FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A dominant presence in NCAA Division II lacrosse, with experience building programs and a championship pedigree, Heather Coppola has been named the inaugural Head Coach of the Nova Southeastern University (NSU) Women’s Lacrosse team, announces Interim Director of Athletics Ryan Romero. Coppola joins NSU after a five-year tenure as the Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach at the University of Mount Olive (NC).
Coppola will lead the NSU Women’s Lacrosse program into its inaugural season in the spring of 2027.
“We are thrilled to welcome Heather Coppola to our athletics family. Heather is one of the most accomplished and respected coaches in collegiate women’s lacrosse, with a proven record of competitive success, program building, and student-athlete development,” stated Romero. “Her ability to elevate every program she’s led — both on the field and in the classroom — is a testament to her leadership, vision, and relentless commitment to excellence. We are excited for the future of our program under her direction.”
During her tenure as the Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach at Mount Olive, Coppola accumulated a record of 68-23, which included a 42-1 record in Conference Carolinas (CC) contests, while winning five Conference Carolinas regular season titles and five consecutive CC tournament championships. Coppola was recognized three times as the Conference Coach of the Year (2021, 2022, 2024). Coppola coached a total of 47 student-athletes to all-league recognition, in addition to five defensive players of the year, two offensive players of the year, two scholar-athletes of the year and one freshman of the year. Under Coppola’s guidance, the Trojans also succeeded in the classroom, improving their grade-point averages from 2.9 to 3.59. Additionally, Coppola rebuilt the UMO roster, expanding the team from 15 to 42 student-athletes.
“I am honored to be named the inaugural head women’s lacrosse coach at Nova Southeastern University,” said Coppola. “I would like to thank (Interim Director of Athletics) Ryan Romero and the hiring committee for entrusting me with this incredible opportunity. From the moment I visited campus and engaged with the people here, it was clear that NSU is the ideal place to establish a premier lacrosse program. The university’s commitment to excellence, both academically and athletically, along with its world-class facilities, provides a strong foundation for success.”
Coppola began her tenure at Mount Olive in June 2020, becoming the second head coach in program history for the Trojans. In her first season, Coppola guided Mount Olive to a 13-2 record, finishing 8-0 in Conference Carolinas (CC) play. The Trojans won the program’s second Conference Carolinas tournament champion – first since 2015 – and qualified for the NCAA Tournament. Coppola was recognized as the Conference Carolinas Coach of the Year and coached 10 Trojans to all-conference honors, including Ciara Moorman (Defensive Player of the Year) and Shaelyn Yermal (Freshman of the Year).
Coppola followed the success of her first season with a second consecutive Conference Carolinas regular season and tournament championship, ending the year with a 14-5 overall record and a perfect 9-0 mark in league play. Coppola was recognized as the league’s coach of the year for the second time in her tenure, while Chaija Olsson earned defensive player of the year recognition.
In 2023, Mount Olive won the regular season and conference tournament championships for the third straight season, as Coppola guided the Trojans to a 14-5 record, while going undefeated in league play for the third consecutive season. Alexis Stanley was he third straight Mount Olive student-athlete, under Coppola’s tutelage, to garner Conference Carolinas Defensive Player of the Year honors, while Ali Davis was honored as the league’s Offensive Player of the Year.
Coppola and the Trojans continued their dynastic run during the 2024 season, once again winning the Conference Carolinas regular season and tournament titles. Coppola was honored as the Coach of the Year for the third time in her career, guiding UMO to a 16-3 record and unbeaten in league play for the fourth consecutive season. Logan Hibbard earned offensive player of the year recognition, in addition to Madison Dow being honored as the fourth consecutive defensive player of the year.
During the 2025 season, Coppola guided the Trojans back to the NCAA tournament, while sharing the CC regular season title and winning the tournament championship for the fifth straight season. UMO finished the year 11-8, going 7-1 in conference play, while Simone McCraw earned defensive player of the year recognition.
Prior to leading the Mount Olive program, Coppola began her head coaching career as the second head coach of the women’s lacrosse program at Concordia University – Saint Paul (MN). Coppola joined Mo Gaitan’s staff in 2018 as a graduate assistant coach and took over the program prior to the 2019 season. In her first season, Coppola led the Golden Bears to a program record 11 wins and the team’s first Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletics Conference (GLIAC) tournament victory.
Coppola began her coaching career at Allegheny College (PA), where she worked as the Assistant Lacrosse Coach from 2013 through 2015. Following her time at Allegheny, Coppola served as the Assistant Lacrosse Coach and Field Hockey Recruiting Coordinator at SUNY Oswego from 2015 until 2016. Coppola then joined the coaching staff at Robert Morris University (PA) from 2016 through 2017, as the Assistant Lacrosse Coach & Operations Manager.
Coppola’s first season leading the Nova Southeastern Women’s Lacrosse program beginning in the spring of 2027.
Coppola added, “My vision is to build a nationally competitive team that upholds the high standards of the university both academically and athletically. I am eager to begin recruiting student-athletes from across the country who are not only talented but also passionate about laying the groundwork for a program that will thrive for years to come.”
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