New Paltz, NY — After four seasons, former SUNYAC Coach of the Year Randy Vite has stepped down as the head coach for the Hawks women's lacrosse program, accepting the same role at Division II Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA.
 
Vite, who was hired ahead of the 2022 season, leaves the program as the winningest coach in program history at 42-26 overall.
 
At the helm, Vite guided SUNY New Paltz to a multitude of program firsts including the first undefeated home season (2025), the team's first home playoff berth, which came in back-to-back seasons in 2024 and 2025, the team's first playoff win in 2024, the first back-to-back semifinal appearances in 2024 and 2025, the first win over a nationally ranked opponent (2025), the most conference wins in program history (2025) and the most wins in program history (2024), along with coaching the team's first ever All-Region recipient in Kaitlyn Shaw during her first season and the team's first, first-team All-Region selection in Lexi Atwater this past season.  
Additionally, Vite has coached nine players who currently hold either single season or career records for the program including top 3 in seven different categories.
 
"We are thankful for Randy for building a solid foundation within our women's lacrosse program," said SUNY New Paltz Director of Athletics, Wellness and Recreation Renee Bostic. "We wish her nothing but success in the future. As we move forward, we're looking for someone who is going to build upon our solid foundation and take us to new heights."
 
Vite originally took over the Hawks a month prior to the 2022 season after spending four years as the lead assistant at perennial national program the University of Chicago where she helped build the program since its inception, never having been a part of a losing season with the Maroons. After she aided UChicago to an NCAA Elite 8 berth, she transitioned to SUNY New Paltz and immediately lifted the bar for the Hawks.  

SUNY New Paltz finished the 2022 season at 6-10 overall and 4-5 in the SUNYAC, which pushed the team into the postseason for just the second time ever. Since her first year, the program climbed to new heights and slowly established itself as a top-tier program in the SUNYAC for the first time in its near 25-year history.
 
Vite set a program record in wins in 2023, finishing 9-7 and guided SUNY New Paltz to its second-straight postseason appearance — the first back-to-back run in program history and since then, the Hawks have made four-straight playoff berths, the longest streak to date with Vite never missing a postseason berth during her tenure. During her third season in 2024, Vite led the team to unprecedented success. The team went 14-4 overall and 6-3 in the SUNYAC, securing the team's first ever SUNYAC Tournament victory after earning its first home playoff game, clinching the No. 3 seed in the conference tournament — the highest seeding in program history. Additionally, the team landed within the top seven in the IWLCA Region III rankings for the first time with a myriad of players setting single season records, along with overall team records in caused turnovers, assists, goals and points. As a result, Vite and her staff were awarded the program's first SUNYAC Coaching Staff of the Year honors with Vite herself nominated as an IWLCA All-Region III Coach of the Year candidate.
 
The 2025 season saw SUNY New Paltz face the hardest non-conference schedule with the team going 13-5 overall and a program best, 7-2 in conference play. The Hawks won their second-straight playoff match in dominating fashion, defeating Fredonia 20-5 to move onto the semifinal round in back-to-back years for the first time. The regular season highlight, however, was claiming their first ever win over a nationally ranked opponent, which came during their spring break trip to Colorado where they went on to defeat hosting Colorado College, then ranked No. 19 overall, with a thrilling, last-second 8-7 victory.  
During her four-year tenure, the team has seen the most All-SUNYAC and All-Region picks in program history, totaling 20 all-conference nods and six All-Region selections, including its first two-time recipient in Shaw. The team also saw their first ever SUNYAC Midfielder and Attacker of the Year honors in Shaw (2024), Morgan Atwater (2025) and Lexi Atwater (2025), respectively.
 
"It's hard to put into words what the past four years at New Paltz have meant to me," Vite said. "I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work alongside so many passionate colleagues and truly remarkable student-athletes. This team has inspired me every day with their heart, dedication and belief in what we were building together. While this is a bittersweet moment, I will always carry my time at New Paltz with deep pride and gratitude. I'm forever thankful the relationships, memories and growth that has shaped both me and the program."
 
Vite leaves SUNY New Paltz with the only winning record of its seven coaches in program history, going .618 in 68 games played, along with the most SUNYAC wins at 22-14 overall with four playoff appearances and two postseason wins. Additionally, her team earned IWLCA Division III Academic Honor Squad all four seasons with 28 student-athletes named through 2022-2025.
 
The former University of Kutztown alum's next chapter resumes at the Division II level back in Pennsylvania where she'll take over a Rams team who finished 11-8 overall and 8-1 in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) with a conference finals appearance last season.



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