HEAD COACH: Sue Behme
Office: (585) 389-2835
sbehme9@naz.edu

Sue Behme's arrival at Nazareth prior to the 2000 season infused into the women's lacrosse program high levels of energy and enthusiasm that have culminated in seven straight post-season appearances, including five NCAA tournament berths.

The Golden Flyers' fledgling program was on the verge of making a splash at the national level prior to her arrival. Then they dove head-first into the national spotlight in 2000 as Behme (pronounced Beam) guided the Golden Flyers to their finest season ever. Nazareth won a school-record 16 games, won the championship of the Empire 8 Conference, and reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time. They subsequently won E8 titles in 2002, 2005 and 2006 with Behme earning conference Coach of the Year honors in each of those seasons. The Golden Flyers also reached the NCAA Tournament as an at-large selection in 2004.

Under Behme's direction, the Golden Flyers enjoyed one of their best seasons ever in 2006 as they finished the regular season as one of only unbeaten teams (14-0) in the country. After winning the Empire 8 Conference Tournament for the second year in a row, Nazareth received a first-round bye to the NCAA Tournament, then lost a tough 10-7 decision to Franklin & Marshall. Behme was recognized NYSWCAA Coach of the Year and Empire Region Coach of the Year.

The Golden Flyers enjoyed their share of success in 2001 and 2003 as well. They finished second (behind Ithaca) in the Empire 8 Conference each time and competed in the ECAC Mid-Atlantic Tournament. Behme has a record of 92-31 in her seven seasons at Nazareth and an overall record of 113-53 for 11 seasons.

Behme joined the Nazareth coaching staff in the fall of 1999 and brought with her strong credentials both as a coach and as a player.

She coached soccer and lacrosse at SUNY Geneseo for four years. Her soccer teams posted a record of 38-32-1 and captured the NYSWCAA title in 1998. She started the Geneseo lacrosse program in 1996 and built the program into one of the best in the SUNY Athletic Conference. Her 1999 team finished with a 9-4 record and reached the conference playoffs. She also was named conference coach of the year.

Behme also has had coaching stints in lacrosse and soccer at Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Va. and at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tenn.

As an athlete, Behme was a collegiate All-American in both soccer and lacrosse at SUNY Cortland. In soccer, she helped the Red Dragons to a national championship in 1992 while earning All-America honors. She was a two-time All-American in lacrosse and was selected to compete in the North-South Senior all-star game in 1993.

Her competitive fire led to her selection in 2005 to the U.S. Team Handball Women’s National Team. She formerly played semi-professional soccer with the Rochester Ravens and raced mountain bikes professionally for two years with Ted Wojick Custom Bikes of Hampstead, N.H.

Behme graduated from Cortland in 1993 with a degree in Recreation and Leisure Studies. She has a Master’s degree in recreation from Brockport.
In addition to coaching lacrosse, Behme oversees the athletic department's equipment room. During the summer she operates the popular girls lacrosse camp at Nazareth. This year's camp is June 25-29, 2007.