HARRISONBURG, Va., Sept. 1, 2009 -- James Madison University lacrosse coach Shelley Klaes-Bawcombe Martin has announced that Kristin Hopson has joined the Dukes' staff as an assistant coach.

Prior to becoming a member of the JMU staff, Hopson was an assistant coach at Delaware, where she was the team's defensive coordinator. The Blue Hens were runners-up in the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament in 2009 and were CAA semifinalists in 2008. Hopson had been with the Delaware program since July 2007.

The 2007 Notre Dame graduate was a three-year starter on defense for the Fighting Irish. Hopson was a starter on the Notre Dame team that advanced to the NCAA Tournament semifinals in 2006.

"It is our pleasure to welcome Kristin Hopson to our family here at JMU," said coach Klaes-Bawcombe. "Coach Hopson has a great defensive mind and focuses on detail and discipline, and we look forward to her leading the Dukes' defense. She has had tremendous success at Delaware and Notre Dame and we are excited for her to make an impact here at JMU."

At Notre Dame Hopson was named to the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association academic honor roll as a junior and senior and was a Big East Academic All-Star in 2005, 2006 and 2007. As a senior Hopson received the Rockne Scholar-Athlete Award, presented to a player on each Notre Dame team in recognition of outstanding achievement in both academics and athletics.

Hopson is a native of Rosemont, Pa., and a graduate of Radnor High School, where she was a Central League all-star in lacrosse, field hockey and basketball. She earned lacrosse All-America honors at Radnor and played on three state championship lacrosse teams (2000, 2001, 2003).

Hopson majored in psychology and sociology at Notre Dame, and she earned a master's degree in higher education administration from Delaware in 2009.

2009-09-01