Kati Robbins
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — Four years after graduating from Wittenberg University, Kati Robbins is coming home.
Wittenberg Director of Athletics and Recreation Garnett Purnell announced that Robbins, Wittenberg class of 2002, has been named the university’s new women’s lacrosse head coach. The 2001 North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Women’s Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Year takes over for Diana Kuser, the team’s interim head coach for the majority of the 2006 season after Katherine Haney resigned in March.
Robbins returns to her alma mater after assistant coaching stops at three NCAA Division III institutions in the last four years. Most recently, Robbins helped Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pa., to a 15-5 record in 2006. The Diplomats ranked in the top 10 nationally all season while taking second place in the powerhouse Centennial Conference behind eventual national runner-up Gettysburg and advancing to the NCAA Division III Tournament quarterfinals.
“Being named the next women’s lacrosse coach at Wittenberg University is a tremendous honor,” said Robbins, a native of Collegeville, Pa. “I am extremely excited, and I hope the players are ready to work hard to bring an NCAC championship to Wittenberg. I believe this team has great potential.”
After earning four letters each in women’s lacrosse and field hockey, Robbins started her coaching career as a student assistant field hockey coach at Wittenberg in 2001. The Tigers went 13-6 overall that year and finished 10-2 in the NCAC, good for second place.
After a season as an assistant women’s lacrosse coach at Gwynedd Mercy College in Gwynedd Valley, Pa., Robbins served as assistant field hockey and women’s lacrosse coach at the College of Wooster, an NCAC member institution, from 2002-2005. Wooster won two NCAC titles in women’s lacrosse and one in field hockey during Robbins’ three years on staff. Neither team finished worse than second in the final conference standings during that time.
Robbins has also gained valuable experience at a variety of summer camps in recent years. She worked as a site director for an STX Lacrosse Camp in Hudson, Ohio, in 2004, and has served as a coach at the All-American Girls’ Lacrosse Camp in Hamilton, N.Y., Villanova University Lacrosse Camp and Denison University Lacrosse Camp in recent years.
As a student-athlete at Wittenberg, Robbins etched her name in the university’s record books as one of the all-time greats. In field hockey, the Tigers won three conference titles and advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament twice during Robbins’ career. Robbins earned All-NCAC honors twice in her career as a field hockey defensive back.
Robbins made her greatest mark in women’s lacrosse. She holds school records for assists in a game (6), assists in a season (42) and career points (242). Her 42 assists in the 2001 season also rank as an NCAC record and in the top 10 in NCAA Division III history. A two-year captain and team Most Valuable Player in 2000, Robbins was a four-time All-NCAC and West Regional All-American during her playing career.
Robbins, who earned her bachelor’s degree in American studies from Wittenberg, takes over a Tiger team that is coming off a 3-11 season that included an 0-6 finish in the NCAC.
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