Three-time Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association’s All-American lacrosse player Katie Detwiler was added to the women’s lacrosse coaching staff in August. As a former defensive player of the year, she is an expert on the defensive side of the field and an experienced and knowledgeable player-turned-coach. Detwiler received a bachelor’s degree in marketing in 2022 and a master’s degree last May in emerging media, both from Loyola University Maryland. The Hawk sat down with Detwiler to learn more about her new position with the team.
The Hawk: How has the transition to your new role been?
Detwiler: It’s definitely different being on the sideline now, rather than being in direct play. But I think it’s cool learning the game from a different angle than before. And really being able to see the players incorporate stuff I tell them in the practices [is] really cool to see, and just being a part of a different program as well, has been so fun. With [Alex] Kahoe and [Caroline] Steele, just the way they run things has been so cool to be a part of and see how things run differently. Their culture and their team chemistry are also so amazing, which was something I was looking for in a program.
The Hawk: What were your expectations when coming to St. Joe’s?
Detwiler: I grew up in the Philadelphia area, so I knew there was a great community here. I think I knew I was coming into a great culture. The school brings in great people that love to be around each other, and I think I knew that coming in. For the lacrosse program itself, I knew they won the A-10 a couple years ago and that they’ve always been a program growing and getting towards more successful seasons. So I knew some of the players, and I knew they were great athletes and great people.
The Hawk: How has the St Joe’s community been so far?
Detwiler: I feel like everyone I’ve seen, at least in the athletics department, really does enjoy their job and coaching because they love the sport, and they love coaching the people here. So I think it’s been a really positive experience.
The Hawk: What is the most important thing you learned during your time at Loyola that you hope to pass on to your athletes?
Detwiler: I think the most important thing that I’ve learned is just savor the moment while you’re there because it really does go by in a blink of an eye. I know it’s such a cliche when people say it, but the people you meet, being able to share the common experience of lacrosse and wanting to win and wanting to fight for championships, you have a really busy schedule, and being able to share that with people who overall [are] living that similar lifestyle with you is so special. You get to meet people from all over that you never would have met otherwise. I think the sport really did bring me my best friend, so just realizing how lucky you are to be able to experience playing in college sports.
The Hawk: What is your primary goal this season?
Detwiler: Our primary focus is to just get better every day, get better every game, week by week. But, also, I know a lot of the girls are really hungry for the A-10 championship. So, obviously, we’d love to have that and are working really hard every day towards reaching that goal.
