MURFREESBORO, N.C. – In March 2025, Patrick Mashuda, Associate Vice President for Athletics and Compliance, announced the appointment of Llaquelin Reyes-Mendez as the new head coach of the Chowan University women’s lacrosse team.

Hailing from Woodbridge, Virginia, Reyes most recently served as a customer service representative at STX, where she supported customers with order management and product inquiries for lacrosse equipment. In addition to her role at STX, Reyes has been actively involved with the IWLCA Equity and Inclusion Committee since 2022. She has contributed ideas to promote diversity in lacrosse, focusing on increasing the inclusion of people of color in the sport. Reyes has also played a key role in organizing and implementing initiatives such as clinics and camps that bring together schools and coaches to support players of color. She has held other leadership positions within the IWLCA, including serving as a co-facilitator for the Students of Color Leadership Academy, where she helped guide and mentor the next generation of leaders in lacrosse.

“We are excited to have Coach Reyes-Mendez on board,” said Mashuda. “She brings a rich and diverse lacrosse experience to the team and to our department. We cannot wait to see where Coach Reyes-Mendez leads this program.”

Reyes has a deep and diverse background in coaching lacrosse, with experience across various levels. She began her coaching career as a coach for the Wolfpack Lacrosse Club, where she coached goalies from June 2014 to July 2018. From June 2018 to 2021, she served as the assistant coach at Gar-Field High School before being promoted to head coach from October 2019 to September 2021. Reyes then served as the women’s lacrosse assistant coach at Hartwick College from September 2021 to June 2022. From May 2023 to May 2024, she was the assistant women’s lacrosse coach at West Virginia Wesleyan College. She also worked as a coach and assistant camp director at Gamebreaker Lacrosse, where she supervised and trained children ages 6-17.

“Coach Reyes-Mendez comes to us well-equipped to handle the pressure of starting a new head coaching position at this point in the season,” said Meredith Long, Deputy Athletics Director. “I am thrilled to see her take this program to new heights and flourish as a head coach.”

Reyes earned her Bachelor of Arts in Urban Sustainability from the University of the District of Columbia. She is currently pursuing her Master’s in Sports Psychology at the University of the Southwest.

Reyes brings valuable experience, including her time as a substitute teacher in Upshur County, West Virginia, from August 2023 to May 2024, where she taught students of all ages and created lesson plans. She also taught in Prince William County Schools at multiple locations from August 2018 to May 2021.