WASHINGTON, PA. – The Washington & Jefferson College athletic department announced the addition of seven new intern assistant coaches. 

Those additions are as follows: Jill Harris (Intern Assistant Coach for Women's Basketball), Kyra Deehr-Lewis (Intern Assistant Coach for Field Hockey), Casey Williams (Intern Assistant Coach for Football), Lola Duff (Intern Assistant Coach for Women's Lacrosse), Noel Diaz (Intern Assistant Coach for Men's Soccer), Abbey Poore (Intern Assistant Coach for Swimming & Diving) and Anthony Welsh (Intern Assistant Coach for Wrestling).  
 
Jill Harris - Intern Assistant Coach for Women's Basketball
Jill Harris joins W&J as Intern Assistant Women's Basketball Coach for the 2024-25 season. 

Harris wrapped up her career at Division I Valparaiso University last season. She averaged 6.5 points per game during her time with Valpo. 

She also had playing stints collegiately at Johnson C. Smith University and was an SoCon All-Freshman Team selection in 2019-20 while playing at Mercer University. She posted 8.7 points and 2.3 assists per game for the Golden Bulls, scoring in double figures on eight occasions during the 2022-23 season. In 2020-21 at Mercer, she totaled 124 assists with the Bears during her freshman season. Nationally, Harris ranked third among freshmen in assist/turnover ratio and 10^th in assists.

Harris is a graduate of the WBCA "So You Want To Be A Coach" program. 

Harris earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminology from Johnson C. Smith University in May 2023. She then added a master's in business administration from Valparaiso University in August of 2024. She earned Dean's List and Presidents' List honors throughout her time as a student. 
 
"We are really excited to have Jill join our staff this year. She enters our program highly recommended by Emily Hays, a WJ graduate and recent HOF inductee," stated head women's basketball coach Jina DeRubbo. "Jill finished her playing career at Valparaiso after transferring as a graduate student. We are excited to have Jill start working with our players and feel she can bring a lot of experience to our individual workouts particularly in our guard play. "
 
Kyra Deehr-Lewis - Intern Assistant Coach for Field Hockey
Kyra Deehr-Lewis joins W&J as the new Intern Assistant Coach of the field hockey program for the 2024 season.

Deehr-Lewis comes to W&J after spending the past seven years as a Field Hockey Umpire. During this time, Deehr-Lewis completed USA Field Hockey outdoor officiating training allowing them to umpire at various field hockey camps, clinics, and showcases.

In the summer of 2022, Deehr-Lewis worked as a Sports Management Intern with the Texas Pride Field Hockey Club. There, they assisted with managing summer camps/leagues, led a group of high school interns, provided coaching and umpiring support, and assisted with facility management, marketing, and branding.

Since 2018, Deehr-Lewis has also coached at various institutions and organization such as Patriots Field Hockey, Hill House Boston, Neshaminy High School, Council Rock North High School, Philly Hockey Club, Texas Pride Field Hockey Club, Wellesley Youth Field Hockey. In this time, Deehr-Lewis coached elementary to college field hockey players in a variety of settings and capacities.

At Wellesley, Deehr-Lewis was a four-year member of the Field Hockey Program and logged a multitude of accolades. They earned accolades such as becoming a three-time NEWMAC Field Hockey Academic All-Conference Honoree, three-time NFHCA National Academic Squad, Academic All-District Team as a senior and NEWMAC Defensive Athlete of the Week (9/17/23).

Deehr-Lewis graduated with a degree in Environmental Studies and Anthropology from Wellseley College in May of 2024. 
 
"We are thrilled to welcome Coach Kyra to the Washington and Jefferson Field Hockey family as our newest intern assistant coach! Kyra brings a wealth of experience as a player and umpire as well as a club and former high school field hockey coach," stated head field hockey coach Brittney Randolph. "Kyra is passionate about field hockey and the student-athlete experience and will primarily be working with the goalkeeping unit."
 
Casey Williams - Intern Assistant Coach for Football
Casey Williams joins W&J as the new Intern Assistant Coach of the football program for the 2024 season.
 
Williams comes to W&J after spending three seasons as a graduate assistant at Alfred University. There, Williams specialized in coaching the linebacker units along with other various jobs tasked by the defensive coordinator and head coach. He additionally coached 11 All-Conference Front 7 players, with two 1st team selections. This included coaching the Division III leader in total tackles from the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
 
Prior to his time at Alfred, Williams spent four seasons as the assistant coach of Southwestern High School. Williams had an array of duties at the high school level including Developing and conducting drills for running backs, linebackers, and defensive backs. He boasted a 35-5 record, making four consecutive league championships and section title game appearances. Williams also helped produce two Division I athletes to Rutgers University and to The University of Rhode Island.
 
Williams also performed a brief stint as the Assistant Track & Field coach at Southwestern High School, developing drills for long jumpers, triple jumpers, and relay teams.
 
Williams earned his Associate degree in Science, Adolescence Education at SUNY Jamestown Community College. Shortly after, Williams earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Studies with a focus in Adolescence Education from SUNY Fredonia. Wrapping up his academic career, Williams worked his way towards his Master of Science in Education with a focus in School Counseling at Alfred University.
 
