Rhode Island named Jenna Slowey as the first women’s lacrosse coach in program history Thursday.

Slowey comes to URI after spending the 2022 season as an assistant at Notre Dame, where she helped lead the Fighting Irish to an NCAA tournament appearance. Before that, she spent five seasons as an assistant at Richmond, leading the Spiders to Atlantic 10 titles in 2018 and 2019 and a share of the regular-season title in 2021.

“As we build our program from the ground up, we wanted a leader with the ability to be patiently aggressive,” Rhode Island athletic director Thorr Bjorn said in a press release. ”Jenna Slowey fits the bill. ... She will work hard right away to recruit quality players who will enhance the URI athletics culture while at the same time helping to grow the sport of women’s lacrosse in Rhode Island. We are incredibly excited to partner with Jenna as we begin our women’s lacrosse journey.”

Rhode Island announced last December it would add women’s lacrosse at the department’s 19th varsity sport. The Rams are expected to begin play in the Atlantic 10 beginning with the 2024-25 season.

“I am grateful and excited to join the Rhody family as the first coach in program history,” Slowey said. “I am eager to bring my vision to life and build Rhode Island Lacrosse into a championship program.” 

The offensive coordinator and draw coordinator for Notre Dame, Slowey helped the Fighting Irish rank 20th in the nation in scoring offense, 21st in points per game and 13th in both draw control percentage and draw controls per game. She helped Kasey Choma and Madison Ahern earn All-American honors from Inside Lacrosse. Choma also earned All-American recognition from the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association and USA Lacrosse Magazine after leading the Fighting Irish with 59 goals.

While a member of Alison Kwolek’s staff at Richmond from 2017-21, Slowey helped the Spiders to an overall record of 64-16. Richmond won back-to-back conference titles in 2018 and 2019, earning NCAA bids both years. In 2020, the Spiders were 7-0 – including a victory at No. 6 Virginia – and had reached as high as No. 10 in the national rankings before the season was ended by the COVID-19 pandemic. The win over the Cavaliers was Richmond’s first over a top-10 program in 14 years.

A proven recruiter, Slowey and Richmond had the No. 10 recruiting class in the country in 2020, according to Inside Lacrosse. She also helped facilitate the program’s student athlete led-Social Responsibility Committee, an initiative that fostered community engagement and social awareness.

As a player, Slowey was a team captain for Fairfield in 2014, earning All-MAAC honors as a senior and conference all-tournament team recognition as a junior.  She finished her career 13th in program history in points and 12th in both goals and assists.