ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – St. Bonaventure University Director of Athletics Tim Kenney has announced the hiring of Jason Levesque as the head coach of the Bonnies women's lacrosse program.

Levesque brings over 14 years of competitive coaching experience to St. Bonaventure across various levels.

"Our coaches at St. Bonaventure embrace their responsibility to mentor, educate and support our student-athletes to reach their highest potential in the classroom, in competition and in life. Throughout our process, it was evident that Jason reflected those qualities," Kenney said. "We are excited to welcome Jason into the St. Bonaventure family and look forward to his leadership bringing our women's lacrosse program to new heights."

Originally from St. Catharines, Ontario, Levesque has coached at multiple levels on the international stage. Working with the Canadian Men's National Team as an Assistant Coach in both 2014 and 2018, Levesque helped guide Team Canada to the gold medal of the Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) World Championships in 2014 and the silver in 2018. 

He served as an assistant coach with the Canadian U-19 Junior Men's National Team from 2015-16, helping Team Canada to a silver medal at the 2016 FIL World Championships. The previous year, he was an assistant coach for the Canadian U-17 Men's Junior National Team. 

He most recently served as a coach at IMG Academy for nearly four years. At IMG, Levesque was one of four coaches that concurrently worked with four teams – the girls varsity and three boys varsity squads. He managed the day-to-day operations of the girls program during its inaugural season at IMG. While working with the lacrosse programs there, he helped develop multiple Division I student-athletes within both the boys and girls programs.

"First and foremost, St. Bonaventure University is phenomenal academic institution.  The people are genuine, the administrators and professors that I've met have all been first class," Levesque said. "I'm a firm believer that you win with people and am confident that we can build a quality program on the field that will be very attractive for future student-athletes looking to pursue a top-tier education combined with competitive athletics.  I'd like to thank President Dennis DePerro and Director of Athletics Tim Kenney, as well as the rest of the search committee for the opportunity to lead the Bonnies women's lacrosse program."   

Levesque guided Division II Adams State University's men's program from 2014-16. As Adams State Head Coach, he coached the 2015 Western Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Co-Offensive Player of the Year and well as the 2015 Co-Longstick Midfielder of the Year. In 2016, with an affiliation switch to the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, Levesque recruited and mentored the Conference's Freshman of the Year.  In two years at Adams State, eleven players earned post season All Conference nods while ten earned All Academic honors. 

Levesque was hired by Division III Alma College to build both the men's and women's programs from scratch in January 2011. In August of 2011 Levesque led the search for and assisted in the hiring of the first-ever head women's lacrosse coach. During his three years as head coach of the men's squad, he saw the team's win total improve each season.

As a player, he was a four-year starter in the midfield for Canisius from 2000-04. He was an instrumental part of helping the Griffs to their first two conference tournament berths in program history. After graduating, Levesque returned to his alma mater as the defensive and recruiting coordinator for the Griffs from 2008-10 following a three-year stint to start his coaching career with the Lees-McRae (N.C.) College men's lacrosse staff in that same role.

Levesque has also served as a scout with the Colorado Mammoth of the National Lacrosse League (NLL) and on the advisory committee for the Intercollegiate Men's Lacrosse Coaches Association.