Coaching Spotlight: Kaitlyn Daly

Coach Kaitlyn Daly being welcomed to Dean. Photo Courtesy: Dean Bulldogs Athletic Website

The 2025/2026 academic school year has been an exciting one for the Dean College Athletics department. From the field hockey program’s first ever GNAC championship, to a men’s soccer playoff run, sports here at Dean have been evolving. Not only has the community been able to see new milestones hit, but also welcome multiple new coaches. Football, baseball, softball, and women's lacrosse have all seen changes to their coaching staff. Today, we’re highlighting the Dean College Women’s Lacrosse Team’s newest head coach: Kaitlyn Daly. 

Daly began playing lacrosse herself as early as elementary school. She played Division II collegiate lacrosse for Franklin Pierce University where she captained her senior year. She also coached local camps through her college years. Aside from playing and coaching lacrosse, Daly studied K-6 education. After teaching just one year of 3^rd grade, she came to a realization. “I wanted [to coach] more than just the spring season.”

Daly went on to get a coaching job at a local college. “I got kind of thrown into it, but lucky to be a head coach at 23,” spoke Daly on her first year as a collegiate head coach.  

At just 26 years old, Daly is entering her 3^rd year of head coaching collegiate level lacrosse. This is her first year at Dean College, and she is looking forward to the upcoming spring season. “Working with the people that are here is absolutely awesome,” Daly praised. “Everybody’s super fun to be around, easy to work with, helpful.” She had similar remarks when asked about the team she gets to coach for the first time. “The team, they are a very funny group of girls. And very energetic. I think that matches up well with my coaching style.”  

2026 Women's Lacrosse roster. Photo Courtesy: Jay Ruzicka

Athletes on the team had positive things to say about Coach Daly as well. Junior goalkeeper Shea Cassani spoke on what she’s seen from Coach Daly during preseason. “Coach Daly is a great coach so far,” Cassani praised. “You can tell she is knowledgeable and cares about what she is doing.”

Like Coach Daly, Cassani and other players are looking forward to the upcoming season. Between new athletes and a new coach, there have been a lot of additions to the program. Cassani finished with one remark. “We’ve got a lot of talent.”  

When asked about the upcoming season, Daly mentioned she had a couple of goals in mind. “I want to build a program,” she stated, looking at the long term. “I want to have a conference championship in a couple of years. That’s the goal. That is coaching.” 

The Dean sports community has a lot to look forward to this spring season. The regular season begins Wednesday, February 25th and will run through the end of April. You can see the Dean College women’s lacrosse team schedule, stats, and viewing options all on the Dean College Athletics site.