COLUMBUS, Ohio – Amanda Barnes and Gregg Gebhard have joined the Ohio State women's lacrosse staff as assistant coaches, Buckeye head coach Sue Stimmel announced Thursday.

Barnes, who will work with the goalies at Ohio State, is a 2008 graduate of North Carolina, where she started in goal for the Tar Heels as a senior. During her time at UNC, Barnes helped the Tar Heels to four NCAA appearances, advancing to the quarterfinals each season. She received a bachelor's degree in exercise and sport science and was a four-year member of the ACC academic honor roll.

Gebhard comes to Ohio State from Bucknell, where he was an assistant coach with the Bison's women's program last season. Serving as the squad's offensive coordinator, Gebhard helped the Bison average a school record 12.8 goals per game.

"I am excited to have Gregg and Amanda on board with the Buckeyes," Stimmel said. "Both bring valuable experience and exciting new ideas."

Barnes was a multi-year participant in the Carolina Leadership Academy and received that program's highest honor, the Three-Dimensional Leader award. She also has extensive experience as a camp instructor, including North Star, Adrenaline, Between the Pipes, UNC, NEMS and Elite 300 camps.

A native of Bel Air, Md., she led C. Milton Wright High School to the Maryland state championship. She was also a member of the state championship cross country team and an All-Harford County swimmer.

Previous to joining Bucknell in the fall of 2007, Gebhard served as head coach at Greensboro College from 2003-07, posting a record of 36-28 overall and 19-3 in the USA South Conference. During that time period, the Long Island, N.Y., native also worked with USA Athletes International, identifying and preparing players to compete in the Down Under and Prague Cups.

As a player, Gebhard was a two-time All-Deep South Conference selection in lacrosse and the 1997 Deep South Tournament MVP at Pfeiffer University.

After graduating from Pfeiffer with a bachelor's degree in sports management and a minor in business administration in 1998, Gebhard was hired as head coach of the women's lacrosse program at the university, a position he held until 2002. Within just four years of the program's existence as a varsity sport, Gebhard led the team to its first national ranking. He posted record of 19-24 at Pfeiffer while also serving as sports information director during that period.

2008-09-29