BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Lauren Calabrese ‘07 has been named assistant coach for Lehigh women’s soccer while Madi Morgan ‘16 joins the staff as graduate assistant, as announced by head coach Eric Lambinus on Monday. Calabrese replaces Amy Hough, who was named head coach of Elizabethtown in March. Morgan takes over as the graduate assistant, following Renee Washington who spent two years in that role.

 

“It is a great indication of the value and appreciation of the experience at Lehigh when alumnae want to come back and work with our current student-athletes,” said Lambinus. “Having two former Lehigh women’s soccer student-athletes from different eras will provide our program an invaluable asset that will greatly enhance our current and future team. I am really looking forward to working with both Lauren and Madi to help our current team achieve success.”

 

Calabrese rejoins the Mountain Hawks’ staff after previously serving as volunteer assistant. Calabrese also played college soccer at Lehigh from 2003-06 then served as volunteer assistant during Lehigh’s 2010 Patriot League Championship season. As a player, Calabrese was a four-year starter and second team All-League honoree in 2003. She is currently fifth in school history with 13 career assists, which included eight as a freshman in 2003. In the classroom, she was a four-year member of the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.

 

“I am incredibly excited to return to the program in the position of assistant coach,” said Calabrese. “The position will afford me the opportunity to grow under the tutelage of a dedicated coach who values Lehigh’s tradition as a highly-respected academic institution, and has cultivated a competitive team environment that reflects a devotion to the personal development of each student-athlete intellectually, athletically, psychically and morally. It is a privilege to work with a bright and motivated cohort of young women who are committed to upholding high standards of achievement both in the classroom and on the field.”

 

Calabrese has garnered plenty of coaching experience since graduating from Lehigh. She returns to Lehigh from Moravian Academy where she taught and served as head girls’ varsity soccer coach. Calabrese was head coach of FC LVU Lady Sonic in the summer of 2014 while serving as head coach of the FC LVU Under 17 Girls’ Team since 2009. She has also been a volunteer with Soccer Without Borders since 2009.

 

Along with graduating from Lehigh with her Bachelor of Arts in English in 2007, Calabrese also earned her Master of Arts in Education (in 2011) and English (in 2013).

 

“When our assistant position opened up this spring, we wanted an experienced coach who was confident, knowledgeable, passionate and wanted to make a positive impact on the lives of our student-athletes,” said Lambinus. “Not only does Lauren bring those qualities in abundance, but also her experience as a student-athlete at Lehigh (and one who played on one of our best teams), made her the perfect candidate for the position. I have no doubt her competitiveness and commitment to developing the whole student-athlete will be positively received by everyone associated with Lehigh women’s soccer.”  

 

Meanwhile, Morgan graduated from Lehigh this past spring following a strong career in the Brown and White. The Grand Rapids, Michigan native will remain at Lehigh pursuing her Master’s Degree in General Education, Pre-K through Fourth Grade. Morgan played in 57 games in her career, making 41 starts, while scoring a goal and dishing an assist. She made an impact far beyond any offensive statistics, seeing some time at defensive midfield. Her one career goal came in thrilling fashion as she scored in overtime at Temple this past season to give the Mountain Hawks a 3-2 victory. Morgan earned the Coaches Award at the team’s annual end-of-season banquet.

 

Morgan was also nominated as a team captain in 2015 while in the classroom, she was named to the Dean’s List on multiple occasions, graduating this spring with her degree in Psychology.

 

“Having known Madi through the recruiting process and her undergraduate career at Lehigh, I look forward to working with her in a different capacity as a graduate assistant coach,” said Lambinus. “If she brings the same intensity and commitment to development that she displayed in her career as a student-athlete, and I know she will, Madi will become a tremendous addition to our coaching staff. She has grown so much over her four years and will be able to provide a unique perspective of what it’s like to be a student-athlete in the current environment of college athletics. “

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