University of Connecticut Athletics
Lacrosse Welcomes Back Grace Coon As Assistant Coach
7/23/2026 2:27:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
STORRS, Conn. – UConn women's lacrosse head coach Katie Woods has announced the addition of former Husky Grace Coon as the programs new assistant coach.
Coon returns to Storrs after beginning her collegiate coaching career with stops at East Carolina and American University. A five-year letterwinner and team captain during her playing career at UConn, Coon helped elevate the Huskies to one of the most successful stretches in program history.
"We are thrilled to welcome Grace back to UConn," said head coach Katie Woods. "She understands what it means to represent this program on and off the field. As a player, her energy and competitive edge helped push us to the national level and we are excited for her to bring that fire in this new role as assistant coach."
Coon spent the 2025-26 season as an assistant coach at American University, where she worked primarily with the Eagles' offense while also serving as the team's draw specialist, travel liaison and equipment liaison. She helped the program improve offensively, including a 15 percent increase in goals scored and a 43 percent increase in assists. She also oversaw individualized draw control development and coordinated all team travel logistics.
Prior to American, Coon served as the first assistant coach at East Carolina from 2023-25. As the Pirates' offensive and draw coordinator, she developed position-specific training plans, led film sessions and helped guide ECU to significant offensive improvements. During her tenure, the program increased its conference win total while producing multiple All-American Athletic Conference selections, including the league's Midfielder of the Year. Her work with the draw unit also led to a 24 percent increase in draw controls won from 2024 to 2025.
In addition to her collegiate coaching experience, Coon serves as an assistant camp director for American Lacrosse Camps, helping oversee player development, camp operations and coach education.
As a student-athlete at UConn from 2019-23, Coon established herself as one of the premier attackers in program history. She finished her career with 135 goals, ranking ninth all-time in school history, while her .551 shooting percentage ranks fourth in program history. .
A member of the team's Leadership Committee throughout her career and a captain in 2022, Coon helped lead the Huskies to three consecutive NCAA Tournament Appearances (2021-23), the first such stretch in program history. During the 2022 season, UConn reached as high as no.14 in the national rankings, recorded the first undefeated home season in program history and won a program-record nine consecutive games.
Coon earned her bachelor's degree in communication from UConn in 2023, along with a minor in human development and family sciences. She also completed a graduate certificate in leadership and public management while earning a perfect 4.0 GPA. She was a member of the Dean's List, BIG EAST All-Academic Team and Athletic Director's Honor Roll.
