Bucknell University Athletics
Heather Levins, Kate Howell Named to Bucknell Women's Lax Staff
9/27/2004 8:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
Sept. 27, 2004
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell first-year head women's lacrosse coach Jess Spadafora on Monday announced the addition of assistant coach Heather Levins and graduate assistant Kate Howell to the Bison staff.
Levins is a 2003 graduate of the University of Connecticut, where she was a five-year member of the Huskies' nationally ranked women's lacrosse squad. The East Northport, N.Y., native was named the team's offensive most valuable player in 2003 as she ranked among the team leaders in goals, ground balls and draw controls.
After graduating from UConn with a bachelor of arts degree in sociology, Levins remained active in lacrosse while working as an assistant teacher at the Children's Playhouse day care center in her hometown of East Northport. Notably, she has served as head coach of 15 and 16 year olds on the Junior White team in the Long Island Yellow Jacket Elite Lacrosse League. Levins also coached the junior varsity girl's team at Harborfields High School in Greenlawn, N.Y., and has worked as a counselor at numerous summer lacrosse camps.
"I'm extremely excited to have Heather on board, and I'm confident she will play a major role in our program's development," said Spadafora. "Her high-level playing experience at UConn, combined with her Long Island Club connections, will have both an immediate and long-term impact on the student-athletes in the Bison lacrosse program."
Howell graduated this past May from Goucher College in Baltimore, where she was a two-year captain for the Gophers women's lax squad. Howell, who received a bachelor's degree in fine arts, was two-time IWLCA All-Region selection and a three-time all-conference and academic all-conference pick. She was named team MVP in both 2003 and 2004, played in the North-South All-Star game last spring and also competed on the Invitational Athletes International Lacrosse Team in Melbourne, Australia last spring. Howell has also instructed at numerous lacrosse camps and clinics.
 Kate Howell  |
|
"I am thrilled to add Kate to our staff," said Spadafora. "She is very competitive and passionate about the sport, and I feel she will be both an educational and athletic role model to our student-athletes."
It is the second time in three years the Bucknell women's lacrosse program has upgraded its staff. In 2003 a full-time assistant coach was added for the first time, and the incorporation of a graduate assistant now gives the 27-year-old program a three-person staff for the first time.
Bucknell last season went 8-7 overall and 4-2 in the Patriot League. The Bison finished in third place in the PL regular season standings and qualified for the Patriot League Tournament for the second straight year. Spadafora was named head coach in August and will make her Bucknell sideline debut on Feb. 27 at Longwood.
