Karen Atkinson '11 Named Interim Head Women's Lacrosse Coach

SALEM, Mass. -- Salem State Athletic Director Nicolle Wood has announced that assistant field hockey coach Karen Atkinson '11 has been promoted to interim head women's lacrosse coach for the 2022 season. Atkinson has been the assistant field hockey coach at Salem State since 2019. "Karen has been a valued member of our Viking community as a student-athlete, SAAC leader, and most recently as an assistant coach for both our field hockey and women's lacrosse teams. We are excited to see her thrive in her new role as a head coach and look forward to her working with the team this spring."     

Atkinson takes over for former head coach Stephanie Rouse, who guided the program since 2014 before relinquishing her coaching duties this past fall. A native of Reading, Mass., Atkinson graduated with honors from Salem State University in 2011, earning a degree in Sport and Movement Science with a concentration in Fitness/Wellness. A three-year field hockey player for the Vikings, she led the team in assists (10) in 2009. Atkinson graduated in May 2015 with Master of Education, Leadership in Physical Education and finished her CAGs through American International College in School Leadership in 2019.

"I am excited for the opportunity to lead the Salem State University women's lacrosse program.  As the recent assistant lacrosse coach at SSU, I am eager to work with this group of student-athletes in our upcoming season. Since our previous season was limited, the players are ready to get started and I could not be happier to see what is in store for the 2022 season."  

Atkinson currently works as an elementary physical education teacher in Revere, Mass. Prior to her teaching career she held the assistant field hockey position at Daniel Webster College (Nashua, NH) in the fall of 2011 before being named head women's lacrosse coach in the spring of 2012. Atkinson has extensive experience coaching experience, having been the head girls lacrosse coach at Revere High School for four seasons while also coaching club teams on the North Shore since 2012.