ELON, N.C. – Elon University Director of Athletics Dave Blank announced today that Josh Hexter will be the first-ever head coach of the Phoenix women’s lacrosse program, which is slated to begin competition in the spring of 2014.
“We were looking for some essential characteristics in our search for a head women’s lacrosse coach,” Blank commented. “Not only does Josh have head coaching experience, but he has been an integral part of developing lacrosse programs that are achieving high levels of success year in and year out. It was clear to me throughout my conversations with Josh that he is truly excited to be a head coach once again and to be part of the creation of Elon women’s lacrosse.”
“I am honored to join the Elon University family,” Hexter said. “I want to express my gratitude to the Elon administration and coaching staff for this amazing opportunity. It was obvious to me from the beginning that a solid foundation for excellence has been built at Elon and my job now is to extend that excellence to the women’s lacrosse program. We’ve got a tremendous plan in place and I am looking forward to getting started.”
Hexter will begin his time at Elon following the conclusion of his eighth season with the Duke women’s lacrosse program. He joined the Blue Devil staff prior to the 2005 season and was promoted to associate head coach in 2010. The seventh-ranked Devils earned a 12-5 win over No. 10 Penn this past weekend in the regular-season finale. The NCAA selection show will take place on Sunday, May 6.
Duke has amassed a 119-42 record during Hexter’s tenure, averaging nearly 15 wins per season. Under Hexter’s watch, the Blue Devils won three ACC regular season championships, as well as an ACC Tournament title, while also reaching five national semifinals (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011).
Under Hexter’s guidance, the Duke offense consistently ranked as one of the best in the country. Since 2005, Duke has scored 2,020 goals, averaging over 14 per contest, a jump of nearly four goals per game from the nine seasons prior to his arrival. In addition, the 2009 squad set program single-season highs for goals (313), assists (150) and points (463).
During Hexter’s time at Duke, the Blue Devils have had a finalist for the Tewaaraton Award, an honor annually presented to the best NCAA Division I men’s and women’s lacrosse player, every season. In 2005, the Blue Devils’ Katie Chrest won the Tewaaraton and was a finalist a year later.
Prior to arriving at Duke, Hexter served as the head women’s lacrosse coach at Bridgewater State College in Bridgewater, Mass. While at Bridgewater State, the program totaled a 72-42 record and made a trip to the New England Women’s Lacrosse Alliance (NEWLA) title game in six consecutive seasons. He led the team to two conference championships during this time. In 2003, Bridgewater made the program’s first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division III Tournament.
Prior to coaching at Bridgewater, Hexter coached the New England III Team in the National Tournament and in the Bay State Games. He also served as an assistant women’s lacrosse coach at The College of the Holy Cross from 1996-97.
A 1995 graduate of Assumption College, he was a four-year standout defenseman on the lacrosse team, earning team captain and NECLA All-Star honors during his senior campaign. In 1995, Hexter became the first player in Assumption history to earn a spot in the East-West New England All-Star Game.
Hexter and his wife, Courtney, reside in Durham with their sons – Evan, Christopher and Nicholas – and their dog, Rosie.