Katie Rhodes Abbott enters her seventh season as head women's lacrosse coach at La Salle in 2024-25. She arrived in August of 2018 from Colgate University after spending five seasons there as the top assistant coach.
In her first season at the helm of the Explorers, Rhodes Abbott led the team to a 5-11 record and a 3-6 mark in conference play. She oversaw an emphatic opening-day victory over LIU - Brooklyn and a pair of two-game winning streaks during the campaign. Under her guidance, sophomore midfielder Bridget Ruskey was named Second Team All-Conference and first-year defender Amanda Farnsworth earned All-Rookie Team honors.
Rhodes Abbott notably installed a free-flowing offense that recorded the most assists in program history, setting the mark at 81. The defense also saw improvements under the new head coach as La Salle conceded its fewest amount of goals since 2016.
During her time at Colgate, Rhodes Abbott was instrumental in the growth of the Raiders program. Over her five seasons in Hamilton N.Y., she helped the team to 41 wins and four Patriot League Tournament appearances.
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Colgate qualified for a fourth Patriot League tournament in Rhodes Abbott's five seasons in 2018, going 10-7 overall. The prior year, Colgate finished with a 6-3 mark in league play to earn the No. 5 seed in the league tournament. Former Patriot League Player of the Year Haley O'Hanlon was named All-League First Team and IWLCA All-Region under Rhodes Abbott’s guidance.
The 2015 campaign saw Colgate post double-digit wins for the first time since 2009. The Raiders also posted their best Patriot League record in four seasons at 6-2.
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Freshman sensation Haley O'Hanlon was named Patriot League Rookie of the Year as she ranked among the league's top 10 in goals, assists and points. O'Hanlon and senior Jenna Frost were both IWLCA All-Region selections, giving the Raiders two all-region picks in the same campaign for the first time since 2011.
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Rhodes Abbott made her way to Colgate after two years at the University of Detroit Mercy as an assistant coach. She worked directly with goalies and her primary responsibilities were recruiting, scouting reports and film exchange.
Detroit's goalie Lexie McCormick was named 2013 Atlantic Sun Defensive Player of the Year after ranking second in the nation in saves and sixth in the saves per game. The Titans made their first A-Sun championship that year. That year, she tutored five first-team selections and three second-team members.
In her first season, Rhodes Abbott helped the Titans improve dramatically from a 3-15 record to an 8-9 mark in 2012, which was a program record for wins in a season. She coached two first team selections and the team reached the semifinals of the conference tournament.
