Lesley hires former D-III standout

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Leah Lipschitz bio

Former Boston University and Emmanuel player and Mount Ida assistant coach Leah Lipschitz has been named the fifth women's basketball head coach in Lesley history, director of athletics Stanley Vieira announced today.

"We feel very fortunate to select Leah to lead our program. Leah, having worked at Mount Ida and played at Emmanuel, truly understands the Division III landscape," Vieira said. "She brings a wonderful background and a real passion to recruit and build upon a very successful playing career."

A graduate of Emmanuel, Lipschitz was an assistant coach at Mount Ida for the past two seasons, where she helped lead the Mustangs to the program's first Great Northeast Athletic Conference playoff berth in program history. As a player at Emmanuel, she led the team to NCAA Tournament appearances in both of her seasons as a Saint.

"I am truly honored to be selected to lead the women's basketball program.  After visiting the campus and meeting with Mr. Vieira and the rest of the athletic department, it was clear that I shared the same passion and work ethic as they did," said Lipschitz.

"It is an exciting time to be a part of Lesley Athletics, as well as the women's basketball program, and I am thrilled to have become a part of this community," said the first-year head coach.

At Mount Ida, Lipschitz focused on guard development but assisted in all areas of the program, including recruiting, practice planning, film breakdown and fund raising.

As a collegiate student-athlete, Lipschitz spent her first two years at Division I Boston University, playing for the Terriers from 2004-2006.  She transferred to Emmanuel and finished her college career with the Saints, playing her final two seasons under New England Basketball Hall of Fame coach Andy Yosinoff.

At Emmanuel, Lipschitz helped lead the Saints to two GNAC titles and NCAA Tournament births, including a trip to the Sweet 16 in 2006-07, when Emmanuel went 29-2 and lost to eventual national champion DePauw University.

After graduating, she started her coaching career at Archbishop Molloy High School in Briarwood, N.Y., where she served as an assistant varsity and junior varsity coach in 2008. 

Lipschitz was born and raised in Queens, N.Y., where she was a first team All-Queens and All-New York City selection out of Benjamin Cardoza High School. A two-time Jewish All-American, she was named one of the Top 50 players in New York City by Metro High School Sports Magazine.

She received a bachelor's of arts degree in psychology with a concentration on health counseling from Emmanuel in 2008.

The Lynx went 16-11 last season, advancing to the New England Collegiate Conference championship for a third straight season and winning 16 or more games for a third year in a row.