Jillian Byers, who was a finalist for the Honda Sports Award andthe Tewaaraton Trophy as the top college women's lacrosse player in2009, joined the Yale staff as an assistant coach in the summer of2009. A four-time All-American, Byers graduated from Notre Dame inMay of 2009 as the Fighting Irish's all-time leading scorer. Anattacker, her 262 career goals place her fourth in NCAAhistory. In 2010 she finished third in the voting for Notre Dame's femaleathlete of the decade for the 2000s. In the summer of 2010 shewas selected to the 2010-11 U.S. Women's National Team, part of acore group of 36 players training to represent the U.S.in the 2013 World Cup.
Byers scored a team-record 83 goals in 2009, finishing second inthe country in goals and third in points (111). She also set theNotre Dame single-season draw control record with 55. In additionto being the school's all-time leading scorer she also leads inpoints (336, 10th in NCAA history), draw controls (154)and games played (76).
Byers was Notre Dame's captain and MVP in 2009, leading theFighting Irish to a 16-5 record, a Big East Tournament Championshipand an NCAA Tournament appearance, the third NCAA appearance inByers' four years. The team advanced to the Final Four in 2006, thefirst round in 2008 and the second round in 2009. Overall NotreDame was 54-22 during her tenure.
Byers, who earned three second-team All-America honors and onefirst team honor in her career, was a unanimous first team All-BigEast selection four times. She was named Big East co-attack playerof the year her senior year, when she led the conference in goals(a record 31 in conference play) and was second in points (42). Sheis the Big East's all-time leading scorer with 78 career goals. Her12 points in an Apr. 18 win over UConn in 2009 (sevengoals, five assists) are a Big East single-game record.
Byers was selected to the U.S. Lacrosse Developmental Team in2009. It was the second straight year she made the roster forthat team, which is designed as a feeder program for the U.S.National Team.
A native of Northport, N.Y., Byers attended Northport High,where she played basketball, lacrosse and soccer. She led all threeteams to Suffolk County League titles all four years, captainingthe lacrosse and soccer teams. She also played club lacrosse forthe Long Island Elite Club Program the Yellow Jackets.
Byers was a film, television and theatre major at Notre Dame,minoring in theology. She was a three-time Academic All-Star Teamselection and was a Rosenthal Leadership Academy Leader ofDistinction Award winner in her senior year. She also took part inthe Read to a Child program as a mentor.
