Official Athletic Site of the University of Cincinnati

After building a resume that boasts a successful playing career and a tenure as an assistant and most recently as an associate head coach, Lellie Swords is ready to lead the University of Cincinnati's first intercollegiate women's lacrosse program.

Swords helped Johns Hopkins build one of the premier women's lacrosse program's in the nation. The Blue Jays posted a 56-28 record during her time on the Baltimore campus. In 2003 and again in 2005, she directed a defense that was ranked in the top-10 nationally.

Swords mentored 2005 All-American Lacey-Leigh Hentz, who was a four-time first team All-American Lacrosse Conference (ALC) defender. This past season, sophomore Sarah Gallion earned second team All-ALC honors.

Swords served as the defensive coordinator at Johns Hopkins and was promoted to associate head coach in the fall of 2006. She was a volunteer assistant for one season before being promoted to full-time status in August 2002.

After beginning her coaching career at George Mason, Swords moved on to Cornell where she worked primarily with the Big Red defense. During her three-year stay in Ithaca, N.Y., Cornell was ranked as high as No. 15 in the national polls and won the ECAC Championship in 2000.

In 2001 , Swords was an assistant coach at the St. Paul's School for Girls in Baltimore while concurrently serving as a volunteer assistant at Hopkins.

A four-year letter winner at James Madison, Swords started all 35 games over her final two seasons. She led the team in interceptions in each of her final two seasons and was awarded the squad's Unsung Hero Award in 1996. She also garnered Virginia I/South II honors as a senior.

The Cherry Hill, N.J. native graduated from JMU in 1996 with a bachelor's degree in kinesiology and minor in business. She continued her playing career on Team Toyota until retirement in 2005.

Swords' husband Kyle played professional soccer in the A-League with the Hershey Wildcats and Charleston Battery, and in the indoor league with the Harrisburg Heat and Baltimore Blast. He is employed by Smith Barney as a financial planner. The Swords have three children, Ryanne, Killian and Jameson.