Katrina Dowd - Women's Lacrosse Coach - Brown University Athletics

Katrina Dowd

Title:
Head Coach
Email:
katrina_dowd@brown.edu

Brown University's Chancellor Samuel M. Mencoff '78 Vice President for Athletics and Recreation M. Grace Calhoun '92, Ph.D. named Katrina Dowd the head coach for Women's Lacrosse on June 21, 2023. One of the most decorated players in the sport's history, Dowd is a World Cup medalist and a five-time national champion, winning three titles as a student and two as a coach. She has previously coached at Army West Point, the University of North Carolina, the University of Oregon, and Syracuse University.

"I am honored to be named the Women's Lacrosse Head Coach at Brown University," said Dowd. "I want to thank Grace Calhoun for this opportunity. I am excited to join the Brown Athletics family and the future of Brown Lacrosse. I am looking forward to building a winning culture, developing student-athletes on and off the field, and providing an amazing team experience."

"Katrina is the definition of a winner. She has been a part of not one, but several, outstanding programs, and we are thrilled that she will bring her championship pedigree to Brown. Her knowledge of the game, offensive creativity, and ability to lead in high-performing team cultures are truly impressive," said Calhoun. "Her achievements as a student-athlete and coach are exceptional, and we couldn't be more excited to welcome her to College Hill."

In May 2025, Dowd was appointed the head coach of the Australian Women's Lacrosse Sixies for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

Brown went to new heights in Dowd's second season at the helm in 2025. Brown punched its ticket to the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament and Ivy League Tournament. The Bears earned a 14-11 win over then-No. 7 Yale on March 22.

The Bears had a program-high 143 assists in 2025, breaking the previous record of 127 in 2024. Under Dowd's leadership, Annie Burton was named a Second Team USA Lacrosse All-American, an Inside Lacrosse Honorable Mention All-American, and IWLCA Second Team All-Northeast Region. Burton was also First Team All-ivy and broke the single season record for assists in a single season.

Brown had four All-Ivy performers in 2025 as Codi Johnson (Second Team), Greta Criqui (Second Team and Academic), and Maddie Joyce (Honorable Mention), joined Burton.

Brown broke 11 program records in Dowd's first season at the helm, the ten wins by the Bears was the most since the 1997 season. In addition, Brown set new standards for points, goals, assists, draws, and shots in a season, while Mia Mascone broke the points and goals mark, and Emmie Lau concluded her senior season with the single-season and career draws records. In the 24-5 victory over Stetson, the Bears set game records in assists and points.

The Dowd era began with a ranked victory on the road. The Bears defeated No. 22 UMass 15-14, handing the Minutewomen their first home loss since May 2022. The win gave Brown its first ranked win since March 2020 (No. 23 Virginia Tech).

The win lifted the Bears to a No. 23 ranking in the ILWomen/IWLCA National Poll, and Mascone earned the first of five weekly honors that week after collecting five goals and one assist and causing two turnovers in the win at UMass.

Brown defeated Albany on the road before upending Sacred Heart in the home opener, 15-6.

Individually under Dowd, several players shone brightly on the national stage. Offensive leaders consistently found the back of the net, setting new scoring records and garnering attention nationwide. Mia Mascone was named U.S. Lacrosse and Inside Lacrosse All-American, IWLCA All-Northeast Region, Ivy League Attacker of the Year, First Team All-Ivy, and to the Tewaarton Watch List, along with earning IWLCA National Offensive Player of the Week once and leading the league with five Ivy League weekly honors. She shattered a 33-year record with 62 goals in a season. Her 98 points broke the previous record of 78 (Lauren Becker in 1986). She led the nation in points per game, averaging 6.53.

Emmie Lau was named First Team All-Ivy and All-Academic selections for the second consecutive season and is in consideration for CSC Academic All-America after earning a spot on the All-District Team. She set the single-season and career mark for draw controls with 96 in 2024 and 261 for her career.

Annie Burton was named to the Second Team after 21 goals and 38 assists, second most in a season. The 59 points tied for the sixth-most in a season at Brown.

Dowd most recently served as an assistant coach at West Point, during a historic two-year stretch that saw the Knights garner a record of 27-10. The 2023 team achieved a program-record 15 wins, advanced to the Patriot League Championship for the first time, and earned an appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Serving as the coordinator, Army's offense under Dowd was one of the best in the country, with over 14 goals and 34 shots per game.

A native of Yorktown Heights, New York, Dowd also brings head coaching experience to her new role, having spent two seasons as the head women's lacrosse coach at Oregon and winning 18 games.

Dowd served two highly successful stints on staff at the University of North Carolina, leading one of the top offenses in the country to two national championships and setting numerous program records.

After beginning her coaching career on staff at the University of Denver in 2011, Dowd joined the staff at Syracuse in 2012, helping lead the Orange to the NCAA championship game for the first time in program history.

A 2010 graduate of Northwestern, Dowd won three NCAA championships (2007, 2008, 2009) and was a two-time first-team International Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) All-American (2009, 2010) as a player. She was named the 2010 IWLCA Attacker of the Year and a Tewaaraton Award finalist, finishing the season with 110 points on 77 goals and 33 assists.

Dowd played professionally in the United Women's Lacrosse League, earning all-star honors while leading the Long Island Sound to a 2016 league championship. She also played in the inaugural season of the Athletes Unlimited professional lacrosse league in the summer of 2021.

One of the best international players in the sport's history, Dowd starred for the U.S. National Team from 2008-14. She scored a World Cup-record 26 goals in 2013 to lead the Americans to a gold medal. She earned All-World honors for her efforts and was named the Best Women's Player for 2013 by Lacrosse Magazine.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT KATRINA DOWD
"Katrina Dowd was a rare and special talent as a lacrosse player, and she is equally if not more talented as a coach. She has an incredible passion for the great game of lacrosse and spreads that to her players. Katrina has had incredible success everywhere she has been, and it is exciting to see her take the helm at Brown and build on the already established lacrosse tradition by the many great previous coaches."
- Kelly Amonte Hiller, current Northwestern Women's Lacrosse Head Coach and former Brown Women's Lacrosse Assistant Coach (1997-98)

"Katrina is one of the most dynamic offensive minds in college lacrosse. She has a feel for the game that has led her to the highest levels of success as a player and has been able to translate that knowledge to the players she coaches. I look forward to seeing the style of lacrosse she brings to Brown in the years to come." - Liz Robertshaw, IWLCA Executive Director

"Katrina Dowd is the best of the best. She is one of the most creative minds in our sport. She has played a key role in our success here at West Point, and I'm so grateful for the time I have spent sharing a sideline with her as a mentor and friend. I am thrilled for this opportunity for her and the Brown Women's Lacrosse team." - Michelle Tumolo, Army West Point Women's Lacrosse Head Coach

"Katrina is an amazing coach with championship experience! She will make an immediate impact in the Ivy League coaching Brown. She is an amazing teacher and an even better motivator. I wish her the best in taking Brown to the next level." - Gary Gait, Syracuse Men's Lacrosse Head Coach