FORT WASHINGTON -- Germantown Academy Director of Athletics Tim Ginter has named Colleen Dawson as the new Head Coach of Varsity Girls Lacrosse and Director of Lacrosse. Dawson will also help supervise student-athlete workouts in the new Jordan Center. 

Dawson comes to Fort Washington after coaching stops at The College of William & Mary, Saint Joseph’s University, and Loyola University of Maryland. She played collegiately at the University of Maryland, where she was a three-time ACC Champion and a member of the 2010 National Championship women’s lacrosse team. 

“I am excited to welcome Colleen Dawson to GA,” Ginter said. “Her experience as a coach and leader of young women makes her the perfect fit to take over the girls lacrosse program and guide it to new heights in a very competitive league. Her enthusiasm, love of the sport, and vision for the program sets the stage for a new era of girls lacrosse at GA.”  

Dawson led William & Mary from 2020-24, and in 2023, helped the program to its best overall and conference record since 2011. In her tenure, five players garnered All-Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) honors and six were named to the CAA All-Rookie Team.  

Prior to that, Dawson was instrumental in St. Joe’s success during her five seasons as an assistant, with the team breaking single-season school records for wins in back-to-back seasons (2017, 2018). Several Hawks benefited from Dawson's tutelage, as the squad produced the Atlantic-10 Offensive Player of the Year in 2019 and the A-10 Rookie of the Year in 2016. Additionally, the Hawks garnered 13 all-conference accolades, 10 A-10 All-Rookie Team selections and eight A-10 All-Academic Team honorees.

“I am thrilled to join the Germantown Academy community and lead the girls lacrosse program," Dawson said.  “It’s evident that this is a place where individuals can thrive as lifelong learners and create meaningful changes that extend beyond their time here. I want to express my gratitude to Rich Schellhas 1760, Tim Ginter, and the entire search committee. The commitment and potential here are extraordinary, and I look forward making a positive impact in the lives of our students.”

Dawson also spent time as the Director of Lacrosse Operations at Loyola University of Maryland, where she was primarily responsible for running day-to-day operations of the program, including film breakdown, travel, and fundraising. She also spent a year abroad playing and coaching youth lacrosse programs in Australia. Dawson coached the Footscray U-17 Team to the 2012 Premiership title and led all scorers on the 2012 Footscray State League Team.

Dawson was a member of the Maryland women's lacrosse program from 2008-11, helping the Terrapins to three consecutive ACC Championships and the 2010 NCAA Championship. She also excelled in the classroom, where she earned ACC Student-Athlete Honor Roll recognition and was a member of the Leadership Group. Dawson earned a Bachelor of Science degree in kinesiology from the University of Maryland in May 2011 and an M.S. in Organization Development and Leadership from Saint Joseph's University in May 2018. 

The Patriots return 14 varsity letterwinners for the 2025 season.