Kristin Hopson, who capped an outstanding career at Notre Dame in May 2007, was named a volunteer assistant coach for the University of Delaware women’s lacrosse program, head coach Kim Ciarrocca announced in July, 2007. She will begin her third season on the staff in 2009.
Hopson, 23, is a member of a staff that includes Ciarrocca and assistant coaches Liz Martin and Reid Watson. She will handle coaching the Blue Hen defense.
In 2008, Delaware went 11-6 and placed fourth in the CAA standings but fell to host William & Mary, 15-14 in the semifinals. The Blue Hens earned votes in the IWLCA Top 20 poll and were ranked as high as No. 19 in the Nike/Inside Lacrosse poll early in the season.
In 2009, the Blue Hens went 10-7 and placed second in the CAA with a record of 5-2. After three straight semifinal losses in the CAA Tournament, Delaware defeated Old Dominion 8-6 to advance to the finals. They fell just short to Towson, 8-7.
A three-year letterwinner at Notre Dame, Hopson was a three-year starter on the defensive back line for the Irish and led the squad to an 11-6 record and a berth in the Big East semifinals in 2007. She started all 17 games and recorded 19 groundballs and two caused turnovers.
In four seasons, Hopson appeared in 55 career games with 45 starts and recorded 60 groundballs and 25 caused turnovers. She led Notre Dame to a berth in the 2006 NCAA Tournament semifinals. A Dean’s List student as a double major in sociology and psychology, she was selected to the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association academic honor roll three times during her career.
A native of Rosemont, Pa., she was a three-sport standout at Radnor 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.