Larissa Gillespie is in her 21st year as a member of Widener’s athletic administration, currently serving as Interim Director of Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator. She recently completed a 20-season run as Widener’s head field hockey coach and has been a part of Widener athletics for 28 years overall.
Gillespie provides strategic leadership for 20 varsity programs. She oversees departmental budgets, compliance, fundraising initiatives, academic oversight, and event operations, while fostering strong partnerships across campus to enhance the student-athlete experience.
Throughout her career, Gillespie has prioritized student well-being and a holistic approach to athletic administration. Her cross-campus collaborations have strengthened compliance processes, improved retention outcomes, enhanced professional development opportunities, and advanced Title IX initiatives. She redesigned the department’s student-athlete compliance tracking process to improve efficiency and reduce operational costs, demonstrating her practical and data-informed leadership style.
Gillespie leads campus-wide education initiatives focused on equity, anti-violence prevention, and belonging. Her work in diversity, equity, and inclusion contributed to Widener Athletics receiving an Honorable Mention for the 2024 NCAA Minority Opportunities Athletic Association (MOAA) Division III Award for Diversity and Inclusion. She was also the recipient of the Julie E. Wollman Endowed Award for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and the Widener University Personified Award in 2024, recognizing her commitment to advancing meaningful change and embodying the institution’s core values.
Gillespie co-presented at the 2024 Higher Education Suicide Prevention Conference on “Campus Collaboration to Create a Multi-Dimensional Holistic Approach to Support the ‘Whole’ Student-Athlete,” reflecting her leadership in mental health advocacy and cross-campus engagement.
She founded The H.U.B. (Health, Unity, and Belonging), a dedicated wellness space within Athletics recognized nationally in Inside Higher Ed and Outside Magazine. The initiative promotes mindfulness, mental health awareness, and community engagement.
Gillespie also coordinates Widener’s Faculty Athletic Advisor Program, pairing varsity teams with faculty mentors to support academic success and belonging. During the 2025–2026 academic year, 21 faculty members participate in the program.
She remains actively engaged in national and conference leadership, serving as the NCAA Athletics Diversity & Inclusion Designee, a member of the National Association of College Directors of Athletics (NACDA), Women’s Lacrosse Liaison for the Middle Atlantic Conference Awards Committee member for the conference, and a longstanding member of Women Leaders in Sports.
Her professional development includes certifications in Fostering a Culture of Belonging through the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) and Wellness Counseling from Cornell University.
A former head coach with nearly two decades of experience, Gillespie brings a comprehensive understanding of the student-athlete journey. Her leadership philosophy centers on collaboration, fiscal responsibility, accountability, and creating an environment where student-athletes and coaches can thrive both competitively and personally.
Gillespie holds a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management with a concentration in Sports Management from Widener University.
As head coach of the Widener field hockey program, Gillespie compiled a 185-156 mark, including five straight years with at least 10 victories between 2003 and 2007.
Arguably her final three seasons as coach were her best, as the Pride compiled a 35-19 record from 2017-19. The team competed in the postseason all three years, making two MAC Commonwealth and two ECAC Tournament appearances. In 2019, Widener enjoyed the best start ever in program history, opening the year 12-0. Lexie Eberly was named the MAC Commonwealth Defensive Player of the Year and won the Widener Hansell Award. Eberly and Sabrina Roberto were both selected as All-Region honorees and were First Team All-Conference. Widener placed five players on All-MAC Commonwealth teams including a league-high four First Team members. Joining Eberly and Roberto on the First Team were Jackie Daniels and Madi Radnoff with Meredith Benson earning a Second Team nod. The team finished third in the nation in fewest goals per game allowed and also stood out in the classroom, earning the NFHCA Team Academic Award. Multiple players were noted for their work in the classroom as Eberly was chosen as an Academic All-MAC performer, Radnoff was selected to Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area, and Sam Scoma was the recipient of the 2020 Widener President’s Award.
2018 saw the Pride qualify for its second consecutive ECAC Championship. Lexie Eberly was named to the MAC Commonwealth First Team with Madi Radnoff garnering Second Team and Rookie of the Year honors. Sam Scoma was noted for her work both on the field and in the classroom, as she was named to the Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area team.
2017 was a banner season for the Pride, winning 12 games, the second most in program history, including the first postseason victory for the team, a 2-0 win against DeSales in the ECAC Tournament. The effort did not go unnoticed as Kayla Herr, Eliza Newlin, Eberly, and Roberto were selected as All-Conference. Herr and Newlin were voted as Academic All-Area with Herr also earning All-Region and Academic All-District honors while also being the MAC Commonwealth Nominee for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award.
2014-16 saw strides for Widener to build the success of the last three seasons. 18 wins during those years were highlighted by goalkeeper Mikayla Ninos garnering All-Conference and Academic All-Area honors. Presenting a stout defense, Sarah Quintus and Dana Adamson were named Second Team All-MAC Commonwealth.
From 2006-2010, Widener saw some of the top play in program history, finishing above .500 in four of the five seasons while setting records that stand to this day. Most notably, 2006 saw the Pride broke set a then school record for victories by winning 13 games and competing in the ECAC Mid-Atlantic Region Tournament for the first time. Gillespie also became the all-time winningest coach by notching her 64th victory in a 5-1 triumph over Neumann. The 2007 squad notched a 12-5 record while facing some of the nation’s top teams.
Under Gillespie’s leadership in 2006, Kate Heritage was picked first team all-region, and Jaime Carr was tabbed second team. It marked the first time the team produced all-region players. Carr was named the Philadelphia Inquirer Field Hockey Performer of the Year in 2007, and Heritage was selected to play in the Senior All-Star Game.
In addition to the on-field success, which has seen 20 First Team and 33 Second Team All-Conference honorees during her career, Gillespie’s teams have always earned a high level of academic accolades. As a team, Widener has earned the NFHCA National Academic Team Award in 11 of the last 12 seasons. Since 2009, 13 field hockey players have been named Academic All-Area. Herr, Maggie Karmeris, and Trina Menta have been chosen as Academic All-District honorees with Karmeris being a 2015 Academic All-American.
