THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – MacEllen McDonough is back at the helm of Cal Lutheran women's lacrosse, joined by former Regals standout Kaitlyn Gill as assistant coach, as the program prepares to return to competition.

The announcement marks the latest chapter in a months-long journey for the Regals. On April 28, Cal Lutheran announced that it would discontinue women's lacrosse. Following strong advocacy from the program's student-athletes and an outpouring of support from the broader lacrosse community, university leadership and the athletics department worked to identify a path forward. On July 6, Cal Lutheran announced that women's lacrosse would be reinstated, expressing renewed confidence in the program's ability to thrive moving forward.

McDonough, who became the second head coach in program history ahead of the 2025 season, wasted little time making an impact. In her first season, she led the Regals to a program-record seven victories and three SCIAC wins, culminating in a historic 15-12 victory over Occidental in the season finale.

"The past several months have reinforced just how much this team and this program mean to me," said McDonough. "I'm incredibly proud of our athletes, the resilience they've shown, and everything we've built together. I'm excited to get back to work, continue building on that foundation, and see what this group can accomplish moving forward."

McDonough will be joined on the sidelines by Gill, who returns to Cal Lutheran after transitioning from player to coach ahead of the 2026 season.

Gill completed her playing career as a defender for the Regals, starting all 16 games in which she appeared during her final season and earning CSC Academic All-District honors. She finished her Cal Lutheran career with 74 ground balls and 33 caused turnovers while helping the Regals to the most successful season in program history.

Now, Gill brings that firsthand experience back to the program as a coach, providing continuity as the Regals begin their next chapter.

For Interim Vice President and Director of Athletics Elizabeth Brooks, McDonough's return represents both a continuation and a new beginning for the Regals.

"Coach MacEllen's return feels like putting the final piece of a 5,000-piece jigsaw puzzle in place," Brooks said. "It feels good, and it makes us complete. Coach MacEllen is intelligent, courageous and resilient, and it's evident she has fostered those leadership traits in her team of student-athletes. She's also quite competitive, and I'm confident the results that come with her return will speak volumes about where this team is headed."

The university's reinstatement of women's lacrosse was made possible in part by the support shown by the program's student-athletes, alumni, families and the broader lacrosse community. That support helped reinforce the belief that Cal Lutheran can build a sustainable and competitive program for years to come.

With McDonough and Gill back together on the sideline, the Regals now turn their attention toward the future, building on the foundation they established and continuing to grow Cal Lutheran women's lacrosse.