Daley named head coach at Canisius
The Kawartha Lacrosse Club has produced many NCAA women’s lacrosse players and now has its first head coach.
Allison Daley is returning to the school where she starred as a goalie for four years replacing her former coach Scott Teeter as head coach of the Canisius College Golden Griffins.
The 29-year-old Peterborough native served as Teeter’s assistant coach in 2012 and 2013 while completing her masters degree in sport administration. She’s served four years as an assistant coach at Binghamton University and one at Delaware.
On Thursday, Canisius introduced Daley as the program’s third head coach. Teeter left after 17 years to accept a job at Louisville.
“It’s an honour and very humbling to be named coach at my alma mater,” Daley told The Examiner.
“It’s a dream come true to become head coach and to come full circle back to where I first started my collegiate lacrosse career. I’m certainly thankful for the opportunity and to be given the chance to build on the championship culture at Canisius.”
The Griffs have won the MAAC championship six of the past seven years. She is filling big shoes but also considers Teeter a mentor.
“He certainly played a huge role in all of my coaching and playing careers both at Canisius and internationally. He continues to be a great mentor and friend,” she said.
“I look forward to being his successor and carrying on the legacy he built at Canisius but also putting my own stamp on it.”
Kawartha head coach Fred Blowes has also been a mentor. He was her coach but also gave her her first coaching opportunity with Kawartha’s U15 team in 2007.
“Kawartha Lacrosse is where it all started,” she said. “Fred has always been my number one fan. I think it’s exciting for him, too, as he’s certainly sent a lot of players into the NCAA ranks but I’ll be his first head lacrosse coach at a Division I institution.”
Daley will be without the services of her Team Canada teammate and Canisius standout Erica Evans. Evans will miss the season after knee surgery in October but Daley plans to keep her involved with the team until she returns to action next season.
“It will still be nice to use her in a different capacity within our program,” said Daley.
“We are thrilled to have Allison Daley return to Canisius to lead our women’s lacrosse program,” Canisius athletic director Bill Maher stated in a press release.
“As a former Golden Griffin student-athlete, Allison understands and appreciates the hard work and tradition our women’s lacrosse program prides itself on. She helped develop our culture as an All-MAAC goalie and she continued to help build our foundation as an assistant coach in our program. I believe we have hired a fantastic young coach and we look forward to continuing our program’s success, both regionally and within the MAAC.”
As a player Daley was an elite goaltender and team captain who enjoyed a decorated career. She was a member of Canada’s U19 national team which hosted the world championships in Peterborough in 2007. She then embarked on a successful four-year undergraduate career at Canisius. She was the MAAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2010 and earned MAAC Tournament MVP honours after leading the Griffs to their first conference title in 2011.
Daley was a three-time AllMAAC selection and became the program’s first IWLCA all-region pick following her senior season. She twice earned all-tournament team honours and graduated holding school records for career saves (662) and goals against average (11.66).
Daley received her bachelor degree in psychology from Canisius in 2011. While completing her masters she helped Canisius to two more MAAC titles as an assistant coach. She returned to playing last summer playing for Teeter on Canada’s national team which won a silver medal at the world championships in England.