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NEWARK, Del. – ­­­The University of Delaware women’s lacrosse program has a rich history filled with conference and national championship titles.

And with a culture of winning under her belt as both a student-athlete and coach, Amy Altig looks to take the Blue Hens back to national prominence as the program’s next head coach.

Altig comes to Newark following nine seasons at Penn State University, where she spent time as an assistant coach and most recently as the program’s associate head coach.

“We are excited to have Amy Altig join our Blue Hen family,” remarked Bob Lopez, Associate Athletics Director for Sport Administration. “In addition to bringing a wealth of experience as a player and coach at the highest levels, we are most excited about the growth and development that she will deliver to our program and student-athletes. Coach Altig is a relentless recruiter and her desire to win is only outdone by her desire to provide our student-athletes with an exceptional experience. From a field filled with tremendous candidates, her experience and successes allowed her to rise to the top.”

With Altig on the sidelines, the Nittany Lions garnered 111 wins at a clip of .631 with seven NCAA Tournament appearances and two trips to the NCAA Tournament Final Four.  Prior to her time at PSU, Altig held assistant coaching stints at Princeton University (2007-10) and the University of Richmond (2005-07).

“It is a true honor and privilege to be named the women’s lacrosse head coach at the University of Delaware,” Altig exclaimed.  ”The University of Delaware offers the complete student-athlete experience with exceptional academics, nationally competitive athletics and amazing community support. I am very excited to get back to the CAA and to work with this dedicated and talented group of young women.

Altig continued, “I would like to thank Chrissi Rawak and Bob Lopez in addition the rest of the athletics staff for the opportunity to lead the Blue Hens women’s lacrosse program to new heights. The Unviersity of Delaware has a special family atmosphere, and this is something I was immediately drawn to and cannot wait to be a part of. This is an opportunity of a lifetime for my family and I and we could not be more thrilled to get started. I would also like to thank Penn State University, women’s lacrosse head coach Missy Doherty and the women’s lacrosse program for nine amazing years that have prepared me for this next chapter in my career. The experiences, relationships and memories built at Penn State will last us for a lifetime and we are forever grateful for the opportunity to represent the blue and white.”

Altig worked mainly with the Nittany Lion goalkeepers and defensive unit. During her tenure, she coached 19 All-Americans, 36 All-Region performers, 40 All-Conference selections in addition to more than 25 student-athletes who received academic honors. Additionally, PSU boasted three Conference Goalkeepers of the Year under Altig’s guidance.

After helping Penn State to a third NCAA quarterfinal appearance in four years in 2015, Altig was named IWLCA Assistant Coach of the Year and was inducted to the U.S. Lacrosse Virginia Chapter Hall of Fame.

As a goalkeeper at James Madison University from 2001-05, Altig led the Dukes to two Colonial Athletic Association titles, was a two-time All-CAA pick and was selected to the North/South STX Senior All-Star Game. A two-time team captain, she also saw a spot on the 2004 CAA All-Tournament Team and still ranks in the Top 12 of three career statistical categories at JMU.

Altig became a playing member of the USA National Team in 2003 and was part of the 2009 USA World Cup Training Team and 2008 USA Prague Touring Team. She also served as a field coach for USA Tryouts from 2015-17. Since 2017, Altig has been the defensive coordinator/goalkeepers coach for the USA National Team.

A native of Millersville, Md., Altig earned a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology with a concentration in sports management from James Madison in 2005. She and her wife, Megan, have a daughter, Ava.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

Missy Doherty, Penn State Women’s Lacrosse Head Coach

“I’m so excited for Amy because Delaware provides an amazing opportunity for her to continue her professional career. Amy is one of the most loyal, hard-working, caring and accomplished coaches in the country. She is a perfect fit to continue the great tradition of Delaware women’s lacrosse.”

Jenny Levy, University of North Carolina Women’s Lacrosse Head Coach

“Amy Altig is a hard-working, passionate, player and coach who is well prepared to lead the University of Delaware women’s lacrosse program. Her vast coaching and playing experience will be a great asset to creating and executing a new vision for the program. When considering my assistant options for the United States Women’s National Team, I knew Amy would be someone I wanted to work with because she always impressed me professionally and as a human being. During the USWNT hiring process, my thoughts were confirmed as we received overwhelmingly positive feedback from teammates, fellow coaches and players. Amy leads with empathy and humility yet commands respect with the ability to communicate, inspire and connect with people. She is a great choice to lead the future of Delaware women’s lacrosse.”

Chris Sailer, Princeton Women’s Lacrosse Head Coach

“Amy Altig will be a tremendous leader for the Delaware women’s lacrosse program. She brings boundless energy and passion for the game, along with a wealth of knowledge and experience at the highest levels. I think the Blue Hens players will thrive in the fun and competitive atmosphere Amy will create in her program. She’s a winner in every way!”