NORTON, MA- Wheaton College Executive Director of Athletics Chad Yowell has announced Mary Jacobs' resignation as the Lyons' head women's lacrosse coach, effective January 2, 2009. Jacobs had served three seasons in the capacity following three years as the assistant field hockey and women's lacrosse coach. A search is underway for Jacobs' replacement, with the next coach slated to begin on January 5.

"I know that after leaving here I have the ability to succeed, as Chad gives the staff a great deal of autonomy," said Jacobs. "He believed that I had the ability to build a program at age 25. He has taught me that my door should always be open for criticism and not to take things personally when the door is shut."

In her first year guiding the women's lacrosse program, Jacobs led the 2006 Lyons to a 5-1 New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) record, a second-place regular season showing and the league tournament title game. There, Wheaton narrowly missed out on an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament by falling to Springfield College, 15-11. The Lyons again qualified for the NEWMAC Tournament during her final two seasons.

"We are saddened to see Mary leave Wheaton, as we understand how difficult a decision it was," said Yowell. "We support her 100 percent and are very appreciative of all of the things she has done for our women's lacrosse and field hockey programs. Mary has put women's lacrosse on solid ground. Although I respect her decision to leave, she will be missed. I wish Mary all the best in her future endeavors."

With Jacobs as an assistant from 2003-05, the women's lacrosse team went 37-12 while winning three NEWMAC regular season titles and two tournament crowns. In each of her first two seasons, the Lyons drew an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, advancing as far as the Elite Eight in 2004 and the Sweet 16 in 2003. From 2002-04, Jacobs assisted the field hockey squad, helping the team qualify each fall for the NEWMAC Tournament.

"In my first few years at Wheaton, I learned that self, family, academics and athletics are what are important at this stage in a student-athlete's life, in that order," said Jacobs. "They can be successful in each of these endeavors if they have the desire, direction and discipline. I hope that every woman that has graduated from this program has the confidence to be successful beyond Wheaton."

Wheaton is a selective national liberal arts college with 1,550 students drawn from virtually every state and more than 69 countries. The college combines a traditional curriculum in the arts and sciences with an innovative emphasis on real-world experience - internships, jobs and volunteer service - to help students make the connection between theory and practice. Its students gain admission to the nation's most prestigious graduate programs and regularly win competitive academic awards such as the Rhodes, Marshall and Fulbright scholarships.