UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- Penn State head women's lacrosse head coach Missy Doherty announces Taylor VanThof is joining her coaching staff as the offensive coordinator. The two-time second team All-American and Tewaaraton Award semifinalist arrives in Happy Valley after a three-year stint as an assistant coach at Ohio State.
"We are so excited to welcome Taylor to our staff," said Doherty. "Her expertise in teaching attack and coaching the draw will have an immediate impact on our program."
VanThof served as the offensive coordinator and coach of the draw unit for the Buckeyes for three seasons. She coached Chloe Jameson, who set a program record with 124 draw controls in a single-season and tied the single-game mark with 13 in the 2022 campaign.
The Livonia, N.Y. native spent one year at the University of Connecticut in 2019-20 as an assistant coach during the COVID-19 shortened season. Prior to the season ending, the Huskies held a 5-2 record and had scored 19 or more goals in four of their wins.
The decorated athlete finished her four-year career at Loyola (Md.) in 2019 with the most draw controls in a single game (21), season (146) and career (392). VahThof also became one of three players in Patriot League History with 100 draw controls in multiple seasons.
VanThof concluded her senior season as a Greyhound in 2019 as a captain as well as the 2019 Patriot League Midfielder of the Year. The 2019 Tewaaraton Award semifinalist also earned IWLCA second team All-American and was named and Inside Lacrosse third team All-American in back-to-back seasons (2018 and 2019). She also garnered three first team All-Patriot League and three All-Mid-Atlantic Region selections throughout her time in Baltimore.
The midfielder also owns a professional playing career, participating in the inaugural season of Athletes Unlimited in 2021. She finished the founding season in the Top-25 of all players in the league in points. VanThof was drafted 14th overall by Philly Fire in the 2019 WPLL Spring Draft and was signed to the Command for the 2020 WPLL season.
VanThof earned her bachelor's degree in business administration: marketing from Loyola (Md.) in May 2019. She completed her master's in kinesiology, sport management, at Ohio State in Spring 2022.
