SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Athletic Director Jennifer Bell and the Converse College Athletics Department have announced the hiring of Gabriella Bigos as the newest head coach of the Valkyries lacrosse program.
"I am excited to be the new head lacrosse coach at Converse College and am ready to start leading the Valkyries to victory," exclaimed Bigos. "Working with the team and building upon what has already been established, as well as with a supportive athletic department and welcoming atmosphere encourages me to give everything I have to this program."
"Converse College lacrosse has improved quite a bit over the last two years, and I look forward to seeing even more progress with Gabbi as our new head coach," said Bell. "She comes to us from an outstanding program, and she knows the conference and region very well so I have no doubt she will use that in recruiting and in taking our team to the next level. I am confident she will do a great job for us, and I look forward to working with her for years to come."
Bigos joins the Valkyries after a successful stint as the assistant women's lacrosse coach at the University of Mount Olive. While with the Trojans she carried out many duties such as on and off field instruction, planning practice and conditioning, extensive recruiting of high school and transfer student athletes, organizing camps, clinics, community service and other special events, preparing for home, away, and overnight trips, communicating with SID's for team media as well as controlling all team social media accounts.
"Although I am sad to see Coach Bigos move on from UMO, I am excited to see the next step in her coaching career will be to a program in Conference Carolinas," stated Grant Kelam, head coach at the University of Mount Olive. "I wish her well and know she will give Converse College everything she has to build a strong program."
Previously, Gabbi served as an assistant coach with the University of Bridgeport women's lacrosse team. While with the Purple Knights, Bigos helped coach the team to a 9-6 record and a 2017 All-East Coast Conference Women's Lacrosse Second Team honoree in Lauren Mengel.
Prior to her time at Bridgeport, Bigos was a student-athlete at New England College where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sport and Recreation Management.
Bigos played midfield for the Pilgrims collecting 111 goals and 46 assists for 157 points in her career. In addition, she scooped up 122 ground balls, 428 draw controls and forced 53 turnovers.
Outside of collegiate lacrosse, Gabbi was a coach for several club lacrosse teams. She helped coach the Nor'easter Lacrosse Club, the Guilford Youth Lacrosse team, and the East Haven Youth Lacrosse Camp. She was also the head coach of the 2016 Cape Cod Lacrosse team.