Taylor Bastien Named Women's Lacrosse Head Coach
8/2/2024 10:15:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
DURHAM, N.H. – University of New Hampshire Director of Athletics Allison Rich has announced the hiring of Taylor Bastien as the new UNH women's lacrosse head coach. Bastien will be formally introduced as the 11th head coach in program history in a press conference on Tuesday, August 13 (3:30 p.m.) at the Skybox Lounge of the Whittemore Center at Key Auto Group Complex.
"Taylor possesses the values, competitive spirit, and winning pedigree that align with our vision for the UNH lacrosse program," Rich said. "She built a winning program at Bentley the right way, demanding excellence of her team without compromising the importance of academic success and the student-athlete experience. I know she will energize our alumnae and supporters and bring our program back to prominence while continuing to develop Wildcats for Life."
Bastien has been head coach at Bentley University, her alma mater, the previous seven seasons (2018-24). She led the Falcons to their first two NCAA tournament appearances (2021, 2024) as well as their first Northeast-10 Conference championship (2021).
Bentley was ranked in the final Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association Division II Top 25 Poll all seven seasons of her tenure, including No. 16 in 2024 and a program-best No. 12 in 2021. Bastien guided the Falcons to an overall record of 63-43 (.594 win percentage) with a pair of wins against top-10 teams in 2023. Bentley recorded a .667 conference winning percentage (48-24 record) under Bastien.
"I am incredibly honored and deeply humbled to be named the head women's lacrosse coach at the University of New Hampshire," Bastien said. "I would like to thank Director of Athletics, Dr. Allison Rich, and the entire search committee for this opportunity. The strong sense of community and pride in the University and Wildcat Athletics was abundantly evident. I am looking forward to working with the exceptional student-athletes and dedicated staff, and connecting with alumni and the larger community. Go 'Cats!"
In seven seasons, Bastien coached 27 all-conference selections, 11 all-region honorees, a two-time All-American who was named the Division II Goalie of the Year (2021), and another All-American who was named the NE10 Attacker of the Year and New England Lacrosse Journal Division II Player of the Year in '24.
Her student-athletes also excelled academically, as Bentley was named an IWLCA Academic Honor Squad every year. The Falcons earned the Team Academic Award from the NE10 for having the best combined GPA of women's lacrosse teams in the conference in both the 2022-23 and 2023-24 academic years, and the team recorded a perfect 100 percent graduation rate in the most recent NCAA Academic Success Rate report (December 2023).
Bastien was head coach at Simmons College from August 2015 to January 2018 and led the team to the conference championship game in 2017. Her collegiate coaching career began September 2014 as an assistant coach at the University of Bridgeport, where she spent one year before joining the Simmons staff.
As a student-athlete, Bastien was one of the top point producers in Bentley history. She recorded 99 goals and 121 assists for a total of 220 points to rank second in assists and third in points in the program's annals.
The four-year standout was a captain in 2013, led the Falcons to the NE10 playoffs all four years, led the team in points twice (2013, 2014), and recorded both the second and third most assists in a single season in program history with 42 in 2012 and 41 in 2014.
Bastien's collegiate accolades include All-Conference Second Team as a senior in 2014 and she was selected to play in the IWLCA North/South All-Star Senior Game.
Bastien graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Management in 2013 and went on to earn an MBA in Marketing from Bentley in 2014.
About UNH Athletics
UNH Athletics is committed to providing an outstanding student-athlete experience and fostering NCAA Division I teams that are a source of pride for the University community, the State of New Hampshire, and UNH alumni across the globe. UNH Athletics creates and sustains a culture committed to integrity, inclusion, respect, civic engagement, leadership, and academic achievement. These values are embedded in the pursuit of athletic excellence and contribute to an extraordinary student-athlete experience.
UNH Athletics is committed to supporting every team and student-athlete with the goal of competing for conference and national championships and with an uncompromising resolve to achieve athletic, academic, and personal excellence.
UNH Women's Lacrosse All-Time Head Coaches
Taylor Bastien File
Education:
Bentley University, B.S. Management 2013
Bentley, MBA Marketing 2014
Coaching Career:
Season(s) Position
2018-24 Bentley head coach
2016-17 Simmons College head coach
2015 Assistant coach
Taylor Bastien in the Bentley Record Book:
No. 2, career assists (121)
No. 3, career points (220)
No. 14, career goals (99)
No. 2, single-season assists (42 in 2012)
No. 3, single-season assists (41 in 2014)
No. 9, single-season assists (26 in 2013)
No. 14, single-season points (63 in 2012)
"Taylor possesses the values, competitive spirit, and winning pedigree that align with our vision for the UNH lacrosse program," Rich said. "She built a winning program at Bentley the right way, demanding excellence of her team without compromising the importance of academic success and the student-athlete experience. I know she will energize our alumnae and supporters and bring our program back to prominence while continuing to develop Wildcats for Life."
