Roger S. Penske/Lehigh Athletics Hall of Fame
Baxter, Judy Turner
Judy Turner Baxter
- Induction:
- 2022
A leader in the emergence of women's athletics at Lehigh, Baxter spent eight seasons as head coach of both the field hockey and women's lacrosse programs. From 1980-85 she also served as an Assistant Athletic Director and head of Lehigh's women's intercollegiate athletic programs.
“It is an honor and quite humbling to be included among such a prestigious group of outstanding people,” Baxter said. “I am truly grateful for the opportunity. My career at Lehigh began in 1977. This event gives me the wonderful occasion to reflect on some very special times and reconnect with former players, colleagues and dear friends.”
A native of Lafayette Hill, Pa., Baxter came to Lehigh in 1977 shortly after graduating from Ursinus College. She immediately took over as head coach for field hockey and lacrosse while assisting Barbara Lipkin within administrative duties.
In field hockey, Baxter amassed a 73-46-20 record and guided the Brown and White to back-to-back ECC titles in 1983 and 1984, with Lehigh ranked in the top 15 nationally in both seasons.
Baxter guided Lehigh field hockey to winning records in each of her first three seasons at the helm of those programs, highlighted by a 10-6-4 season in 1979. That season saw Lehigh capture an EAIAW regional championship and earn a spot in the AIAW national tournament.
The 1983 field hockey season still stands as the winningest in program history. Lehigh went 16-3-1, won the ECC championship and was ranked as high as No. 13 nationally. The Brown and White went 13-5-2 the following year, winning a second consecutive ECC title and earning another top 15 national ranking.
As Lehigh's women's lacrosse coach, Baxter went 75-35-2 from 1978-85, winning an ECC title in 1985. Lehigh ranked in the top 10 nationally in both 1984 and 1985 and reached the NCAA quarterfinals in 1984. Baxter returned to coach the women's lacrosse team to a 10-4 record in 2003.
Baxter never had a losing record in eight seasons leading the women’s lacrosse program. Lehigh reached back-to-back AIAW regional finals in 1981 and 1982, winning a regional title in 1981. The Engineers finished as ECC runners up in both 1983 and 1984 before breaking through with a conference title in 1985.
The 1984 season saw Lehigh rebound from a loss to Delaware in the ECC Championship game to defeat Loyola (Md.) 11-10 in double overtime in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Baxter was recognized as the PAIAW Coach of the Year following the final two seasons of her first stint.
Baxter returned to Lehigh as women’s lacrosse coach for the 2003 season after spending three years as the girls lacrosse coach at Eden Prairie High School in Minnesota. She guided the Mountain Hawks to a 10-4 record in her return to campus.
A three-sport letterwinner at Ursinus (she also played basketball), Baxter played on the U.S. national teams in both field hockey and lacrosse. She was a member of the U.S. field hockey team that qualified for the 1980 Olympics and won a world championship while representing the U.S. in lacrosse.
In 1980, Baxter took over for Lipkin as Lehigh’s Assistant Athletic Director and leader of the women’s athletic programs.
“The people are what make Lehigh a special place,” Baxter said. “Lehigh offers a beautiful campus, top notch educational opportunities and remarkable facilities. It is filled with genuine, encouraging, supportive, and committed people who are positive role models for their student athletes.”
Upon leaving Lehigh in 1985, Baxter officiated high school and college field hockey and lacrosse for three years. She and her family lived in Belgium from 1989-91 where during that time she directed an American women’s club tennis program.
Baxter and her family relocated to Minnesota in 1998 and shortly thereafter began a 20-season coaching stint at Eden Prairie, broken up only by her return to Lehigh for the 2003 season.
In addition to this induction into the Lehigh Athletics Hall of Fame, Baxter is a member of the U.S. Lacrosse Eastern Pennsylvania Hall of Fame and was an inaugural member of the MSHSCA Lacrosse Hall of Fame in Minnesota.
