Former North Carolina women's lacrosse player Aly Messinger will become an assistant coach for the Navy women's lacrosse team, the team's coach Cindy Timchal announced on Tuesday.
Messinger graduated from North Carolina in 2016 after an illustrious playing career that included winning two national championships in 2013 and 2016. She was named the NCAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player in 2016 and scored two goals in her final college game, a win in the national title game against Maryland on May 29.
She also finished third all-time in North Carolina women’s lacrosse program history with 230 points, and earned All-America honors in three different seasons.
“I am so excited to be coaching at an unbelievable institution filled with great people and talented athletes,” Messinger said in a statement. “I am thankful for the opportunity and cannot wait to be a part of the Naval Academy family.”
Messinger will fill in for former Navy assistant Josh Dionne, who joined the North Carolina coaching staff on July 26. Dionne played lacrosse at Duke and coached the last two seasons at Navy under Timchal.
At Navy, Messinger will be learning under one of the most successful lacrosse coaches at any level in Timchal, who has been a head coach for 34 years.
"We are pleased to add Aly to our coaching staff as the offensive coordinator …" Timchal said in a statement. "Her knowledge of the game, both as a player and being on a program that won two national championships, will be a great asset to have as she grows as a coach personally and for the Navy program."