Bastien has been head coach at Bentley University, her alma mater, the previous seven seasons (2018-24). She led the Falcons to their first two NCAA tournament appearances (2021, 2024) as well as their first Northeast-10 Conference championship (2021).
Bentley was ranked in the final Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association Division II Top 25 Poll all seven seasons of her tenure, including No. 16 in 2024 and a program-best No. 12 in 2021. Bastien guided the Falcons to an overall record of 63-43 (.594 win percentage) with a pair of wins against top-10 teams in 2023. Bentley recorded a .667 conference winning percentage (48-24 record) under Bastien.
"I am incredibly honored and deeply humbled to be named the head women's lacrosse coach at the University of New Hampshire," Bastien said. "I would like to thank Director of Athletics, Dr. Allison Rich, and the entire search committee for this opportunity. The strong sense of community and pride in the University and Wildcat Athletics was abundantly evident. I am looking forward to working with the exceptional student-athletes and dedicated staff, and connecting with alumni and the larger community. Go 'Cats!"
In seven seasons, Bastien coached 27 all-conference selections, 11 all-region honorees, a two-time All-American who was named the Division II Goalie of the Year (2021), and another All-American who was named the NE10 Attacker of the Year and New England Lacrosse Journal Division II Player of the Year in '24.
Her student-athletes also excelled academically, as Bentley was named an IWLCA Academic Honor Squad every year. The Falcons earned the Team Academic Award from the NE10 for having the best combined GPA of women's lacrosse teams in the conference in both the 2022-23 and 2023-24 academic years, and the team recorded a perfect 100 percent graduation rate in the most recent NCAA Academic Success Rate report (December 2023).
Bastien was head coach at Simmons College from August 2015 to January 2018 and led the team to the conference championship game in 2017. Her collegiate coaching career began September 2014 as an assistant coach at the University of Bridgeport, where she spent one year before joining the Simmons staff.
As a student-athlete, Bastien was one of the top point producers in Bentley history. She recorded 99 goals and 121 assists for a total of 220 points to rank second in assists and third in points in the program's annals.
The four-year standout was a captain in 2013, led the Falcons to the NE10 playoffs all four years, led the team in points twice (2013, 2014), and recorded both the second and third most assists in a single season in program history with 42 in 2012 and 41 in 2014.
Bastien's collegiate accolades include All-Conference Second Team as a senior in 2014 and she was selected to play in the IWLCA North/South All-Star Senior Game.
Bastien graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Management in 2013 and went on to earn an MBA in Marketing from Bentley in 2014.
About UNH Athletics
UNH Athletics is committed to providing an outstanding student-athlete experience and fostering NCAA Division I teams that are a source of pride for the University community, the State of New Hampshire, and UNH alumni across the globe. UNH Athletics creates and sustains a culture committed to integrity, inclusion, respect, civic engagement, leadership, and academic achievement. These values are embedded in the pursuit of athletic excellence and contribute to an extraordinary student-athlete experience.
UNH Athletics is committed to supporting every team and student-athlete with the goal of competing for conference and national championships and with an uncompromising resolve to achieve athletic, academic, and personal excellence.
UNH Women's Lacrosse All-Time Head Coaches
| Jean Rilling | 1977-81 | Five seasons |
| Kathy Henderson | 1982 | One season |
| Marisa Didio | 1983-85 | Three seasons |
| Marge Anderson | 1986-93 | Eight seasons |
| Sandy Weatherall | 1994-95 | Two seasons |
| Erica Harris | 1996 | One season |
| Sandy Bridgeman | 1997-2009 | 13 seasons |
| Michael Daly | 2010-12 | Three seasons |
| Sarah Albrecht | 2013-21 | Nine seasons |
| Kacie Lewis | 2022-24 | Three seasons |
| Taylor Bastien | 2025- |
Taylor Bastien File
Education:
Bentley University, B.S. Management 2013
Bentley, MBA Marketing 2014
Coaching Career:
Season(s) Position
2018-24 Bentley head coach
2016-17 Simmons College head coach
2015 Assistant coach
Taylor Bastien in the Bentley Record Book:
No. 2, career assists (121)
No. 3, career points (220)
No. 14, career goals (99)
No. 2, single-season assists (42 in 2012)
No. 3, single-season assists (41 in 2014)
No. 9, single-season assists (26 in 2013)
No. 14, single-season points (63 in 2012)
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