SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – Following 11 years at the helm of the Union College women's lacrosse team, head coach Abigail Jackson has announced that she is stepping down to take on a role as Director of Sport for Lacrosse for the Athletes Unlimited Professional Women's Lacrosse League, Director of Athletics Jim McLaughlin '93 announced on Tuesday.
 
"I would like to thank Jim McLaughlin and the entire Department of Athletics for the opportunity to be part of the Union community," Jackson said. "My time here has provided me with so many learning opportunities, but most importantly the opportunity for growth. I will always value the relationships I have built here."
 
"As a department, we thank Abi for her leadership and the time that she invested in her teams, our College and community as a whole over the last 11 years," McLaughlin said. "Her work on and off the field have made our women's lacrosse program and broader community better.  We will miss her many contributions to the College and look forward to following her future impact and success in her next role."
 
Jackson leaves Union tied for first on the program's all-time wins list, as her 80-73 record matches the 80 wins of Linda Bevelander (1997-04). Under her watch, Union produced one All-American, nine All-Region selections, and 51 All-Liberty League honorees. She led the team to one of the best seasons in program history in 2015, when Union posted a 13-4 record and swept the Liberty League regular-season and tournament titles to earn an NCAA Tournament berth, with Jackson also earning Liberty League Coach of the Year honors that season as well.
 
"I am grateful to all the student-athletes I have coached and mentored over the years - you are what makes Union such a special place," Jackson added. "I'd also like to thank all of my coaching colleagues, past and present, who have been so helpful in my development as a coach. In particular, I'd like to thank team athletic trainer Jill Crary-Gracz for being there through it all, and always with a smile!"
 
Jackson also has made an impact off the field both at Union and beyond. At the College, Jackson was a member of Union's Athletics Gender Equity Committee, the Alumni Gym Inclusivity Committee, the school's Race, Power and Privilege Initiative, and the DEI Recruitment and Retention Committee, among other groups.
 
At the national level, Jackson was recently named to the IWLCA Board of Directors and has spent time on multiple national committees, including the IWLCA Rules Committee and the IWLCA Racial Equity Task Force.

A national search for Union College's next head women's lacrosse coach will begin shortly.