CCSU Alum Betsy Vendel Named Women's Lacrosse Head Coach

Central Connecticut graduate Betsy Vendel has been named the head women's lacrosse coach it was announced on Monday.  Vendel is the all-time leading scorer in CCSU history and was most recently at Southern Connecticut State University where she was the interim head coach.

"We are excited to name Betsy Vendel as our new Head Coach of the women's lacrosse program and welcome her back into to the Blue Devils family," Central Connecticut Director of Athletics Brian Barrio said.  "Her experience playing at CCSU and her coaching background will invaluable in building a successful program at CCSU and mentoring our student-athletes."

"It is a great feeling to be returning to lead the women's lacrosse program at CCSU," said Vendel. "I am looking forward to working with a great group of student-athletes and I want to thank Brian Barrio and Amy Strickland (Associate AD/SWA) for having the confidence in me to take over the program. It means a lot to me to be named the Blue Devils head coach and I can't wait to get started."

Vendel is a 2014 graduate of Central Connecticut and was a four-year member of the women's lacrosse team. She was a three-time All-Northeast Conference selection and earned Rookie of the Year honors as a freshman during her career. She posted four of the top 10 single-season point totals in program history and started all 64 games of her career. During her time with the Blue Devils, Vendel was awarded the Gail Rutz Award as the most outstanding senior female student-athlete and she finished her career at CCSU ranked first all-time with 219 points, 99 assists and 180 draw controls. She ranks second all-time with 120 career goals. 

Vendel comes to Central after spending the previous four years at Southern Connecticut State. She served as the team's Interim Head Coach since the fall of 2017 and guided the Owls to match a program-record for single-season wins. The program awas also recognized with Team Academic honors by the IWLCA. Vendel had served as assistant coach since 2015 and was instrumental in all aspects of the day-to-day operations of the team.

Vendel's coaching career also includes a season spent as assistant coach at the United States Coast Guard Academy. She has also coached with the Nor'easter club program since 2012. A Connecticut native, she began her coaching career at her alma mater, Newtown High School.