Eastern Michigan University has appointed Maddie Dugan as the new head coach of its women's lacrosse program, as announced by Vice President and Director of Athletics Scott Wetherbee on Aug. 8.
Dugan, who was named the 2024 Mid-American Conference (MAC) Coach of the Year, arrives in Ypsilanti following a standout season with the University of Detroit Mercy, where she led the Titans to the championship game of the 2024 MAC Tournament as the fourth-seeded team.
Dugan becomes the third head coach in the history of the EMU lacrosse program. She inherits a team that made significant strides last season, advancing to the MAC Tournament for the first time in program history. The youthful roster includes key players such as goalie Maddie Porter, the 2024 MAC Freshman of the Year, and Mackenzie Blackwell, a 2024 All-MAC First Team selection who ranked among the top sophomores nationally in goals scored and draw controls.
Dugan's tenure at Detroit Mercy was marked by her ability to exceed expectations. Despite being picked to finish last in the coaches poll, she guided the Titans to the playoffs and an eventual berth in the MAC championship game, where they narrowly fell to Robert Morris University. Her leadership resulted in Detroit Mercy's first postseason appearance since 2019 and the program's first playoff win and championship game appearance since 2016. The team's six wins, including three on the road, were the most since the 2019 season.
During her time at Detroit Mercy, Dugan also worked with several standout players, including Cat Kopchia, the 2024 MAC Offensive Player of the Year. Four Titans earned spots on the All-MAC Second Team, while 13 student-athletes were named to the MAC All-Academic Team. The program also recorded an impressive 3.47 GPA under her leadership.
Before joining Detroit Mercy, Dugan spent the 2023 season as the head coach at The Woodlands High School in Texas, where she led the team to a 9-4 record and a quarterfinal appearance in the state tournament. Her coaching career also includes a successful five-year stint at Trine University, where she rebuilt the program and led the team to its most wins since 2011. Her teams set numerous records and excelled academically, with 31 players earning MIAA Academic Honor Roll recognition.
Dugan began her coaching career at Wartburg College, where she helped establish the school's first-year lacrosse program. She later returned to her alma mater, Adrian College, as an assistant coach, where she contributed to the team's significant offensive improvement.
Outside of collegiate coaching, Dugan has been heavily involved in club lacrosse, coaching elite high school athletes with Pure Advantage Lacrosse and Medusa Lacrosse Club. She also played collegiately at Adrian College, where she was a two-time All-Conference performer and helped the Bulldogs to four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. In recognition of her achievements, Dugan was inducted into the Adrian College Athletics Hall of Fame in 2024.
Dugan's appointment as EMU's head coach marks a new chapter for the Eagles lacrosse program. She brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success to Ypsilanti.
