WORCESTER, Mass. -- Linda Drapeau, the former women's lacrosse coach at Scranton, PA University, has been named the head women's lacrosse coach at Assumption College. The announcement was made by Ted Paulauskas, Director of Athletics.

Drapeau replaces Deb Draper, the Greyhounds' first and only coach in their history (1998-2006). Draper stepped down from her lacrosse coaching duties to concentrate on coaching just the field hockey team.

At Scranton Drapeau recorded a 27-9 overall record, including 19-1 in the Middle Atlantic Conference, with two conference titles and a pair of N.C.A.A. regional appearances. The team set a school record with 14 straight wins in 2004.

In 2003 the Royals beat Drew, PA (14-13) in the Middle Atlantic Conference championship game before losing in their first-ever N.C.A.A. regional game to powerful Gettysburg, PA (11-8). She earned MAC Coach of-the-Year honors. In 2004 the Royals again defeated Drew, PA (13-10) for the MAC title and advanced to a second N.C.A.A. regional beating Western New England (17-5) before losing to Amherst.

She also served as assistant coach at Scranton under Coach Brenda Brewer helping the team reach two Middle Atlantic play-off berths and two E.C.A.C. tournaments in 2001 and 2002. She assisted Brewer with the field hockey program in 2000 and 2001 advancing to two postseason conference tournaments.

Drapeau most recently served as the head club coach at Rhode Island in 2005-06, posting a 19-10 overall record. In her first season (2004) at Rhode Island the Rams finished 10-3 overall (9-1 regular-season). The team opened its season winning the championship of the Cactus Invitational in Arizona---beating Towson, MD, Arizona State and Southern California and finished in the USLacrosse Intercollegiate Associates National Championship Tournament at the National Sports Center in Blaine, MN.

Seeded No. 12 URI would win one game against Minnesota Duluth (18-9), however were beaten by No. 5 Michigan (19-5) and No. 13 Texas A&M (18-8). This past year the Rams finished 9-7, winning seven of their last 10 games. They advanced to the final of the New England Women's Lacrosse League before bowing to champion Boston College (9-8). The regular season highlight came winning four of five games--against Buffalo, Toledo, Connecticut and Vermont--in the University of Pittsburgh Tournament.

Professionally, she has served as a Cardiac Physiologist at the Landmark Heart Center in Woonsocket, RI since 2005 and at The Miriam Hospital in Providence, RI since 2004.

She received her Bachelor of Science in Physical Education from Northeastern University in 1983. She played on the university's club team as a defender and helped her team reach the postseason play-offs as a senior. She received her Master of Science in Cardiovascular Health and Exercise, also from Northeastern, in 1991.

She is a member of the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association and the American College of Sports Medicine. She is a Certified Exercise Specialist (ACSM). She is married to Larry Drapeau and the couple resides in North Smithfield, RI with three sons Tyler (16), Kelsey (15) and Andrew (11).

2006-08-02