The Oglethorpe athletic department is proud to announce the hiring of Shawna Block as its new head women’s lacrosse coach, effective Dec. 5. She becomes the third head coach in the program’s history.
“We are excited to have Shawna lead our women as their next head lacrosse coach,” said Oglethorpe Director of Athletics Becky Hall. “After a national search, we believe that Shawna is the right fit to move our program forward. I’m very excited to have her join our Oglethorpe athletics team!”
Block comes to the Stormy Petrels after over 10 years of coaching experience at various levels of the game. She has coached at the collegiate level, serving as assistant coach of the Kennesaw State University club women’s lacrosse team in 2012 and of the Dickinson College (Pennsylvania) varsity team in 2000. She was the girls’ varsity head women’s lacrosse coach at Freehold Township (New Jersey) High School from 2003 to 2004, and the girls’ varsity assistant coach at Red Bank (New Jersey) Catholic High School in 2000.
In addition, Block has extensive experience at the club level. She served as an instructor at Hotlanta Lacrosse club in Atlanta from 2010 through 2013, and was a coach and director at Trident Lacrosse club in Marietta from 2005 through 2008. She’s also been an instructor for the U.S. Naval Academy’s lacrosse camp in Marietta.
Block has served as a U.S. Lacrosse official since 2008, working collegiate and high school games around the Southeast. She also has experience coaching running, swimming and triathlon.
“It is an honor to be named the new Oglethorpe University head women’s lacrosse coach,” said Block. “Having played and worked in the sport for many years, this appointment is truly a highlight of my career. I’m looking forward to leading our program into the future!”
Block was an all-region performer in college as a goalie at Division III Salisbury University in Maryland. She earned All-South Region honors three times from 1994 to 1996, and took Capital Athletic Conference accolades in 1995 and 1996. She wound up her career with 695 saves and became the school’s all-time leader in the category with two games remaining in her junior season. She finished 17th on the all-time NCAA Division III career saves leaderboard. She served as captain of the Salisbury squad her senior year and earned a spot in the Division III North/South Senior All-Star Game in 1996, serving as captain of her team there, too.
Block graduated from Salisbury with a Bachelor of Arts in social science and holds a Master of Science in sports administration from Georgia State University.