Stetson University head women’s lacrosse coach Nicole Moore has every intention of making the Hatters into a national power.

While those lofty goals won’t come immediately, with the addition of Brittany Dipper to her coaching staff, she was able to add someone with intimate knowledge of what it takes to reach the very highest level of the sport.

Dipper comes to Stetson on the heels of a highly successful playing career at the University of Maryland where, over four years in goal, she led the Terrapins to four consecutive Atlantic Coast Conference titles. In addition, she made eight saves in goal in Maryland’s 2010 national championship game victory over Northwestern.

“Hiring Brittany Dipper was an easy decision to make,” Moore said. “From our first conversation, and her time on campus, I knew she would be an important asset to the start of this program at Stetson, and to our student-athletes.

“Her passion, drive, confidence and positivity will help her to become an effective and successful coach. I am excited for us to work together in building Stetson lacrosse.”

Dipper’s playing career at Maryland, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Family Science, includes a pair of first team All-America seasons and a national Goalie of the Year award. She was named to the All-ACC Tournament team all four years of her career while posting a career record in goal of 75-8.

A native of Clarksboro, N.J., Dipper not only excelled in lacrosse. She was also a member of Maryland’s 2008 national champion field hockey team.

“I am so privileged to be a part of the Stetson family and so grateful for the opportunity Nicole and the athletic department has given me,” Dipper said. “It is an honor to be able to help establish the Stetson women’s lacrosse program and bring a hardworking, dedicated tradition to Stetson lacrosse. I cannot wait to get started working with the program.”

While Stetson marks Dipper’s first foray into full-time coaching, she is no stranger to teaching the game of lacrosse. While still a player at Maryland she worked as a coach and counselor at a number of camps and clinics. She has been an annual instructor at the Maryland Elevate Lacrosse Open Camp and has worked at elite camps in Salt Lake City, Atlanta and at Duke University.

“Brittany will be a fantastic addition at Stetson,”Maryland coach Cathy Reese said. “She is both a hard worker and a valiant competitor who achieved a great deal of success during her time at Maryland. We are excited to have yet another Terp embark into a career in coaching and wish her nothing but the best.”

Moore said she expects to see Dipper’s imprint on the new Stetson program from her first day on campus.

“Brittany will make an immediate impact on the field coaching with her extensive background as a student-athlete,”Moore said. “She has shown the ability and intellect to be able to pick up the skills needed to help run an effective work environment. She will fit right in with the Stetson athletic department as she starts her collegiate coaching career.”

Dipper said she was attracted to Stetson by the dedication she saw, from both the athletic department and the university, to building a championship caliber program.

“As soon as I walked on to the Stetson campus and met Nicole, the Athletic Administrators and other coaches, I knew this was a perfect fit,” Dipper said. “The opportunity to work with the Stetson family and the talented student-athletes is very rewarding.

“I was fortunate enough to be a part of a national championship team, and I know the amount of commitment and effort needed to get there. I plan on bringing that drive to Stetson lacrosse from the very beginning.  My objective is to bring what I have learned throughout my playing career to the student-athletes of Stetson lacrosse so they can thrive, not only on the field, but off the field as well.”

The Stetson women’s lacrosse program will embark on its first season of play this spring, with the schedule set to open in early February.

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