Lehigh University Athletics
Judy Turner Baxter named new head coach
9/21/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
Bethlehem, PA – After a national search, Lehigh Athletics has announced the hiring of Judy Turner Baxter as head coach of the women’s lacrosse program. Baxter brings over five years of playing experience at the national level, and eight years of previous collegiate coaching experience at Lehigh. Baxter succeeds Jackie Keeley, who was the head coach of the women’s lacrosse team for the past 13 seasons.
"Judy Baxter was one of the top prospects for this position from the first moment we knew we were going to be conducting a search," said Lehigh Athletics Director Joe Sterrett. "Judy Baxter is a coach that has only been successful, a person of the highest character, integrity, and work habits, and an educator who understands the Lehigh environment and believes deeply in it."
Baxter brings extensive coaching and playing experience to Lehigh. She coached the Lehigh women’s lacrosse and field hockey teams from 1978-1985. At Lehigh, she led the lacrosse team to the NCAA Quarterfinals in 1984 and 1985, while capturing an East Coast Conference title in 1985. The two time ECC Coach of the Year won nearly 70% of her games at Lehigh, posting a record of 75-33-1 as Lehigh’s women’s lacrosse coach. Baxter also won an ECC field hockey title, and was coach of the year twice in that sport as well.
Additionally, Baxter brings impressive playing credentials to Lehigh. In addition to winning letters in three sports at the collegiate level, Baxter also played on both the US Lacrosse and US Field Hockey teams, the latter of which qualified for the 1980 Olympic games, with the lacrosse team capturing a world championship.
Baxter comes to Lehigh most recently from Eden Prairie High School in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, where she spent three seasons as that school’s lacrosse coach. After expanding the size of that program, Baxter led the squad to three straight championship tournament appearances, capturing the Minnesota state championship in 2001 with a 12-0-1 record. She posted an overall high school mark of 46-7-3 at Eden Prairie.
A 1977 graduate of Ursinus College, Baxter earned her bachelor’s in Health and Physical Education. She was a four year letterwinner in lacrosse, field hockey, and basketball during her time in Collegeville.
Baxter and her family will relocate to the Lehigh Valley area.
