BLOOMSBURG—Bloomsburg University Director of Athletics Mary Gardner has announced the hiring of Jillian Howley as assistant coach for field hockey and lacrosse.

Howley comes to Bloomsburg from Mercyhurst College where she served as the assistant lacrosse coach for the last year. A 2009 graduate of Robert Morris University (RMU) in Pittsburgh, Howley played both field hockey and lacrosse at RMU. Anative of East Northport, N.Y., Howley was a four-year starter for both sports for the Colonials.

At RMU Howley had her most success in lacrosse where she scored 72 career goals and had 17 career assists. She is second in career ground balls with 105, is fifth in caused turnovers with 51, fifth all-time in school history in both career goals and points (89) and is eighth in career assists. Her 21 career free position goals are also a school record.

While at Robert Morris Howley was actively involved in Three Rivers Lacrosse, a youth to high school lacrosse program located in the Pittsburgh area. During her senior year she was the assistant field hockey coach for Sewickley Academy. