ECU has announced the hiring of a new lacrosse coach.
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Photo credit: (ECU Sports Information illustration)
Haley Hicklen has been chosen to lead the East Carolina lacrosse program, Director of Athletics Jon Gilbert announced Tuesday. Hicklen is set to become the third Pirates head coach since the program’s inception in 2018.
Hicklen’s hire ends a two-year (2025-26) stint at the University of Florida where she was an assistant coach and defensive coordinator working with the goalkeepers. During her time in Gainesville, the Gators posted a 35-7 cumulative record (10-0 Big 12) which included consecutive Big 12 regular season titles and a pair of NCAA tournament berths, including a national semifinal appearance in 2025.
“We are thrilled to welcome Haley to Pirate Nation and look forward to the future of ECU lacrosse under her leadership,” Gilbert said. “Throughout the search process, Haley stood out as an individual who has been around winning programs throughout her playing and coaching career, and she articulated a clear vision for what it takes to build a competitive program that can compete at the highest level. Just as importantly, Haley understands the responsibilities and expectations that come with being a student-athlete and will be an outstanding mentor for our young women.”
“I am ecstatic to join Pirate Nation and honored for the opportunity to lead this program,” Hicklen said. “This is a resilient ECU lacrosse team that has already proven it has the heart to compete for and with each other. Our mission is simple: to build a championship program rooted in accountability, trust, and relentless development — forging Pirates into elite competitors and exceptional people.
“Everything we do will be built on four pillars: determination, commitment, respect, and community. The culture we build will reflect the pride and passion of an entire community — because Pirate Nation is not just a fanbase, it is a family we are proud to be a part of.
“I would like to thank Jon Gilbert, Caroline Bevillard, and Alex Keddie for the confidence and this incredible opportunity. The best days of East Carolina Lacrosse are ahead of us! Go Pirates!”
In 2025, Hicklen guided the Gators defense that stood sixth nationally in save percentage (.499) and 26th in scoring defense (9.32). Three players garnered Big 12 Player of the Year accolades in Kaitlyn Davies (midfielder), Autumn Blair (freshman) and Clark Hamilton (attacker), while six earned inclusion to the All-Big 12 Team with four to the All-Big 12 Newcomer Team.
During her initial year with the program, Hicklen coached the Florida goalkeepers to the 23rd ranked save percentage in the country, saving a total of .464 percent of shots. The Gators had three different goalkeepers register a .460 save percentage or better in Georgia Hoey (.479), Susan Radebaugh (.467) and Elyse Finnelle (.462). Finnelle earned the Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Year award, courtesy of Hicklen’s coaching. Overall, Florida held their opponent under 10 goals 11 times in 2025, while the Gators tallied a .450 or better team save percentage in 12 games.
Hicklen spent the three seasons (2022-24) at the University of Pittsburgh, where the Panthers ranked first in the conference in saves per game during the 2022 and 2024 seasons, while finishing second in save percentage (.465) in the ACC during 2022. In 2022, Hicklen helped anchor Pitt’s goalkeeper Paulina Difatta to an ACC Tournament record 19 saves in the Panthers first round victory over Louisville.
Before Pittsburgh, Hicklen spent one year at George Washington University (2021) as the defensive coordinator and goalkeeper coach.
Hicklen, a four-year letterwinner for the Gators (2016-19), graduated magna cum laude from Florida in 2019 with a bachelors of science in sustainability and the built environment with a minor in landscape architecture. On the field, she appeared in 80 games and started 62 of them. The Towson, Md. native is the all-time leader in minutes played (3868:27 minutes) and ground balls (194), along with ranking second all-time in saves (566) at UF. She posted a career 48-15 record in net for the Gators, becoming a one-time IWLCA All-American and a three-time Tewaaraton Watch List nominee. She was named AAC Goalkeeper of the Year in 2019, after receiving Big East Goalkeeper of the Year in 2017 and 2018.
Prior to embarking on her coaching career, Hicklen took part in the Women’s Professional Premier League (WPLL) in 2019, where she won a championship with the Baltimore Brave. She also participated in the 2021 Athletes Unlimited Professional Lacrosse season. Hicklen was also a member of the USA Lacrosse Sixes team that took home silver at the 2022 World Games in Birmingham, Ala.