Mount Ida Adds Three New Coaches to Staff

Newton, MA - The Mount Ida College Athletic Department is pleased to announce the appointment of three new coaches to the 2012-13 staff. The Mustangs have hired Leah Lipschitz as their Women's Basketball coach, Karen McNamara as their Women's Tennis coach and Katie Andjus as their Assistant Women's Soccer coach.

Karen McNamara will begin her first season as Head Coach for the Women’s Tennis team this coming fall 2012 and will oversee every aspect of operation.

“I’m very excited to start working with the team and share my skills,” said McNamara. “I’m hoping to help the student-athletes to play their best for years to come.”

McNamara was most recently working as a Tennis Professional at the Kingsbury Club in Medfield, Massachusetts from 2008-2009 and was in the same position at Bosse Sports in Sudbury, Massachusetts from 2007-2008.

McNamara brings a plethora of tennis experience with her to Mount Ida in her first position as a coach at the collegiate level. McNamara is a graduate from Boston College in 1987 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications. During her undergraduate years she was a member of the varsity tennis team with the Eagles. McNamara went on to receive her Master’s from BC in 1995 with a degree in Counseling Psychology.

“I want my love for tennis and experience as a tournament player to aid in the progression of my players,” said McNamara. “Tennis is a lifetime sport and I will instill that to my team through coaching.”

McNamara was an Assistant Tennis Professional at Wellesley Country Club in 1995. She was also the Head Tennis Professional at Chequessett Yacht and Country Club from 1985-1987 in Wellfleet, Massachusetts. McNamara also spent time as an Assistant Tennis Professional at Longwood Cricket Club (1993-1994) and Ocean Edge Resort (1987-1988).

Outside of her tennis experiences, McNamara has been a Social Worker at HRI Hospital in Brookline, Massachusetts since 1995.

She currently resides in Brookline, Massachusetts.

Katie Andjus joins the Mount Ida College women's soccer team for her first season as Assistant Coach under the direction of Head Coach Gregory Hagan.

Andjus comes to the Mustangs after a two year stint as Assistant Coach for the University of Massachusetts-Lowell women's soccer program where she aided in all aspects of day-to-day coaching. She helped the River Hawks to their first two playoff bids in 2004 and 2005. She was part of the 2005 UMASS-Lowell team that made their first ever appearance in the NCAA post-season tournament.

Since 2006, Andjus has coached the FC Stars of Massachusetts club team starting in the youth U-11 program and has gone on the coach the U-17, U-18 and U-19 age groups throughout her tenure. Along with her day-to-day coaching Andjus has had her hand in organizing tournaments, games and scrimmages. She coaches at many of the club clinics and residential camps in is responsible for player evaluations.

Andjus earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science gaining a minor in History from Union College in Schenectady, New York in 2004. While an undergraduate, Andjus was a four year starter a center midfield for the Dutchmen leading the team to four straight NCAA appearances and three regional finals. She was part of three Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association (UCAA) titles and two New York State Women's Collegiate Athletic Association (NYSWCAA) championships.

Andjus went on to receive her Master of Arts in Teaching, Social Studies from Simmons College in Boston, Massachusetts in 2005.

Andjus holds a NationGal Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) National Diploma and is CPR Certified by the American Heart Association.

Andjus has been teaching sixth grade social studies at Stony Brook Middle School in Westford, Massachusetts since 2005.

Andjus and her husband Matthew reside in Tyngsboro, Massachusetts.

Leah Lipschitz will begin her first season as Head Coach for the Mount Ida College Women’s Basketball team as the fourth Head Coach in the history of the program.

“I am very excited to return to Mount Ida College to take over as Head Coach of the Women’s Basketball team, said Lipschitz. “Through my experiences as a head coach at Lesley University I feel I can make valuable contributions to springboard the program to its highest level of capacity.”

Lipschitz, who was former Head Coach Jack Casey’s Assistant Coach for the 2009 season, returns to the Mustangs after a one year stint as Head Coach with the Lesley University Lynx Women’s Basketball program. In her first experience as a Head Coach, Lipschitz handled every aspect of the program with the Lynx including practice plans, player development, strength and conditioning, travel plans and recruiting.

“I’m excited to be surrounded by such passionate and dedicated athletic staff and student athletes,” said Lipschitz. “I am confident in running a program that has so much potential.”

A 2008 graduate from Emmanuel College, Lipschitz spent her first two years as a scholarship player for the Boston University Terriers from 2004-2006. She eventually transferred to Emmanuel and finished her college career with the Saints in the spring of 2008 graduating summa cum laude. Lipschitz is a two-time Jewish All-American and a first team All-Queens Selection during her High School playing days as a New York native.

Lipschitz started her coaching career at Archbishop Molloy High School in Briarwood, New York where she served as the Assistant junior varsity coach and as a Volunteer Assistant for the varsity squad in 2008. Lipschitz developed and arranged competition schedules, programs, and game strategies. She also worked closely to evaluate athletes’ skills and performance to determine fitness levels and potential as future players.

Lipschitz graduated from Emmanuel in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology concentrating in Health Psychology and Counseling.

She is also a Certified Personal Trainer by the National Gym Association (NGA).