Oct. 8, 2001

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Mount St. Mary's college announced Wednesday the hiring of former Maryland stand-out Courtney Martinez-Connor as the new women's lacrosse head coach.

"I'm excited to add a head coach with the national experience that Courtney brings to our women's lacrosse program," said Mount St. Mary's athletic director, Dr. Harold "Chappy" Menninger. "It's not every day that an athletic director can add a head coach with five national championship rings to his department."

A 2001 graduate from the University of Maryland, Martinez-Connor is coming off an honor-laden season as a defender on the seven-time national champion Maryland Terrapin women's lacrosse squad. NCAA Tournament Most Valuable Player in 2001, she also earned 360 Lacrosse's National Defender of the Year honor as well as First Team All-America, First Team All-Atlantic Coast Conference and a member of the All-ACC Tournament team. As a five-year letterwinner for the Terps she played on five national championship squads.

"This is a tremendous opportunity for me to be at Mount St. Mary's as the head coach and bring a winning attitude to a program that is ready for success," said Martinez-Connor. "Some of these athletes have had four different coaches in their four year career and I hope to be able to provide some stability to this program and establish a groundwork that will take the Mount to the next level."

An ACC and University of Maryland Scholar Athlete, Martinez was recognized by the Maryland Office of Multi-Ethnic Student Education for Outstanding Academic Achievement. A veteran lacrosse camp coach and counselor she is also a member of the USA Developmental Team.

Martinez is active in community service as a volunteer organizer for Operation Christmas Child. A Baltimore native, she is the daughter of former Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher, Tippy Martinez who was inducted into the Orioles Hall of Fame last summer.

This past August she married three-time University of Maryland All-American, Casey Connor. Connor spent the summer playing outdoor lacrosse for the Rochester Rattlers of Major League Lacrosse and is currently playing indoor lacrosse for the Washington Power of the National Lacrosse League.

Last season the Mountaineers finished 5-13 overall and 3-3 in the Northeast Conference.