GREENVILLE, S.C. — Furman athletics director Jason Donnelly today announced the hiring of Kirkland Lewis as the next head coach of the Furman women's lacrosse program.

Lewis comes to Greenville after serving as an assistant coach at Bucknell during the 2021 season, where she was the Bison's defensive and recruiting coordinator. She coached defender Ella Payer to second team All-Patriot League honors last season while Bucknell recorded victories over American, Colgate and Lafayette.

"I am absolutely ecstatic to be joining the Furman University community and lead the women's lacrosse program," said Lewis, who becomes the second head coach in the history of Furman women's lacrosse. "I recognize the opportunity in front of me, and am so thankful to Jason Donnelly, Jodi Steffes and the search committee for showing me the Paladin Way and entrusting me with the continued success of the program. I'm most looking forward to working with the student-athletes, developing relationships, and a culture that can take the program to the next level. I cannot wait to get started. Go Dins!"

Prior to joining Bucknell, Lewis was the head coach at Division III Whitman College for three seasons. Only the second head coach in program history, she coached two IWLCA All-Region selections in Olivia Engle and Sage Ali. Her players also earned 11 All-Northwest Conference recognitions.

At Whitman, Lewis was also responsible for conducting camps and clinics, fundraising, and building a recruiting database. For two of her three seasons, she was the only coach on the Blues' staff. 

Prior to being named head coach at Whitman, Lewis was an assistant coach for three seasons at Division II University of District of Columbia where she served as the defensive and recruiting coordinator. Lewis also oversaw the team's academic program progress and community service projects.

"We are thrilled that Kirkland Lewis is joining the Furman Family as our new head coach for women's lacrosse," Donnelly said. "Kirkland is a talented and energetic former student-athlete with successful head coaching and recruiting experience. Throughout the search process, she clearly distinguished herself and is a leader that we can invest in as we look towards the future of the women's lacrosse program."

She began her collegiate coaching career in 2014 as an assistant coach at Division III Randolph-Macon College. Lewis served as the program's defensive coordinator and goalkeeper coach. She was instrumental in the Yellow Jackets' community service efforts, social media initiatives and off-season fitness programming.

Lewis played collegiately at Old Dominion, where she was coached by former United States National Team head coach Sue Stahl. Following her graduation in 2012 with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, she obtained her master's degree in sports administration from Delaware State. In 2013, she captained the inaugural varsity lacrosse team.

Lewis also has experience coaching at the club level. Over the course of her career, she has worked for Ultimate Lacrosse Club (2008-12, 2015), Storm Lacrosse Club (2013-14), Elevate Lacrosse Club (2016-17) and the Tenacity Project (2019).

She is heavily involved in the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA), having served as an Outreach Committee Chair, a Northwest Conference Representative, and an All-Region Committee member. In addition, she is on the NCAA Regional Advisory Committee and is a US Lacrosse Diversity and Inclusion Clinician.