O'Connell enters 2023 as an assistant coach to Mindy McCord for the second season. In 2022, O'Connell arrived at Jacksonville from Army West Point, where she served as an assistant coach on the Black Knights staff for the prior three seasons.
"We are thrilled to have Coach O'Connell as a part of our Phin Family," said Head Coach
Mindy McCord. "Carly brings a wealth of knowledge, both as a professional lacrosse player and as a collegiate coach, to serve as our Defensive Coordinator.
"Her passion, values, standards and work ethic are a perfect fit and will be integral to our team's continued success in the classroom and on the field."
In O'Connell's first season as an assistant at Jacksonville, she helped the team to an overall record of 14-5, while also helping lead the 'Phins to their their fourth straight regular season title,and ninth overall (ASUN & NLC). Following their regular season success, the 2022 Dolphins also claimed their eighth bid to the NCAA Tournament all time, and defeated Stanford in round one to advance to the second round for the third time in program history. Leading the Dolphin Defense, Carly was able to help the unit to statistical success that included being tenth in the country in caused turnovers, fifth in scoring defense, and fifth in save percentage. Working with the Dolphin goalkeepers, O'Connell was also able to assist Redshirt Freshman Paige Pagano in winning ASUN Freshman and Defensive Player of the Year honors, while also collecting the conference tournament MVP award.
Known for her prowess as a defensive coach, she helped turn the defense at West Point into one of the best units in not just the Patriot League, but all of Division I. The Black Knights posted winning records in all three of her seasons on staff, and helped three players to First-Team All-Patriot League honors in 2021.
The team was headed for great things before the 2020 season was cut short, in large part due to a stingy defense that O'Connell oversaw that limited six of seven opponents to single-digit goals and posting the second-best scoring defense in the nation, en route to a 7-0 start.
She arrived at West Point after two years as an assistant coach at UMass-Lowell, where she helped the River Hawks to a six-game turnaround in her first season on staff.
O'Connell was a standout midfielder for Oregon, starting all four years and earning First Team All-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation honors twice, and Second Team All-MPSF recognition once. She was a part of three consecutive MPSF Tournaments from 2014-16, and is all over the Ducks record book, including second in single season, single game and career draw controls, third all-time in single season points, fourth in career points and assists, fifth in career caused turnovers and seventh in career goals.
She was drafted by the Philadelphia Force of the United Women's Lacrosse League, and also has experience working at the club level, having coached the Revolution Lacrosse Club and the 3D Lacrosse Club.