Lola Duff - Intern Assistant Coach for Women's Lacrosse
Lola Duff joins W&J as the new Intern Assistant Coach of the women's lacrosse program for the 2025 season.

Prior to her arrival, Duff worked at Centre College in the Sports Performance Department as an assistant coach. Duff assisted in coaching strength and conditioning for over 600 student athletes. She programmed workouts for Centre Cheer and Centre Tennis along with managing data and schedules of their student athletes. Duff managed student workers in the Buck Fitness Center.

Duff also spent time at Ensworth High School in Nashville, Tenn. as the Varsity Girls Lacrosse Assistant Coach. She led the team to the 2023 TGLA State Championship game.

Duff graduated from Centre College in May of 2022. She received her degree in Sociology/Anthropology with a minor in education.

As a student-athlete, Duff logged a program record in most saves in a single game and most saves in a single season. She also earned additional honors as a two-time All-SAA Honorable Mention, SAA Academic Honor Roll, and three-time SAA Defensive Player of the Week.

Duff also worked two internships in the field of strength and conditioning. At Mercer County Senior High School in Harrodsburg, KY, she assisted the head weightlifting teacher and strength and conditioning coach with lifts and conditioning. As well as a summer internship at Ensworth High School, assisting in leading pre-season lifts and conditioning for football, boys and girls basketball, and volleyball.
 
"We're very excited to welcome Lola to W&J. She brings a wealth of knowledge from coaching experience and an impressive collegiate career," stated head women's lacrosse coach Alison Valerio. "She will work directly with our defensive unit and goalkeepers, adding to the growth of both our players and program."
 
Noel Diaz - Intern Assistant Coach for Men's Soccer
Noel Diaz joins the men's soccer program as its Intern Assistant Coach for the 2024 season.
 
Diaz was a two-year member of the team at Howard Community College in Columbia, Maryland. Diaz played three different positions, Right Back, Center Defensive Midfield, and Outside Midfield. He started in 11 of the 34 games he appeared in and scored a goal while tallying seven assists during his time with the Dragons. The Dragons won a regional title both years Diaz attended.
 
Diaz then attended Paul Smith's College in Brighton, New York where he started all 26 games in the two years he attended. He won YSCC All Conference First Team Honors and USCAA D2 First Team All American Honors. He Scored 9 goals and had 3 assists while going 4 for 4 from the penalty spot.
 
He spent this last spring as the interim Head Coach at Paul Smith's College while earning his bachelor's degree in business management with a concentration in Sports Management.

"Noel has transitioned into the role very well, in such a short space of time," replied head men's soccer coach Ian McDonald. "His own playing and coaching experience is already starting to surface. He seems hungry to learn and is excited about the coming season and the challenges ahead!"
 
Abbey Poore - Intern Assistant Coach for Swimming & Diving
Abbey Poore joined the Washington & Jefferson College swimming & diving staff in September of 2023. 

Poore was a four-year swimmer at NCAA Division III Drew University. Poore competed in distance freestyle events. 
She has swim coach experience in New York at Bellevue Country Club and Calvary Club. 

Poore graduated from Drew with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology in May of 2022. She is pursuing her Master of Science in Clinical Exercise Physiology from the University of Pittsburgh. 

"We are very excited to be able to have Abbey Poore back on deck with our coaching staff for the 24'-25' season. Abbey has been instrumental in continuing to help build our team rosters, while continuing to positively impact our team culture" stated head swimming & diving coach Matt Rochna. "Abbey will be key to continuing to help aid our programs to climb to the top of PAC Conference and nationally. She has fostered positive relationships with our teams that will continue to help our student-athletes reach their full potential in the pool, classroom, and community."
 
Anthony Welsh - Intern Assistant Coach for Wrestling
Anthony Welsh joined the W&J wrestling coach staff during the summer of 2024. 

Welsh is no stranger to Western Pennsylvania wrestling. Welsh coached in the high school ranks at Waynesburg Central. During his time as an assistant with the program, the Raiders captured both WPIAL and PIAA team championships in Class AAA.

Welsh wrestled collegiately at both Waynesburg University and Division II Pitt-Johnstown. Welsh claimed the 174-pound title at the PAC Championships in 2019. Welsh was a member of the Yellow Jackets' conference title team in 2019. 

During his high school days, he competed at Beth-Center High School. Welsh posted 149-30 record as a Bulldog. He went 39-2 during his senior season. Welsh was a two-time PIAA AA State Place-winner, a 2016 WPIAL Champion at 170 lbs. and a three-time WPIAL Runner-up. 

"As we welcome Coach Anthony Welsh into the W&J Wrestling family, we recognize the local talent and passion he brings to the program. Coach Welsh will be a strong addition to our coaching staff," said head wrestling coach Sonnie Blanco. "His understanding of what it means to wrestle in the Presidents' Athletic Conference and the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League will be a valuable asset for our athletes. Our wrestlers will benefit from the opportunity to work with him, and I am confident that he will impact both their technical wrestling skills and their personal growth."