Baxter resides in Minnesota with her husband Malcolm, who she met at Lehigh in 1979. They have two sons, Stuart ’08, a men’s lacrosse alumnus; and Todd, who played lacrosse at Denver. She currently coaches youth lacrosse in Minnesota, babysits her three grandchildren and travels, both internationally and to visit family at the Jersey Shore.
“It is an honor and quite humbling to be included among such a prestigious group of outstanding people,” Baxter said. “I am truly grateful for the opportunity. My career at Lehigh began in 1977. This event gives me the wonderful occasion to reflect on some very special times and reconnect with former players, colleagues and dear friends.”
A native of Lafayette Hill, Pa., Baxter came to Lehigh in 1977 shortly after graduating from Ursinus College. She immediately took over as head coach for field hockey and lacrosse while assisting Barbara Lipkin within administrative duties.
In field hockey, Baxter amassed a 73-46-20 record and guided the Brown and White to back-to-back ECC titles in 1983 and 1984, with Lehigh ranked in the top 15 nationally in both seasons.
Baxter guided Lehigh field hockey to winning records in each of her first three seasons at the helm of those programs, highlighted by a 10-6-4 season in 1979. That season saw Lehigh capture an EAIAW regional championship and earn a spot in the AIAW national tournament.
The 1983 field hockey season still stands as the winningest in program history. Lehigh went 16-3-1, won the ECC championship and was ranked as high as No. 13 nationally. The Brown and White went 13-5-2 the following year, winning a second consecutive ECC title and earning another top 15 national ranking.
As Lehigh's women's lacrosse coach, Baxter went 75-35-2 from 1978-85, winning an ECC title in 1985. Lehigh ranked in the top 10 nationally in both 1984 and 1985 and reached the NCAA quarterfinals in 1984. Baxter returned to coach the women's lacrosse team to a 10-4 record in 2003.
Baxter never had a losing record in eight seasons leading the women’s lacrosse program. Lehigh reached back-to-back AIAW regional finals in 1981 and 1982, winning a regional title in 1981. The Engineers finished as ECC runners up in both 1983 and 1984 before breaking through with a conference title in 1985.
The 1984 season saw Lehigh rebound from a loss to Delaware in the ECC Championship game to defeat Loyola (Md.) 11-10 in double overtime in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Baxter was recognized as the PAIAW Coach of the Year following the final two seasons of her first stint.
Baxter returned to Lehigh as women’s lacrosse coach for the 2003 season after spending three years as the girls lacrosse coach at Eden Prairie High School in Minnesota. She guided the Mountain Hawks to a 10-4 record in her return to campus.
A three-sport letterwinner at Ursinus (she also played basketball), Baxter played on the U.S. national teams in both field hockey and lacrosse. She was a member of the U.S. field hockey team that qualified for the 1980 Olympics and won a world championship while representing the U.S. in lacrosse.
In 1980, Baxter took over for Lipkin as Lehigh’s Assistant Athletic Director and leader of the women’s athletic programs.
“The people are what make Lehigh a special place,” Baxter said. “Lehigh offers a beautiful campus, top notch educational opportunities and remarkable facilities. It is filled with genuine, encouraging, supportive, and committed people who are positive role models for their student athletes.”
Upon leaving Lehigh in 1985, Baxter officiated high school and college field hockey and lacrosse for three years. She and her family lived in Belgium from 1989-91 where during that time she directed an American women’s club tennis program.
Baxter and her family relocated to Minnesota in 1998 and shortly thereafter began a 20-season coaching stint at Eden Prairie, broken up only by her return to Lehigh for the 2003 season.
In addition to this induction into the Lehigh Athletics Hall of Fame, Baxter is a member of the U.S. Lacrosse Eastern Pennsylvania Hall of Fame and was an inaugural member of the MSHSCA Lacrosse Hall of Fame in Minnesota.
Baxter resides in Minnesota with her husband Malcolm, who she met at Lehigh in 1979. They have two sons, Stuart ’08, a men’s lacrosse alumnus; and Todd, who played lacrosse at Denver. She currently coaches youth lacrosse in Minnesota, babysits her three grandchildren and travels, both internationally and to visit family at the Jersey Shore.
2025 Brown & Flight - Episode 1
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