Another 2017 women’s college lacrosse star is joining the coaching ranks. Nadine Hadnagy, the 2017 Tewaaraton Award finalist defender for the national champion Maryland Terrapins, will join the coaching staff at Florida.

Hadnagy, the reigning IWLCA Defender of the Year and two-time All-American, will join a Gators staff that includes second-year assistant Taryn VanThof, a former U.S. National Team member and Loyola star, along with head coach Amanda O’Leary.

“I'm really excited to get started and join Mandee and Taryn at an awesome program like Florida,” Hadnagy said in a press release. “The talent, tradition and school pride in Gainesville is unbelievable, and something I can't wait to be a part of. The opportunity to work with a top program and make an impact instantly is very special, and to have someone like Mandee to guide me every day is a dream situation.”

Hadnagy will be helping a Florida defense that ranked 11^th in Division I last season, allowing just nine goals per game. The Gators fell out of the NCAA tournament early in each of the past two seasons — losing to Penn State in the second round in 2016 and to USC in the same round in 2017.

With Hadnagy, Florida gets a record of success. Under Hadnagy, the Terps finished 17^th in the country with 9.39 goals per game allowed last season. She finished second on the team in both caused turnovers (26) and ground balls (30). Over her four seasons in College Park, Hadnagy and the Maryland defense allowed just 7.93 goals per game and won three national championships. She finished her career with 90 starts from 2014-2017, tallying 115 ground balls, 74 caused turnovers, 19 draw controls, and seven points.

“I couldn’t be happier to have Nadine join our staff,” O'Leary said. “She has been nothing but a winner during her career, and has competed at the highest level possible for Maryland and in the UWLX. Nadine’s work ethic and competitiveness will be a wonderful addition and influence to our student-athletes and program. I’m so glad she is a Gator.”

Florida will be busy this offseason and fall trying to fill the holes left by defensive standouts Caroline Fitzgerald and Taylor Bresnahan. Hadnagy will add recent experience to the mix to help the Gators rebuild on defense