Coaches

Melody Shotwell

Melody Shotwell begins her journey as the Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach at SCAD with over 15 years of coaching experience to contribute to the program. Coming from a 6A powerhouse in Northern Virginia as a 5-sport Varsity athlete, she then took her athletic career to the NCAA Division One level to play for the former USA Women’s Lacrosse Coach, Sue Stahl at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va as a glorified midfielder. During her collegiate career not only as a captain, she ranked #7 nationally for points in 2003. She finished her career ranking 9th in school history with 124 points and 98 career goals.


Post-Collegiately she continued in the game coaching back home in Northern, Virginia and was named “2009 Coach Of The Year” which excelled her coaching career back to the Division one Level at Old Dominion University as an Assistant Lacrosse Coach under her former college coach Sue Stahl.


Moving her career to South West Florida in 2018, she became a Physical Education Teacher, Strength and Conditioning Coach and Head Varsity Girls Lacrosse Coach at a private school in Naples, Florida (CSN) where she had the opportunity to build the program from 17 players to 75 in 5 years by establishing an elementary and JV program to feed the Varsity team. With a CSN career record of 88-21, she led her team to become 2021 District Champions, 2021 Regional Champions and 2021 1A State Final Four members, all for the first time in school history.


Additionally, Melody was the Regional Director of Naples Lax Maniax Lacrosse Club where she coached 100+ players during Summer and Fall practices and tournaments and aided in the recruitment process. She also founded Sunset Lacrosse League, which provided players of all ages the access to Box Lacrosse in the off-season as well as Summer and Fall Camps to elevate their game. Melody was a member of the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Officials Advisory Committee, South Gulf Lacrosse Officials Association Girls Lacrosse (SGLOA) board member, a US Lacrosse Certified Officials Trainer and US Lacrosse Certified Officials Observer. Melody also holds a Collegiate Women’s Lacrosse Officials Associate (CWLOA) National Elite officiating certification which certifies her to officiate at the Division One level.


Melody is a native of Northern, Virginia where she and her 5 siblings were raised by her parents William and Patricia Shotwell. Melody enjoys being outdoors, exercising, live music and her 3 Pomeranian rescues named Clarabelle, Miller and Macie. When asking Melody why SCAD was the perfect fit she stated “as a former Fashion Merchandising and Studio Art degree myself; the opportunity to work with the artist athletes at SCAD who have the same passion as myself, was too good to be true. I am nothing but ecstatic to begin my lacrosse journey at SCAD and continue to give back to the game that has given so much to me.”