Coach Tom Higgins

Following a historic inaugural season, Oglethorpe lacrosse fans have something more to be excited about.  This week the Oglethorpe athletic department announced the hiring of two head coaches to lead the OU men’s and women’s teams.

Coach Tom Higgins, who served as the Petrels’ associate head coach all last season, is stepping up to fill the role as head coach for next season.  Lee Ann Tutchton has accepted the position of head women’s coach for the Lady Petrels’ inaugural 2012-2013 season.  She will spend this year recruiting and scheduling to develop a program ready for play in 2013.

Tutchton and Higgins both bring a wealth of experience to their respective programs, as both starred on their Division-1 college lacrosse teams before embarking on their coaching careers.

In the 1980s, Tutchton started the first under-11 girl’s lacrosse team in Georgia.  Most recently, she served as the Varsity Community Coach at Lassiter High, guiding the Trojans to the state championship.  “With her longstanding relationships with countless young players in the state, she is the perfect fit to construct this team,” said Oglethorpe athletics director Jay Gardiner.

Coach Lee Ann Tutchton

Coach Higgins coached lacrosse at State University of New York-Farmingdale where he led the Rams to back-to-back second place junior college finishes.  Upon moving to Georgia, the former University of Delaware lacrosse standout became an ambassador for the sport, coaching for short terms at Mill Creek High School and Georgia State University.

“Tom brings nearly 30 years of lacrosse experience to our program and will be an excellent leader for our student-athletes,” said Gardiner. “I can’t wait to watch him build our young team up to the competitive standards of the SCAC and am confident he will be successful.”