Jackie Dando enters her eighth season at the helm of LVC's women's lacrosse team in 2020 after guiding the Dutchmen to their first-ever MAC Commonwealth Title in 2019.
Dando led LVC to a 12-8 overall record and the program's first-ever conference title and trip to the NCAA Tournament. The team reached the Second Round after defeating the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in the First Round. She also guided Jen Eck to a MAC Commonwealth Defensive Player of the Year award and four others to all-conference nods, including Veronica Venezia, who landed on the First Team, as well as Brittany Hathaway, Makenzie Kelley, and Morgan Ernst, who each were named to the Second Team.
Dando guided LVC to a 12-4 regular-season record and won seven more games than in 2017. LVC had two separate four-game win streaks, and its 7-1 conference record was its best since Dando took over as head coach. For her efforts, Dando earned her first MAC Commonwealth Coach of the Year award. Dando guided several players to All-Conference nods, including Veronica Venezia, who was named the MAC Commonwealth Rookie of the Year. Additionally, Makenzie Kelley, Jen Eck, and Leah Franklin earned first team honors, and Emma Jones was named to the second team.
LVC went 5-11 in 2017 but came out of the MAC Commonwealth with a solid 5-3 mark, good enough to make the Tournament for the fifth-consecutive season. Emma Jones, Makenzie Kelley and Jen Eck were all named to the All-Conference First Team, while rookie goalie Hannah Oliveras earned Honorable Mention.
In 2015, Dando led the Dutchmen to their third consecutive ECAC Mid-Atlantic Tournament appearance. The Dutchmen went 12-8 overall and featured five all-conference honorees with Bailey Benz and Sam Boyce on the first team, Tori Kuntz and Emily Moatz on the second team, and Brooke Stoltzfus earning an honorable mention nod.
In 2014, Dando led Lebanon Valley to a second straight ECAC championship after a season that saw the Dutchmen go 16-4 and earn a Commonwealth Conference tournament berth. Bailey Benz became the program’s first IWLCA All-American under Dando’s watch that spring and was one of five all-conference team honorees.
Dando was introduced as head coach on July 30, 2012, and in her first season led LVC to a 13-5 record, an appearance in the Commonwealth Conference semifinals, and the program's first hardware with an ECAC Tournament victory. She coached a program-record five all-Commonwealth Conference selections, led by first-teamers Hana Krechel '13 and Bailey Benz; Krechel also became the first player in program history to earn Academic All-District honors as she finished among NCAA lacrosse's all-time top scorers with 410 points.
Dando worked as an assistant coach at Villanova in 2012 and an assistant at Haverford in 2010 and 2011. She is no stranger to the top of the conference, having led Messiah to a pair of MAC titles and NCAA appearances as a student-athlete.
At Haverford, Dando started her coaching career and helped guide the Fords to a 13-5 record in 2010 – the program’s highest single-season wins total. They advanced to the Centennial Conference semifinals and repeated in 2011 with a 10-7 overall record.
Dando followed head coach Julie Young from Haverford to Villanova for the 2012 season, and the Wildcats finished 4-12 (2-6 Big East) for the best record in the program’s short history. She served as the Wildcats’ defensive coordinator and involved herself in a number of administrative tasks, including planning practices, recruiting, coaching clinics, and producing team publications.
Additionally, Dando has served as coordinator for the Philly Women’s Lacrosse League and head coach of the Philly Blast sixth grade club lacrosse team.
Dando graduated from Messiah with a journalism degree in 2009, where she was a four-year starter and two-year captain at midfield. A two-time all-conference selection, she helped lead the Falcons to their first two MAC championships and NCAA tournament appearances in program history. She was a two-time Academic All-American and graduated eighth all-time with 115 goals and seventh with 44 assists. Dando is a native of West Chester, Pa., graduating from B. Reed Henderson High School.
|
Overall |
|
|
Conf. |
|
|
|
| Year |
Won |
Loss |
Pct. |
Won |
Loss |
Pct. |
Accolades |
| 2013 |
13 |
5 |
.722 |
5 |
3 |
.625 |
MACC Semifinal / ECAC Mid-Atlantic Champions |
| 2014 |
16 |
4 |
.800 |
6 |
1 |
.857 |
MACC Semifinal / ECAC Mid-Atlantic Champions |
| 2015 |
12 |
8 |
.600 |
6 |
2 |
.750 |
MACC Semifinal / ECAC Mid-Atlantic Runner-Up |
| 2016 |
11 |
8 |
.579 |
6 |
2 |
.750 |
MACC Semifinal / ECAC Semifinal |
| 2017 |
5 |
11 |
.313 |
5 |
3 |
.625 |
MACC Play-In Game |
| 2018 |
13 |
5 |
.722 |
7 |
1 |
.875 |
MACC Championship Game Appearance |
| 2019 |
12 |
8 |
.600 |
6 |
2 |
.750 |
MACC Champions / NCAA Second Round |
| 7 Seasons |
82 |
49 |
.626 |
41 |
14 |
.745 |
