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Katie O'Donnell

 
Profile
Two-time All-American midfielder Katie O’Donnell enters her second season as Mountain Hawks’ assistant coach in 2021.

The 2018 Big Ten Midfielder of the Year, O’Donnell helped Penn State reach the Final Four in back-to-back seasons (2016 and 2017).

In O’Donnell’s first season, Lehigh posted a 6-2 record before the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation the rest of the season. The Mountain Hawks were averaging 14.50 goals per game, led by senior Sondra Dickey and freshman Gabby Schneider. Dickey was sixth nationally goals (32) and 12th in points (42), while Schneider was seventh in assists (21) and 14th in points (41). Dickey became Lehigh women’s lacrosse’s second student-athlete ever named to the Tewaaraton Award Watch List. Defensively, the Mountain Hawks put forth some strong efforts, which includes allowing six goals or fewer twice.

Named a captain as a junior and senior at Penn State, O’Donnell was an IWLCA first team All-American as a senior, the same year she won Big Ten Midfielder of the Year. O’Donnell ended her career fourth in program history for career goals (203) and sixth in points (227). As a senior, she had 61 goals, six assists, 36 groundballs, 27 draw controls and 21 caused turnovers.

O’Donnell was also named a first team All-Region and second team All-American honoree as a junior. That year, she posted 65 goals and six assists, along with 33 groundballs, 16 draw controls and 21 caused turnovers. O’Donnell went on to be selected fourth overall in the 2018 WPLL (Women’s Professional Lacrosse League) Draft by the New England Command. She is also currently a member of the United States National Team, and is trying out for the 2021 World Lacrosse Championship team.

O’Donnell has extensive leadership experience at Penn State as well, serving as an active member of the Athletic Director’s Leadership Institute 360 program, participating in monthly forums discussing leadership strategies among peers. O’Donnell was part of Spiritus Leoninus, a Penn State Student-Athlete Honor Society recognizing student-athletes that have demonstrated exceptional leadership ability, community service outreach and strong performance on the field and in the classroom. O’Donnell was also a member of the Douglas A. Anderson Chapter of Kappa Tau Alpha, a National Honor Society recognizing the top 10 percent of graduating students from the College of Communications.