Roger S. Penske/Lehigh Athletics Hall of Fame
Coursen, Sue
Sue Coursen
- Induction:
- 2024
- Class:
- 1985
A two-sport athlete for the Brown and White, Sue Coursen was a defensive standout and one of the top performers on outstanding Lehigh field hockey and women’s lacrosse teams in the first half of the 1980s. Coursen was a two-time All-American on the lacrosse field and a two-time all-conference and all-region performer in field hockey.
In both sports, Coursen played for fellow Hall of Fame inductee Judy Turner Baxter.
“Being inducted into the Lehigh Athletics Hall of Fame is such an incredible honor,” Coursen said. “As a defensive player in both field hockey and women’s lacrosse, this recognition is especially meaningful. Field hockey and lacrosse are not individual sports, so my success would not be possible without the dedication and hard work of both my teammates and coaching staff. I feel extremely fortunate to have played under Judy Turner Baxter all four years at Lehigh.”
In her final three seasons of lacrosse, Coursen was a leader and top performer for a program that posted a 35-13-1 record. Lehigh reached the NCAA quarterfinals in 1984 and was ranked as high as eighth in the country. Coursen’s career concluded with an East Coast Conference championship in 1985.
Coursen was a three-time first-team ECC All-Star and a three-time BRINE/IWLCA All-Region honoree in lacrosse. She was recognized as a second team All-American following both her junior and senior seasons.
In 1984, Coursen was the defensive leader of a Lehigh squad that went 13-5 overall. The Engineers defeated Loyola 11-10 in double overtime to reach the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament.
The following year, Coursen captained the Brown and White to a 13-3 season that included an East Coast Conference championship and another No. 8 national ranking.
In field hockey, Coursen was part of Lehigh’s back-to-back ECC championship teams in 1983 and 1984, with the Engineers earning top-15 national rankings in both seasons. Coursen was a two-time first team ECC All-Star and a two-time all-region honoree in field hockey. She also captained Lehigh’s squad in 1984.
“When I think of Lehigh, it is always with a sense of pride,” Coursen said. “Graduating from Lehigh took hard work and created such wonderful opportunities. The experiences and memories I gained, along with the friendships will last a lifetime. Lehigh taught me so many life lessons, both academically and
athletically, that I carry with me to this day - how to work hard, how to celebrate victories and how to learn from defeat. I will always fondly remember my time at Lehigh and how it helped to shape the person I am today.”
A native of Collingswood, N.J., Coursen graduated from Lehigh in 1985 with a degree in marketing. She received the Mary O. Hurley Leadership Award, given to Lehigh's outstanding senior female leader. Coursen added a Master’s degree in computer science from East Stroudsburg in 1989. Professionally, Coursen spent 23 years working for Bristol Meyers Squibb before retiring in 2018.
Coursen and her wife, Gilly, reside in central New Jersey with their dog Kitty. She now enjoys golfing, playing pickleball, hiking, taking Kitty for walks, traveling and spending time with family and friends, especially her great nephew and great nieces.
In both sports, Coursen played for fellow Hall of Fame inductee Judy Turner Baxter.
“Being inducted into the Lehigh Athletics Hall of Fame is such an incredible honor,” Coursen said. “As a defensive player in both field hockey and women’s lacrosse, this recognition is especially meaningful. Field hockey and lacrosse are not individual sports, so my success would not be possible without the dedication and hard work of both my teammates and coaching staff. I feel extremely fortunate to have played under Judy Turner Baxter all four years at Lehigh.”
In her final three seasons of lacrosse, Coursen was a leader and top performer for a program that posted a 35-13-1 record. Lehigh reached the NCAA quarterfinals in 1984 and was ranked as high as eighth in the country. Coursen’s career concluded with an East Coast Conference championship in 1985.
Coursen was a three-time first-team ECC All-Star and a three-time BRINE/IWLCA All-Region honoree in lacrosse. She was recognized as a second team All-American following both her junior and senior seasons.
In 1984, Coursen was the defensive leader of a Lehigh squad that went 13-5 overall. The Engineers defeated Loyola 11-10 in double overtime to reach the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament.
The following year, Coursen captained the Brown and White to a 13-3 season that included an East Coast Conference championship and another No. 8 national ranking.
In field hockey, Coursen was part of Lehigh’s back-to-back ECC championship teams in 1983 and 1984, with the Engineers earning top-15 national rankings in both seasons. Coursen was a two-time first team ECC All-Star and a two-time all-region honoree in field hockey. She also captained Lehigh’s squad in 1984.
“When I think of Lehigh, it is always with a sense of pride,” Coursen said. “Graduating from Lehigh took hard work and created such wonderful opportunities. The experiences and memories I gained, along with the friendships will last a lifetime. Lehigh taught me so many life lessons, both academically and
athletically, that I carry with me to this day - how to work hard, how to celebrate victories and how to learn from defeat. I will always fondly remember my time at Lehigh and how it helped to shape the person I am today.”
A native of Collingswood, N.J., Coursen graduated from Lehigh in 1985 with a degree in marketing. She received the Mary O. Hurley Leadership Award, given to Lehigh's outstanding senior female leader. Coursen added a Master’s degree in computer science from East Stroudsburg in 1989. Professionally, Coursen spent 23 years working for Bristol Meyers Squibb before retiring in 2018.
Coursen and her wife, Gilly, reside in central New Jersey with their dog Kitty. She now enjoys golfing, playing pickleball, hiking, taking Kitty for walks, traveling and spending time with family and friends, especially her great nephew and great nieces.
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