Mindy McCord
University of South Florida • Jacksonville University • Nease High School • LaxManiax Elite
The most accomplished pioneer of women's lacrosse in Florida history — founder of two NCAA Division I programs and a driving force behind the FHSAA's statewide adoption of the sport.
Biography
Mindy McCord stands as the most accomplished pioneer of women's lacrosse in Florida history. Since arriving in the state in 2003, she has built the sport from the ground up — running clinics, camps, and youth leagues; founding varsity high school programs and elite travel clubs; and launching two of the four NCAA Division I women's lacrosse programs the state has ever known. Working alongside her husband, Paul McCord, she has introduced more than 1,000 girls to the sport through grassroots programming, and their combined efforts in northeast Florida were instrumental in moving the FHSAA to adopt lacrosse as a state-sanctioned sport.
Career Highlights
- First-ever head coach of women's lacrosse at University of South Florida (2023–Present)
- Co-founded and led Jacksonville University women's lacrosse (2010–2022), reaching as high as #9 nationally
- 8 NCAA Tournament appearances at JU — more than all other JU team sports combined during that span
- 21 combined regular-season and tournament conference titles at JU
- 18 NCAA team statistical championships, including two NCAA scoring offense records (2012, 2018)
- Back-to-back NCAA Sweet 16 runs in final two seasons at JU
- Founded Nease High School varsity program; back-to-back district titles
- Instrumental in lobbying FHSAA to adopt lacrosse as a statewide sport
- Co-founded LaxManiax Elite, placing 400+ Florida girls into college programs
- Introduced more than 1,000 girls to lacrosse through grassroots programming
- Back-to-back NCAC championships at Oberlin College (1997–1998)
- McDaniel College field hockey conference championship and 2002 Centennial Conference Coach of the Year
- Rebuilt McDaniel lacrosse to a 10–6 record and laid groundwork for consistent top-25 status
Awards & Accomplishments
- NCAC Coach of the Year (1997)
- Centennial Conference Coach of the Year (2002)
- IWLCA Division I Representative
- U.S. Women's National Team Selector (multiple years)
- Lynchburg College Hall of Fame (2015)
Contribution to Florida Lacrosse
McCord has shaped every level of women's lacrosse in Florida — from grassroots clinics and high school program founding to launching two NCAA Division I programs and lobbying for statewide FHSAA sanctioning. Her work with LaxManiax Elite transformed Florida's college pipeline, increasing female college lacrosse participation twentyfold, and she continues building the sport's future at USF.