BOILING SPRINGS – The Gardner-Webb women's lacrosse program announced exciting additions and adjustments to its coaching staff on Friday in advance of its 2023 season.
 
Former Gardner-Webb standout Maddie Martin will serve as interim head coach in 2023 and will be joined by assistant coach – and former Runnin' Bulldog – Lauren Deaver on the sidelines in Spangler Stadium.
 
Martin played in 56 games during her career with the Runnin' Bulldogs, starting 28 times and emerging as one of the program's leaders on and off the field. The Warrenton, Va., native holds the school record for career draw controls (268) and ranks fourth all-time in both ground balls (106) and caused turnovers (52). Martin made 19 starts in 2022, helping the Runnin' Bulldogs to their best season yet – which included a spot in the Big South Conference semifinals. GWU won 10 games for the first time in its history in 2022.
 
Deaver was also a part of Gardner-Webb's 2022 surge, setting a new program record with 29 assists last season. The Falls Church, Va., native also led Gardner-Webb with 55 points and ranked in the top-10 in the Big South in assists per game.
 
Deaver finished her career by playing in 65 games (53 starts) and scoring 120 points. She netted 62 goals and had 58 assists over four years and won 87 ground balls.
 
Gardner-Webb also announced a significant resource to support the program by partnering with Tucker Lacrosse, LLC. Led by former Johns Hopkins head coach Janine Tucker, who went 303-171 during 28 years as head coach of the Blue Jays, she will serve as an Executive Coach in a consulting role.
 
 "Coach Martin demonstrated incredible leadership ability and character during her playing and coaching career, most especially during this fall semester while she led our lacrosse program," said Gardner-Webb VP and Director of Athletics Dr. Andrew T. Goodrich. "I am grateful to her for stepping up to lead this team and we will put our full support behind her to help this team continue their upward trajectory. Her ability to relate to our student-athletes and their experience both on and off the field here at Gardner-Webb combined with the strategic coaching, culture development, and leadership training ability that Coach Tucker brings to the mix creates a best of both worlds experience for our program that, frankly, is unmatched among our peer institutions."
 
"Change brings opportunity, and we now have the opportunity to build something truly special in our lacrosse program at Gardner-Webb," affirmed GWU President Dr. William M. Downs.  "Maddie Martin and Lauren Deaver are Runnin' Bulldogs, they love their alma mater, and they are fully committed to the student-athletes who are now their charge.  Add in the unmatched leadership and national stature of Janine Tucker, and we have the makings of an historic season." 
 
During the interim, Gardner-Webb will continue a national search for the Head Coaching position with a goal of naming someone to the post following the conclusion of the spring season.