Elon, N.C. – Elon University Lacrosse Head Coach Josh Hexter has hired Kelly Dowd as an assistant coach. Most recently, Dowd spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Connecticut.
 
UConn went 23-14, including a 9-3 record in Big East play, over two Dowd's two seasons with the program and earned a bid to the 2023 NCAA Tournament. The team was recognized with 13 all-conference selections, three Big East Players of the Year and three USA Lacrosse All-Americans. UConn ended the 2023 season ranked No. 19 in the country.
 
Prior to her time at UConn, Dowd helped the University of Indianapolis to a 22-1 record and the NCAA Division II National Championship in 2022, defeating No. 3 East Stroudsburg 11-9 in the championship game. The squad won 17 straight games to close the year, had two Tewaaraton Award nominees, the National Player of the Year and the National Attacker of the Year.
 
Dowd began her coaching career at Belmont-Abbey, spending four years with the Crusaders. Over the course of her time there, the program went 36-18 with two appearances in the conference championship game.
 
"I am excited to have Kelly Dowd join our staff," Hexter said. "Her passion for the game will fit in perfectly with our team culture. Having won a national championship at the DII level, Kelly will bring that same intensity to our program as we take it to the next level in 2025."
 
A 2017 graduate of Queens University of Charlotte, Dowd was ranked fourth in the LaxPower 150: Top Impact Players of the Year in Division II for Midfield. She was a second team All-American and first team IWLCA All-Region, playing in the IWLCA Senior All-Star game.