Women's Lacrosse
.jpg&width=180&height=270&type=webp)
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Email:
- kanangle@liberty.edu
- Phone:
- (434) 582-2564
- Start Date:
- 06/21/2013
Kelly Nangle was named the second head coach in the history of Liberty’s women’s lacrosse program in June of 2013. Nangle is the winningest coach in program history with 91 victories in her time at Liberty.
Since taking over a building program, Nangle has coached 29 Big South All-Conference team members, 30 ASUN All-Conference team selections, nine ASUN All-Freshman team members, one ASUN Freshman of the Year honoree (Mackenzie Lehman, 2021), two Big South Conference Freshman of the Year selections (Kayla Foster, 2016, and Carly White, 2017), seven Big South All-Tournament Team selections and 12 ASUN All-Tournament team honorees in her time at Liberty.
Additionally, she has seen 22 of her players named to the VaSID All-State team and a VaSID Rookie of the Year selection (Kayla Foster, 2016). Nangle has also fostered academic success, with 22 IWLCA Academic Honor Roll selections, seven ASUN All-Academic team honorees and five Big South All-Academic recipients. Nangle has also seen three of her players earn inclusion on the Inside Women’s Lacrosse All-Rookie team.
2024- The Lady Flames finished the season with a 6-12 (3-3 ASUN) record and concluded their season in the semifinal round of the ASUN Championship. Liberty received four selections to ASUN All-Conference teams. Liberty finished the season leading the NCAA in caused turnovers for the fifth time in program history with 286 caused and finished in the top three nationally with 22.33 ground balls per game.
2023- Liberty collected a 12-7 record and reached the ASUN Championship title game for the fourth consecutive year. Liberty secured the ASUN regular season title with a 7-0 conference record. The Lady Flames achieved their first-ever win over a ranked program, besting No. 21 Jacksonville. No. 1 seed Liberty 14-13 in overtime to No. 2 seed Jacksonville in the ASUN Championship title game. Liberty secured 10 or more wins for the fifth consecutive season. The Lady Flames finished third in the nation with 12.47 caused turnovers per game and with 19.58 ground balls per game.
2022- Liberty posted an 11-8 record and reached the ASUN Championship title game for the third straight year. The Lady Flames defeated Virginia Tech for the first time in program history, earning a 15-14 overtime win over the Hokies in Blacksburg. Liberty has won 10 or more games in four straight full seasons. Liberty finished first in the nation in caused turnovers per game (13.58) in 2022 and ranked fourth nationally in ground balls per game (20.89).
2021- Liberty finished with a 10-9 mark and reached the ASUN title game. The Lady Flames bested High Point 15-13 in a regular season game for their second victory in program history over the Panthers. Liberty concluded the year fourth in the country in caused turnovers per game (12.26) and fifth in ground balls per game (21.47).
2020- Nangle and Liberty posted a 3-3 record in a season that was cut short.
2019- Liberty enjoyed the best season in program history under Nangle’s direction, posting a 14-5 overall mark and 5-1 mark in the ASUN in its first year in the new league. The 14 wins were a program record, while the Lady Flames ended the year at No. 31 (out of 116 teams) in the final NCAA Women’s Lacrosse RPI listing, the best mark in program history. The Lady Flames earned the No. 2 seed for the ASUN Lacrosse Championship and reached the ASUN title game in their first year in the conference.
The 2019 season saw Nangle’s team lead the nation in caused turnovers per game (15.78) for a second straight season. The Lady Flames also ranked eighth in the country in ground balls per game (21.53), 13th in scoring margin (5.00), 14th in scoring defense (9.11), 18th in shots per game (33.63) and 20th in scoring offense (14.11). Liberty had six ASUN All-Conference selections, including first team members Carly White and Brianna McCaffrey. Additionally, Liberty led all ASUN teams with 10 weekly award winners (offensive and defensive player of the week).
2018- The Lady Flames had a historic season under Nangle’s direction, posting a 13-5 overall mark and 6-1 record in the Big South. The 13 overall wins are the second most in school history, and the six conference wins is still a program record. Additionally, Liberty reached as high No. 37 (out of 115 DI teams) in the NCAA Women’s Lacrosse RPI and closed the year in the No. 38 slot. The Lady Flames also defeated several schools for the first time in program history, including: Arizona State (first-ever win over a Power-5 conference school), East Carolina, Mercer, Old Dominion, Robert Morris and William & Mary.
The 2018 season also saw Nangle’s squad at No. 1 in the nation in caused turnovers per game (14.28), No. 2 in ground balls per game (23.78), No. 4 in shots per game (36.11), No. 9 in shots on goal per game (25.94), No. 17 in scoring defense (9.78) and No. 20 in scoring margin (3.67). Liberty matched a program record with seven Big South All-Conference selections. Additionally, 10 Lady Flames were named either the Big South Offensive or Defensive Player of the Week or Freshman of the Week during the course of the season, led by Brianna McCaffrey, a four-time Defensive Player of the Week.
Nangle collected her first win at the helm of the program on Feb. 21, 2014 when the Lady Flames defeated Elon, 13-9, at the Liberty Lacrosse Field.
Prior to coming to Liberty, Nangle spent two seasons at Central Connecticut State, helping the Blue Devils reach new heights during her tenure. She posted a 16-18 overall record and a 12-6 mark in Northeast Conference action.
Nangle guided Central Connecticut State to a program record tying seven victories in 2012, while setting new program standards with five NEC victories and six home wins. She was recognized for her efforts, by being named the 2012 NEC Coach of the Year. In addition, her senior keeper, Erin DeLancey, was selected the NEC Goalkeeper of the Year.
In 2013, Nangle’s squad finished second in the NEC with a 7-2 conference record. The Blue Devils made their first-ever appearance in the NEC Championship, advancing to the semifinal round.
Central Connecticut State posted a 9-9 overall record in 2013, surpassing the previous school record for overall wins. Six of Nangle’s players earned All-NEC honors, dramatically increasing the program’s number of all-conference honorees. Central Connecticut State had 11 total previous all-conference honorees in program history.
Prior to her heading Central Connecticut State, Nangle spent three years as an assistant coach at Rutgers (2009-11). She oversaw the Scarlet Knights’ defense, while assisting with the program’s recruiting efforts and overseeing the team’s academics.
Rutgers posted a 27-21 record during her three seasons in Piscataway, N.J., maintaining a presence in the national rankings each year. The Scarlet Knights’ defense improved each season, spotlighted by a second-place finish in goals against average in the Big East during her final season with the program (9.06 in 2011).
In 2008, Nangle served as the head coach at St. John’s Catholic Prep in Frederick, Md. She helped the Vikings increase their win total by four times during her one season, as St. John’s Catholic was winless the year prior to her arrival. Two of her players earned all-conference honors, while two additional players received all-county recognition.
Nangle, a native of Philadelphia, Pa., played soccer and lacrosse at Mount St. Mary’s from 2001-06 and earned her bachelor’s degree in business.
