this release courtesy of the IWLCA and Worcester State Sports Information