Howard University Tabbed Karli Brentlinger As New Women's Lacrosse Coach

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Howard University Interim Director of Athletics Shelley Davis has announced the hiring of Karli Brentlinger as the new head coach of the Bison women's lacrosse program.

"We are pleased to bring Coach Brentlinger into the Bison family," Davis said of the hire. "She is a talented young coach with impressive credentials and a desire to take our women's lacrosse program to new heights."

Brentlinger brings to Howard a variety of experience within the sport of women's lacrosse and in athletics as a whole.

Over the past three seasons (2013-15), Brentlinger served as Head Coach at Division II West Virginia Wesleyan. The 2015 campaign proved to be a breakthrough one for Wesleyan's program under Brentlinger's leadership, as the Bobcats completed the best season in school history, going 13-5 and reaching the inaugural Mountain East Conference (MEC) Championship Game as a 3-seed. Wesleyan earned 10 All-MEC honors in the process - four First Team, three Second Team, one Honorable Mention and two Freshman team selections. In addition, Wesleyan earned three MEC Player of the Week and three All-MEC Tournament selections apiece. Brentlinger also displayed versatility at Wesleyan, serving as Interim Head Tennis Coach and Game Day Administrator during her tenure.

"I'm very excited to be named as the new coach here at Howard," Brentlinger said. "I believe a successful program can be built here so I'm just ready to get to work. I'd like to thank President Frederick and Ms. Davis for placing their trust in me."

Prior to Wesleyan, Brentlinger spent the 2012 campaign as an Assistant Coach at Division II Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania. During her lone season at Bloomsburg, the Huskies captured the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) championship while earning six All-PSAC selections, the PSAC Rookie of the Year award and a PSAC Champion Scholar-Athlete award. The 2012 Huskies were also ranked 11th in the nation in scoring offense and broke several team & individual school records. The team also ranked in the top ten nationally in ground balls (fifth) and overall offensive points (seventh). 

Brentlinger was a standout lacrosse student-athlete at Division I Longwood University in Virginia. She led the Lancers to back-to-back National Lacrosse Conference (NLC) titles in 2009 and 2010 as a sophomore and junior. Brentlinger also earned National Lacrosse Conference (NLC) MVP Midfield honors those seasons and was named a two-time NLC Player of the Week, NLC Player of the Year & All-Conference First Team as a junior in 2010. 

Additionally, Brentlinger was recognized as a Longwood University Scholar Athlete during her time as the school.

Outside of her NLC honors, Brentlinger earned a WomensLacrosse.com Player of the Week Honorable Mention accolade in 2009 and was selected to the Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) University Division All-State Second Team in 2010.

Besides her collegiate coaching experience, Brentlinger has extensive experience working with youth lacrosse. She has participated in several youth camps hosted by collegiate programs, including Robert Morris, Bucknell and her alma mater of Longwood. Additionally, she has been a part of numerous camps, clinics and leagues, including the Maryland United Lacrosse Club that she currently works with and the Mountain Ridge Elite (WV) program she created.

Brentlinger graduated from Longwood University in 2011 with a Bachelors of Science in Exercise Science with a minor in Coaching and is currently pursuing her Master's Degree in Exercise Science from Fairmont State University in Fairmont, West Virginia.

COURTESY HOWARD UNIVERSITY BISON SPORTS INFORMATION