Natalie Simpson | Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach at McKendree University
If you ask Natalie Simpson what matters most in building a college lacrosse program, she won’t start with drills or plays. She’ll talk about purpose. She’ll talk about culture. And she’ll talk about making sure her players leave campus ready for life, not just the next game.
As Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach at McKendree University in St. Louis, Natalie is building something different: a program where wins matter, but the experiences and lessons along the way matter more.
A Late Start That Sparked a Lifelong Career
Growing up in Southern California, Natalie was a soccer kid. Lacrosse wasn’t even on her radar until a neighbor (fresh from the East Coast) handed her a stick and told her to give it a shot.
“I was a freshman in high school and my mom finally said, ‘Just try it,’” Natalie remembers.
What began as a spring sport experiment quickly turned into a passion. By the time she joined a local club team run by college coaches, she was traveling for tournaments, playing against higher competition, and experiencing a sport that felt fresh and exciting compared to what she’d known in soccer.
“It was just nothing like soccer had ever been,” she says. “It was super fun.”
Her journey took her to the University of Oregon for two seasons, then to Lindenwood University in St. Louis to finish her playing career — and ultimately, to make the city her home.
Coaching Beyond the X’s and O’s
Now leading the McKendree women’s program, Natalie sees her role as much more than teaching a game plan.
“The X’s and O’s are there; everyone has systems. But the real magic is in the experience,” she says.
That means intentional culture-building beyond the field. If her team is in Florida, they’re not just playing — they’re on a boat, snorkeling, making memories. In Chicago? They’re catching a Cubs game.
“Years later, you’re not going to remember the score of that one game,” Natalie says. “But you will remember the time you spent together.”
Finding the “Why”
Every recruit in Natalie’s program has to answer one question: Why do you love the game of lacrosse?
“If you don’t love it, you can’t play at the college level,” she says. “There are going to be tough days. You have to love everything about the game to get through them.”
Her own late start gives her a unique perspective. Lacrosse is still new to many players — often their second or third sport — and that’s part of the beauty. “Any person can pick it up and develop. It just takes loving the game to take it to the next level.”
Teaching Adaptability
Natalie also believes in preparing her players for life beyond the field through what she calls “adaptability training.”
One week, practice might start at 5 a.m. The next, at 11 a.m. Travel schedules shift, game plans change, and cultural experiences are added in.
“You never know what’s coming,” she says. “We can prepare and watch film for hours, but you still have to adapt.”
It’s a mindset she hopes sticks with her players long after graduation.
Coaching With the End in Mind
Natalie is upfront with her athletes: four years go by fast. Most will move on to careers outside of lacrosse.
“What are your goals beyond lacrosse?” she asks every recruit. “It tells me who you are and how you work toward what’s next.”
That perspective comes from mentors like her Lindenwood coach, Jack, who taught her that every moment — from freshman year to senior season — should be intentionally crafted.
It also comes from her high school coach, Brooke Mihoces, who inspired her love of the game and reminded her it’s always evolving. “There are so many things in lacrosse that haven’t been tested yet,” Natalie says. “That’s exciting.”
Why It Matters
At McKendree, Natalie is building a program where players graduate not just as athletes, but as adaptable, well-rounded people ready for what’s next.
Her philosophy is simple: start with the “why,” create unforgettable experiences, and make lacrosse part of a bigger life story.
“Life’s an experience,” she says. “Lacrosse is number one, but there should be more to it than that.”
