William Smith College Head Lacrosse Coach Anne Phillips was named the 2022 Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association Division III Empire Region Coach of the Year today. This is the third time Phillips has been named the regional coach of the year in seven seasons in charge of the Heron lacrosse program.
 
This spring, Phillips guided William Smith to an 18-2 overall record and the third round of the NCAA tournament. The 18 wins are second most in program history. Entering the year William Smith needed to replace half of its starting lineup from 2021, including the two-time Liberty Defensive Player of the Year. With an infusion of youth, the Herons rattled off four straight wins to start the year. After falling to then No. 1 Salisbury, William Smith won 14 straight games, advancing to the third round of the NCAA tournament. The Herons went 10-0 in conference play and won the Liberty League regular season and tournament titles.
 
Phillips and her assistants were also named the Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year. The Herons broke program season records for goals (320), assists (156) points (476) and draw controls (299). Phillips' charges finished the year ranked sixth in the nation in winning percentage (.900), 13th in scoring defense (7.45), 17th in scoring margin (+7.45), 19th in assists per game (7.80), and 22nd in points per game (23.80).
 
Phillips mentored 2022 IWLCA first team All-American and Liberty League Offensive Player of the Year Allie McGinty, who finished the season with a William Smith record 60 assists. She also became the second Heron to record 100 points in a season. McGinty was 11th in the nation in assists and 19th in assists per game (3.00). In addition to McGinty, the Herons had six All-Liberty League picks and five IWLCA All-Empire Region selections.  In total, Phillips has mentored eight All-Americans, 19 All-Empire Region selections and 21 All-Liberty League first team picks at William Smith.
 
In her seven years in Geneva, Phillips is 95-27. The Herons have won six Liberty League tournament titles and five regular season titles. Overall, Phillips is 231-114 in 20 seasons as a collegiate head coach.