Mesa State College has named Abigail Simpson as the first head coach of its new NCAA Division II women’s lacrosse program.

Simpson, a New York native, is currently a volunteer coach with Long Island Select Lacrosse and has more than four years experience coaching at Kings Park Youth Lacrosse Camp, For the Love of the game Camp and SUNY Cortland Women’s Lacrosse Sport School, according to a Mesa State news release.

“I am extremely excited and honored to be given the opportunity to be the inaugural women’s lacrosse coach at Mesa State,” Simpson said in a news release. “I plan on building a strong and winning tradition of Division II women’s lacrosse in the state of Colorado and will embrace all of the challenges that come along.”

Simpson played collegiate lacrosse at SUNY Cortland for two years. Prior to that, she played two years at Nassau Community College, where she was a preseason All-American and team captain.

As a member of the Long Island Select Lacrosse staff, she helped in the planning, organizing and conducting of practice sessions. She developed team strategies, analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of opposing teams and developed game plans.

“We are excited to have someone of Abigail’s knowledge and love of the sport combined with her qualities and enthusiasm at MSC,” Athletic Director Butch Miller said. “Abigail’s background illustrates her belief in balancing academics and athletics at the collegiate level and being highly successful at both.”