Lehigh Names Steph Lazo Next Women's Lacrosse Coach

Following news last week that longtime Lehigh women's lacrosse coach Jill Redfern had stepped down, the Mountain Hawks have found their next leader.

Steph Lazo, the offensive coordinator for Penn State in 2025, will take the job as a first-time head coach, the school announced Monday. Lazo had been named an assistant at Temple in August but will pivot to Lehigh instead.

A coach since graduation, Lazo specializes in offense. As an attacker, she helped Penn State to four NCAA tournament appearances and two semifinal berths. She led the Big Ten in points as a senior in 2017 with 89.

Lehigh finished 6-10 in 2025 and fell to Navy in the conference quarterfinals.

Continue below to read more about Lazo from the official announcement.

LEHIGH ANNOUNCEMENT

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Lehigh University Athletics has tabbed Steph Lazo to lead the Mountain Hawks' women's lacrosse program. The ninth head coach in Lehigh women's lacrosse history, Lazo was a standout attacker at Penn State and spent the 2025 season at her alma mater where she served as an assistant coach and the Nittany Lions' offensive coordinator.

"We are thrilled to welcome Steph Lazo as the new head coach of Lehigh women's lacrosse," said Lehigh Dean of Athletics Jeremy Gibson. "Steph brings a wealth of experience, a proven record of leadership, a championship spirit, and an inspiring vision for the future of our program. Her passion for developing student-athletes both on and off the field aligns perfectly with Lehigh's values, and we're excited for the impact she will make on our campus and in the Patriot League."

Lazo officially comes to Lehigh from Temple University and will lead as a college head coach for the first time.

"I am honored and grateful to be named the new head coach of the Lehigh women's lacrosse team," Lazo said. "I would like to thank Dean of Athletics Jeremy Gibson and Deputy Director of Athletics Sue Troyan for giving me the opportunity to lead this program."

Prior to her return to Penn State, Lazo spent five seasons on the coaching staff at Delaware, where she led the Blue Hens' offensive unit. She was elevated to Associate Head Coach prior to the 2024 season. Under Lazo's leadership, Delaware scored 195 goals and averaged 12.19 goals per game in 2024.

Lazo's coaching career began with an assistant position at Mount St. Mary's in 2017-18 before moving to Penn State where she served as a volunteer assistant for the 2019 season.

"Lehigh offers an incredible balance between academics and athletics, which will attract the high-caliber student-athletes that I am looking for," Lazo said. "This is just the beginning of an exciting new era for lacrosse in the Lehigh Valley. I'm ready to get to work to establish Lehigh as a top program in the Patriot League. Go Mountain Hawks!"

As a student-athlete at Penn State, Lazo established herself as one of the best attackers in program history. She helped lead the Nittany Lions to four NCAA Tournament appearances, including a pair of national semifinal berths.

As a senior in 2017, Lazo led the Big Ten with 89 points and 43 assists, with her point total the most by a Nittany Lion since 1989. She was named the Big Ten Attacker of the Year and added recognition as Penn State's Female Athlete of the Year.

Lazo was a two-time IWLCA All-American, a three-time All-Region honoree, a two-time All-Big Ten performer ad a two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection. She concluded her career ranked seventh all-time in both points (211) and assists (89) at Penn State and capped her career by earning MVP honors at the 2017 IWLCA Senior All-Star Game.

While on the coaching staff at Delaware, Lazo was named head coach of the Philippines National Team.

A Stevensville, Md. native, Lazo earned her bachelor's degree in rehabilitation and human services from Penn State in 2017. After graduation, Lazo was selected by the New England Command in the inaugural Women's Professional Lacrosse League (WPLL) draft in 2018 and helped lead the Command to the inaugural league championship that season.