July 15, 2007

After winning her second national title in her seven years at the helm of the C.W. Post women's lacrosse program, Karen MacCrate Henning would be on the final list of every Division I institution looking for a head coach this offseason.

How could she not?

She has the playing pedigree. A two-time All-American attacker at Maryland, Henning led the Terps to a pair of national titles in 1995 and '96, while moonlighting with the U.S. National team.

She has the coaching pedigree. As an assistant in '97, Henning helped Maryland win another championship. In her two years as an assistant at Dartmouth in '97 and `98, Henning was instrumental in the Big Green's pair of Ivy League titles and a 24-8 combined record.

It's no wonder C.W. Post, a Division II school on Long Island, jumped at the opportunity to welcome Henning, a New York native, in 1999. And she didn't disappoint, guiding the Pioneers to a 103-21 mark in eight years, along with those two championships.

It's this Division I-ready résumé that makes Henning's decision to leave Post and accept the women's lacrosse job at Colby -- a step down to D-III -- seem a little odd at first glance. Not only is Henning descending a level, but she is moving from the outskirts of New York City to the woods of Central Maine, a rare move for a woman raised in the city. What is she thinking, right?

The decision boils down to Henning's desire to slow her life down, a goal since her marriage last year.

"I'm trying to figure out how to simplify my life a little bit," she said. "At Post I'm also the assistant athletic director, I'm in charge of compliance, as well as the Senior Women's Administrator, so I've been involved in a lot. That is a positive because you learn a lot. But when you are trying to do everything to the best of your ability it can be overwhelming at times.

"I was looking for a way to do what I love, which is obviously lacrosse -- I have a passion for it -- but find a place to live that I can afford and also a program that has the ability to compete."

When Henning made her trip to Waterville, Maine, to visit Colby, she felt the same vibe she had during her time at Dartmouth, located in Hanover, N.H.

"I loved Hanover. It was such a healthy environment," said Henning. "You do a lot outside and it's a safe community where you can raise children. You can leave your dog outside.

"As much as I love it here and grew up here, my husband is used to a more laid-back lifestyle (he's from California). I still have the lacrosse side of it, but we can slow down the pace. The way I look at New York, you're running because everyone else is running, but you don't know why. You look around and say, `Why are we going so fast?'"

As a Colby alum, I can officially welcome Henning to the slow lane, and it sounds like it is just what she is looking for. And while Colby is a step down to Division III, it is a member of the NESCAC -- from top-to-bottom the most balanced women's lacrosse league outside of the ACC.

Colby has been an also-ran in the conference up until 2006, when it made its first trip to the NCAA tournament. It is now a consistent member of the IWLCA Top Ten and advanced to the finals of this year's NESCAC tournament finals. The White Mules should have earned a second NCAA bid, but were edged out. This is not a rebuilding situation for Henning.

"I think when you're in Division III, especially the NESCAC, you are going to step on the field and have a competitive game, and that's exciting to me," said Henning. "I like competition, but there is also a time for lacrosse and there are times for other things and that's what Colby provides."

Henning will have to reconnect with high school and club coaches in the New England area and adapt her recruiting style to non-scholarship players. There will be a lag time to get her system up and running, but Heidi Godomsky, the outgoing coach, has left the program well-stocked.

Her transition will undoubtedly have its ups and downs, but it won't be any harder than removing herself from the program she built. Leaving the fruits of her hard work just when she had things clicking -- Post has to be considered the prohibitive favorite to win the title again in '08 -- is difficult, but her toughest task, and one that makes her emotional, is leaving her players.

"They are an amazing group," said Henning. "Whoever gets to coach them will be in a great place. They are committed to being in the best shape they can be, so when the coach walks in the door all she has to do is coach lacrosse.

"I've finally got to that point with that team and now I have to say goodbye to them. That's hard. But I'm excited for them, too. I think a new coach will give them a different look and a different approach, and that can only make them better."

The new coach could be (and should be) Meg McNamara, which would leave the program in good stead while Henning completes her quest for, literally, greener pastures.

Henning's decision to make the leap downward, from a D-II national champion to a decent D-III program, will certainly cause some head-scratching. But anyone who has reached the point in their lives when they realize there is a quality of life component to any job, this choice becomes clearer.

Besides, "we'll be able to buy a house and do all those little things you take for granted," said Henning. Welcome to Maine.

Contact Jac Coyne at jcoyne@uslacrosse.org.