RICHMOND, Va. – Nicole Flores has been named head coach of the VCU  lacrosse program, VCU Vice President and Director of Athletics Ed McLaughlin announced Friday.

“We are thrilled to have Nicole join our department and lead our lacrosse program,” McLaughlin said. “We have goals for our lacrosse program of winning Atlantic 10 championships and competing in the NCAA Tournament and Nicole brings that championship experience with her to VCU. She has mentored and developed student-athletes throughout her career and her passion for that development came through quickly during the interview process.”

Flores, who becomes the second head coach in the program’s six-year history, boasts more than a decade of coaching experience. She joins VCU after serving as an assistant coach at Stanford the past two seasons. Flores has also spent time as an assistant coach at Dartmouth, Trinity, Bowdoin, Union and Eastern Connecticut State.

“I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to lead the VCU women’s lacrosse program and am beyond excited to join Ram Nation. I would like to thank Ed McLaughlin and Takeya McLaurin for their time and thoughtfulness throughout this process as well as all the members of the search committee. I can’t wait to lead these women and create an amazing student-athlete experience with a passion for championship success,” Flores said.

 

While at Stanford, Flores served as both the program’s recruiting coordinator and defensive coordinator. The Cardinal completed an undefeated regular season this past spring en route to winning the PAC-12 Tournament and securing an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Cardinal ranked 28th nationally the past season in scoring defense under her watch, allowing 10.92 goals per game.

Prior to Stanford, Flores helped lead Dartmouth to the 2019 Ivy League Regular Season Championship. While with the Big Green, she managed the development of the team’s goalkeepers and defense in addition to planning official visits and assisting with the team’s recruiting efforts. Dartmouth finished 22-11 in her two seasons. The Big Green hadn’t posted a winning record in the four seasons prior to Flores’ arrival.

Flores spent one year as an assistant at Trinity, where she helped lead the team to the 2017 NCAA Division III Final Four and coached the 2017 IWLCA National Goalkeeper of the Year, Zoe Ferguson. Before coaching at Trinity, Flores served on the coaching staff at Bowdoin for two seasons, where the team reached the 2015 Division III Sweet 16. She also spent three seasons at Union (2011-14) and two seasons at Eastern Connecticut State (2009-11).

Flores played collegiately at Springfield College, where she was named to the All-New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference First Team as a senior and served as a team captain. Flores played as a defender and attacker after suiting up as a goalkeeper her first two seasons. She led the team to the 2006 Division III NCAA Tournament as a goalkeeper.

A native of Branford, Conn., Flores graduated from Springfield with a bachelor’s degree in physical education in 2009.