Women's Lacrosse

Salisbury head coach Jim Nestor successfully completed his seventh season as the head coach of the women's lacrosse program in 2008 by guiding the Sea Gulls to arguably one of their best seasons in school history.               

Last season, Nestor and the Gulls put together quite a record-breaking year. The seventh year coach earned his sixth consecutive CAC Coach of the Year Award with his selection as Co-Coach of Year. They finished the season 21-1 overall, 7-0 in the Capital Athletic Conference. The Sea Gulls claimed the CAC crown for the sixth consecutive year. For the majority of the season, SU held the #1 ranking in the Division III polls. Their quest at a perfect season ended when the maroon and gold were defeated by the eventual national champion, Hamilton College, in the NCAA semifinals, 11-10. Senior Sue Ackermann and junior Robyn Bishop were named first team All-Americans.  Senior Kelly Phillips was named a second team All-American, while junior Jessica Chmielewski was an honorable mention selection. Salisbury now has 30 All-Americans since 1978 and 19 under Nestor. Ackermann was also a recipient of the CAC Player of the Year, the fourth consecutive season for a Sea Gull. The 2008 season was the fourth straight season SU had four players earn All-American honors. 

Under the guidance of Nestor, the Sea Gulls compiled a school-record 21 wins for the season, scored 376 goals, dished out a 195 assists and totaled 571 points. The Sea Gulls advanced to the program's fifth overall national semifinal, fourth in the past five years, and finished as national runner-up for the second time in Nestor's tenure.

In his seven seasons as head coach, Nestor holds a remarkable .862 winning percentage (116-16), has won six straight Capital Athletic Conference championships (2003-08) and has advanced to the NCAA tournament in each of the past six years.

As a by-product of the team's success, Nestor has been named CAC Coach of the Year six times (2003-08), had 28 players named to the all-conference team-which includes the 2005 Player of the Year Linda Ackermann, 2006 Player of the Year Kate Scott and 2007 Player of the Year Sue Ackermann-had 15 players earn Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) All-American honors and had two players earn national position player of the years awards in Kate Scott (2006 National Attacker of the Year) and Kelly Phillips (2007 National Defender of the Year). In addition, Nestor was named IWLCA's Chesapeake Region Coach of the Year in 2004 and 2005 and was the IWLCA Division III Coach of the Year in 2005.

Nestor, who also coaches the Salisbury women's soccer team, is a 1990 graduate of the University who returned to his Alma Mater after serving as the head coach for both women's lacrosse and women's soccer at Division II Gannon University in Erie, PA, for six years. Nestor has piloted the Salisbury women's soccer team to a 61-39-11 mark in his first six seasons and most recently captured the CAC championship and CAC Coach of the Year honors in 2006.

Nestor compiled a 73-20-1 record in six seasons with the Gannon women's lacrosse program. He guided the team to a winning season every year during the program's six-year history. Gannon won three straight ECAC Championships from 1998-2000, and was named the co-national champion by the IWLCA following the 2000 season.

Nestor was named the IWLCA's Division II Coach of the Year in 1996 and was recognized as the NCAA Division II Coach of the Year in 2000 by College LacrosseUSA.com. Gannon had 21 players recognized as IWLCA All-Americans during Nestor's tenure with the program.

His coaching resume also includes stints at Frostburg (MD) State (1991-92), Colby-Sawyer (NH) (1992-94) and Lafayette (PA) (1994). 

Originally from Laurel, MD, Nestor received his bachelor's degree in physical education from Salisbury in 1990. He was a four-year letterman on the Sea Gull lacrosse and wrestling teams during his collegiate career. Nestor earned his master's degree in health and physical education at Frostburg State in 1992. His wife, Linda, is also a Salisbury graduate and was a four-year letterwinner on the women's lacrosse team.

Coach Nestor's Record at SU