We are thrilled to introduce Jen O'Brien as Maryvale's Head Varsity Lacrosse Coach and Shannon Smith as Maryvale's Associate Head Varsity Lacrosse Coach. Both played integral roles during Maryvale’s historic 2026 lacrosse season, helping guide the Lions to an undefeated record, IAAM A Conference Championship, and a No. 1 national ranking.
Jen O'Brien brings nearly two decades of collegiate and club coaching experience, along with a deep passion for developing student-athletes. After joining Maryvale as an assistant coach in 2024, Jen has played a key role in developing our offensive and midfield units while contributing to practice planning, opponent scouting, game preparation, team-building initiatives, and the recruitment of future student-athletes. Her commitment to our players and understanding of Maryvale's mission make her the ideal person to lead our program into its next chapter.
A former standout player at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, O'Brien's coaching career includes leadership roles at Virginia Commonwealth University, where she founded the women's lacrosse program, as well as Johns Hopkins University (Assistant Coach and Offensive Coordinator), Stanford University (Co-Head Coach), and Mount St. Mary's University (Assistant Coach). She also continues to coach one of the region's premier youth lacrosse programs. Throughout her career, she has earned a reputation as an exceptional teacher, leader, and mentor who believes in developing the whole student-athlete.
Shannon Smith enters her second season at Maryvale. Smith brings elite playing experience, having competed as a key player for two premier collegiate lacrosse programs: the University of North Carolina and the University of Maryland. A respected high school and club coach, Smith previously coached at Roland Park Country School and is known for developing players' skills, confidence, and love of the game.
O’Brien and Smith are passionate about building a comprehensive lacrosse program that supports every level of play from our Middle School teams through freshman/sophomore, junior varsity, and varsity. They are committed to mentoring young women, developing strong leaders, and helping every player reach her full potential both on and off the field.
We are incredibly excited about the future of Maryvale Lacrosse and look forward to building upon the stellar tradition of our program.
