Karen Heggernes was named Hamline's inaugural lacrosse coach on January 22, 2015. The Woodbury native has been involved with the sport for over a decade and wasted no time making an imprint on the world of D-III women's lacrosse.
Her first team went 10-6 as an independent. HU finished the season on a roll, winning their last five games. In 2017, the Pipers joined the Midwest Women's Lacrosse Conference and made an indelible first impression. HU went 9-2 in conference play to advance to the four team conference playoffs. There, they swept by Aurora and host Conciordais (Wis.) -- winning the latter game on a goal with five seconds left in regulation time -- to advance to the NCAA D-III tournament. HU lost their first round game but finished the year with a 15-5 overall won-loss mark. Heggernes was named MWLC Coach of the year and junior Dana Almquist was named Co-Attacker of the Year. In addition, 10 Hu players earned a place on the MWLC All-Academic team,
Heggernes was one of the founders of Cretin-Derham Hall's program, captaining the team in her junior and senior seasons. She went on to play and serve in an administrative role with the University of Minnesota club team.  In 2009-10, her senior season, she served as team captain and vice president. She was the MVP of the league championship game, an honor she also won her freshman season. She received a Bachelor's Degree there in 2010 and a Masters of Science in 2013 in kiniesiology.
"I'm excited to become part of a growing tradition of excellence at Hamline," Heggernes said. "Minnesota is a fast-growing area for lacrosse. We aim to look for players here as well as around the country to help grow diversity on the campus and in the Twin Cities."
Prior to coming to Hamline, Heggernes had been serving as an assistant coach at Olivet College. In addition to her time at Olivet, Heggernes' coaching resume includes work with the Minnesota Lakers Select team, Lacrosse Connections LLC, the Minneapolis Area Youth Lacrosse Association, and three seasons as a co-head coach with the Holy Angels High School varsity team. She also has worked with the Detroit Lacrosse Club, coaching girls ranging in age from 10-17.
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"I'm thrilled. Karen was among a very talented pool of candidates for the open lacrosse position," said HU athletic director
Jason Verdugo. "She brings a lot to the table and passion for overall student-athlete development is at the forefront of her qualities. Karen's familiarity with the local landscape of lacrosse will serve us well as we embark in establishing a very competitive lacrosse program here at Hamline."
Karen has also worked with Winning For Life, a nonprofit dedicated to developing positive leadership and life skills through athletics.
Karen Heggernes’ Coaching Record at Hamline
|
Year
|
Overall Record
|
Conference Record
|
Postseason
|
|
2016
|
10-6
|
NA
|
NA
|
|
2017
|
15-5
|
9-2 (3rd place)
|
2-1
|
|
Totals
|
25-11
|
9-2
|
2-1
|
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