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Eric Valois Hired To Lead SBCC Women's Lacrosse

Jul. 10, 2012

Santa Barbara, CA - Eric Valois, former head coach for the club at UC Davis, has accepted the head women's lacrosse coach position for the SBCC women's lacrosse club. Valois was head coach of the WCLA Division One National Champion UC Davis squad this past season. He replaces Ashley Antoon-Algieri who left the SBCC lacrosse club position to work full-time. Valois' career path brings him to Santa Barbara to commence preparation toward an advanced degree in Neurobiology with a focus on physiology and behavior. Valois, who is from Camarillo and prepped at Rio Mesa High School, will also be an assistant coach at UCSB with responsibilities as Defensive Coordinator and Goal Keeping Coach.

The Office of Student Life at SBCC and the UCSB Recreation Department are partners to create opportunities for SBCC students. Intramurals & Sport Clubs are open to SBCC students. As a result the SBCC women's lacrosse club administration is part of the UCSB women's lacrosse club administration and the two programs practice side by side at UCSB on adjoining fields.

Almost immediately upon being named head coach at SBCC Valois named his assistant coach. Jacklyn Taylor, his assistant coach at UC Davis, will be making the move to Santa Barbara too. Taylor started for two years on the NCAA Division I lacrosse team at UC Davis before making the switch to the club team and, eventually, getting selected WWLL Player-Of-The-Year in 2011. SBCC competes in WWLL and WCLA Division Two and has an avenue to a conference championship and a national championship through those two governing bodies. Taylor will also be an assistant coach with UCSB.

SBCC is a starting point for many students as they earn the units and the GPA needed to transfer to UCSB. SBCC and UCSB have a guaranteed transfer agreement for students who complete 60 units with a 3.2 GPA. Having a coaching staff involved in both programs is a good situation for all the students involved.

Valois and Taylor will be in town to work the Santa Barbara Lacrosse Camp at UCSB July 23rd - 27th and then make the move to Santa Barbara shortly after that. Fall Ball starts Tuesday, August 28th, for the Vaqueros with beginner lessons that Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Try-outs start Tuesday, September 4th. The SBCC lacrosse club has an open try-out and try-it policy so all interested full-time SBCC students may turn out for the team.

Additional information about try-outs may be found by clicking here. Students enrolling at SBCC this fall or spring who are interested in joining the program may contact Eric at wlax@sbcc.edu or fill out the Player Info Form to get on the contact list. Prospects who are interested in enrolling in Fall 2013 or later may complete the Recruit Form.