Holy Cross and women's lacrosse head coach Amanda Belichick have agreed to a new contract extension, Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Kit Hughes announced on Thursday, Feb. 6.

The new contract will keep Belichick as the head coach of the Crusaders through the 2027 season.

"I am thrilled to announce our extension of Coach Belichick as the leader of our women's lacrosse program at Holy Cross," Hughes said. "Over the last several years, Amanda has shown herself to be a tremendous leader and mentor for the young women in our program, and has been committed to consistent improvement in service to our team and community. Our program's recent success has been a byproduct of the daily habits and growth that Coach has worked so hard to establish, and I know that the best is yet to come."

The 2024 Patriot League Coach of the Year, Belichick guided the Crusaders to the Patriot League semifinals last season for the first time since 2014, with the Crusaders posting an overall record of 12-6 and a 6-3 mark in Patriot League play. This 2024 squad tied the school record for the most conference victories in a single season with its 6-3 mark against league foes, while its 12 overall wins tied for the fourth-most in program history. Belichick's team also won eight straight games from Feb. 24 to March 30, good for the second-longest winning streak in school history. In addition, Holy Cross set school single-season records for points (378), goals (241) and assists (137). Belichick became the Crusaders' first Patriot League Coach of the Year selection since 2006.

"Thank you to Kit Hughes, President Vincent Rougeau and Holy Cross for their continued support of the women's lacrosse program and confidence in my leadership," Belichick said. "After 10 years here, there is nowhere I'd rather be than Holy Cross. My staff and I will continue to dedicate everything we have to the development of the student-athletes in all areas of their lives."

Under Belichick's direction, the Crusaders have been named an Academic Honor Squad the last eight times the award has been given out (there were no awards in 2020 due to COVID-19). Holy Cross has also had a total of 228 Patriot League Academic Honor Roll selections in her first nine years as head coach.

In recent years, several of Belichick's players have ranked among the NCAA's national statistical leaders. In 2024, Isabela Miller placed ninth in the nation in assists per game (2.78). Jolie Creo finished the 2022 campaign sixth in the nation in points per game (5.47) and 11th in goals per game (3.73), after standing third in the country in points per game (6.00) and fifth in goals per game (4.50) in 2021. In addition, Grace Flink stood sixth in the nation in saves per game (11.33) in 2021, while she was third in the nation in save percentage (.553) in 2020. Holy Cross also led the country in team save percentage (.555) in 2020.

During the 2023 campaign, Belichick's team finished in fifth place in the Patriot League to earn a spot in the Patriot League Tournament. The Crusaders' fifth-place finish in the conference was their best since the 2014 season, while their seven victories were their most since 2017.

In 2018, Belichick coached the Crusaders to their first Patriot League playoff appearance since the 2015 season. The Crusaders finished in sixth place in the league after being picked ninth in the preseason poll. During Belichick's first season in 2016, the Crusaders defeated Navy for only the second time in program history with a 7-6 victory.

Holy Cross begins its 2025 campaign with a season-opening matchup at Fairfield on Saturday, Feb. 8. Opening draw is scheduled for 1 p.m.

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