Shelby Sanderson is in her second year as head coach of the Ave Maria University lacrosse program.
During her first year on campus, she guided the Gyrenes to one of their more prolific seasons in program history. Several single-game, single-season, and career records fell during the 2021 season. Ave Maria earned one of their biggest wins in school history at the end of the year, coming back in the fourth quarter to defeat Georgetown College in the quarterfinals of the Mid-South Conference tournament. The win marked Ave Maria's first-ever victory against the perennial national contender. Ave Maria finished the season ranked eleventh in the nation (first among teams receiving votes).
Sanderson was previously the head coach at Point University in Georgia, guiding the Skyhawks during the 2018 and 2019 seasons. Over her two seasons at the helm, the Skyhawks' total record was above .500, including a .600 mark in Appalachian Athletic Conference play. In 2019, the Skyhawks rose to national recognition, earning votes in the NAIA Coaches' Poll.
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During her second season at Point, the Skyhawks' 13-6 record was the best in school history, a record that stands to date. In the 2019 season, Sanderson coached the AAC Defensive Player of the Year, as well as three First-Team All-Conference selections. Her team's accolades also includes two NAIA National Players of the Week.
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Before joining the coaching ranks, Sanderson was an accomplished player in her own right. She played college lacrosse at Shorter University in Georgia, where she was a Second-Team All-Conference in the NCAA Division II Gulf South Conference. She was a three-time captain for the Hawks, and was selected as the Freshman of the Year following her first season on campus.
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Sanderson's athletic background extends past the lacrosse field. She graduated from Shorter University with a degree in Sports Management, and earned a Master's degree from Shorter in Business Administration with a focus in Sports Management. While at Shorter, she served as an assistant for the sports information department, and interned with the nearby Rome Braves, a minor league affiliate of the Atlanta Braves.
