Jackie Dando - Women's Lacrosse Coach - Bucknell University Athletics

Jackie Dando

Title:
Head Coach
Email:
jackie.dando@bucknell.edu
Phone:
570-577-3717

Jackie Dando, who won better than 62 percent of her games as head women’s lacrosse coach at Lebanon Valley over the previous seven seasons, was named the head coach of the Bucknell women’s lacrosse program on Dec. 23, 2019.

Dando was named MAC Commonwealth Coach of the Year in 2018, when her team went 13-5 overall, 7-1 in league play, and advanced to the tournament final for the first time. Her teams captured ECAC Division III Tournament titles in 2013 and 2014, and in her seven years at Lebanon Valley, Dando coached three All-Americans, eight IWLCA All-Region selections, six IWLCA North-South All-Star Game participants, four conference players of the year and one conference rookie of the year.

Dando led the Bison to a 3-5 record during a 2020 campaign abbreviated due to the COVID-19 public health threat. She won her first two games at the helm of the program, as Bucknell dispatched Sacred Heart (18-9) and Binghamton (16-9) in commanding fashion. In 2021, Dando's Bison went 3-6 (3-5 Patriot League) and placed two on the All-Patriot League Team. Bucknell finished one spot shy of clinching the South Division's final bid to that season's Patriot League Tournament.

In 2021, Bucknell went 3-6 overall with a 3-5 conference record before doubling the win count in 2022 by going 6-10 overall and 3-6 in the Patriot League. Bucknell maintained a six-win season in 2023 with co-captain Ella Payer becoming the program's first First Team All-Patriot League selection in six years. The following season in 2024, Bucknell went 5-10 overall and 3-6 in the league.

During the 2025 season, the Bison found a 6-10 overall record and finished 2-7 in the Patriot League. Two student-athletes landed on the Second Team All-Patriot League (Megan Krestinski and Jess Leon). Allie Boyce broke the Bucknell career goals record during the season with 145 career goals.

Bucknell, led by Dando, then had a breakout season in 2026 as it sported a 10-7 overall record, the most wins in a single-season since 2016 where the Bison also found 10 wins. The 10-win season coupled with a 5-4 Patriot League record, was enough to secure the Bison their first playoff appearance in nine years and Dando's first as Bucknell's head coach.

During the 2026 post-season, Bucknell hosted its first playoff game in program history at Christy Mathewson Memorial Stadium and earned the program's second playoff victory as the team defeated Holy Cross in a narrow 14-13 contest. The Bison then traveled to Annapolis, Md. and fell to the nationally ranled #8 Navy Midshipmen in the Patriot League Semifinals. Megan Krestinski and Jess Leon were named to the Patriot League All-Tourna,ent Team following the conference championships. She also earned First Team All-Patriot League thanks to her record setting season as a captain where she became Bucknell's single-season points leader with 76 points on a team-high 48 goals and 28 assists. Krestinski also became Bucknell's all-time leading point scorer with 187 points. Finally, Krestinski rounded out her 2026 recognitions by being named to the 2026 Academic All-Patriot League Women's Lacrosse Team. Jess Leon and Caleigh Cummiskey each earned Second Team All-Patriot League honors.

Dando took over the Lebanon Valley women’s lacrosse program in 2013, just three years after it was reinstated as a varsity sport, and in the next seven years the team compiled an 82-49 (.626) overall record and a 41-14 (.745) mark in the MAC Commonwealth Conference. The Dutchmen qualified for the conference tournament in each of those seven seasons, culminating with the program’s very first league championship in 2019. After beating Stevenson 10-5 in the MAC Commonwealth final, Dando’s squad then defeated Merchant Marine 13-11 in the first round of the NCAA Division III Tournament before falling to eventual runner-up Salisbury in the second round.

Dando’s Lebanon Valley teams also excelled in the classroom. The Dutchmen were recognized as an IWLCA Academic Honor Roll Squad in each of the last seven years. In addition to her coaching duties, Dando was the advisor for Lebanon Valley’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and she coordinated the LVC Step UP program, which promotes bystander intervention.

Dando served as head coach of the Xtreme Lacrosse Club from 2013-18 and of the Philly Blast Lacrosse Club in 2012. She was the director and host of the Summer Genesis Club Tournament in 2016, 2018, and 2019.

Dando got her start in coaching as an assistant at Haverford in 2010 and 2011. She helped guide the Fords to a school-record 13 wins in 2010 and the first two postseason appearances in team history. Dando was named interim head coach at Haverford in the summer of 2011 before departing for an assistant coach position at Villanova for the 2012 season.

A native of West Chester, Pennsylvania, Dando graduated from Messiah College with a degree in journalism in 2009. She was a four-year starter and two-year captain on the Messiah lacrosse team and she helped lead the squad to the first two MAC championships and NCAA Tournament appearances in school history. She was a two-time Academic All-American, and at the time of her graduation she ranked eighth in team history with 115 career goals, seventh with 44 assists, and eighth with 159 points. Dando also played one season of field hockey at Messiah and was part of a team that went all the way to the national championship game in 2005.