Back To Staff Directory
Coaching Staff - Women's Lacrosse
Assistant Coach Kristin Hopson
Kristin Hopson enters her fourth season at Delaware under the leadership of head coach Kateri Linville. Hopson, who played collegiately under Linville while she served as an assistant at Notre Dame, was also an assistant for the Blue Hens during the 2008 and 2009 seasons under Kim Ciarrocca.
“It is an honor to be able to bring back one of Delaware’s best,” said Linville, a 2003 Delaware graduate who was selected as UD head coach after serving the previous five seasons as an assistant at Notre Dame. “Kristin values academic and athletic excellence and will demand it from our student-athletes. She is an outstanding role model and a proven leader. She played a key role in leading Notre Dame (as a player), Delaware and James Madison (as a coach) to season best marks. As a UD alumni, she shares in my vision for greatness and is committed to elevating the Fightin’ Blue Hen lacrosse program to national prominence.”
Hopson, a native horsemint, Pa., previously served as an assistant coach at Delaware rival James Madison University under head coach Shelley Klaes-Bawcombe and helped lead the Dukes to a school-record 17 wins (17-3), the CAA tournament title, a No. 8 final national ranking, and a berth in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament. She worked most closely with the James Madison defensive unit that finished second nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 7.2 goals per game.
“It is an honor to return to the University where I began my coaching career,” said Hopson. “With such a strong academic and athletic reputation, along with the vision for the future, the University of Delaware is a desirable place to be. Kateri has been a tremendous role model and mentor for me and I look forward to working alongside her. We share the same vision for this program and I am eager to begin my journey and help put Delaware in a position to win our first CAA championship.”
Hopson continues to grow in her roles and responsibilities on the Delaware staff. In her third year, she will increase her on-field responsibilities to include running the defensive unit as well as training the Blue Hen goalies. Hopson will continue to head the team’s recruiting efforts as well as serving as the liaison with the compliance office. She will also assist with academic support, leadership development and player development as well as coordinate camps and clinics and assist with alumni relations.
Since her return to the program, Hopson has led the Blue Hen d-unit and has developed talent including All-Region selection Angela Biciocchi and All-Conference midfield defenders Bridget Burns and Alex Alois.
Off of the field, she has assisted in developing strategies to promote and attain academic excellence and scholarship for the Delaware student-athletes. During the 2012 fall semester, the Blue Hens had a breakthrough 3.1 team GPA.
In her previous two seasons as an assistant at Delaware in 2008-09, Hopson helped lead the Blue Hens to combined record of 21-14 which included an 11-6 mark in 2008 and a 10-8 showing in 2009. The Blue Hens advanced to the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament both seasons, including a berth in the league championship game in 2009, which marked the team’s first appearance in a conference title game since 1999.
Under Hopson’s leadership, the UD defensive unit garnered national recognition, ranking third in the nation in scoring defense in 2009 (8.5 goals per game).
In her return to Delaware, Hopson once again guided a strong defensive unit. In 2011, the Hens finished the season 14th in the country in goals allowed per game, holding opponents to just 9.18 while forcing 7.53 opponent turnovers per game.
Hopson was a three-time monogram winner at Notre Dame, starting three seasons on defense for the Irish women's lacrosse team from 2005-2007. During her career, she played in 55 games, making 45 starts, including 35 starts in 36 games during her junior and senior years.
A two-time Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse academic honor roll selection, Hopson graduated from Notre Dame with a 3.639 grade-point average and a degree in psychology and sociology. She was selected as the winner of the women's lacrosse team's 2007 Rockne Scholar-Athlete Award for her excellence in the classroom.
A three-time BIG EAST Academic All-Star, the defensive stalwart recorded 60 ground balls, caused 21 turnovers and had nine draw controls over her four seasons on the Irish back line. She was a member of two NCAA tournament teams, including the 2006 Notre Dame squad that advanced to the NCAA Final Four.
Hopson was a three-sport standout at Radnor (Pa.) High School and earned 12 letters in field hockey,basketball, and lacrosse. She was a captain in all three sports and led the lacrosse team to state titles in 2000, 2001, and 2003. She earned All-Central League honors in all three sports, was named the Main Line Times Female Athlete of the Year in 2003, and was a two-time All-American in lacrosse.
Updated 2/1/13
Head Coach Kateri Linville
Assistant Coach Kristin Hopson
Assistant Coach Kristen Carr
Back To Staff Directory
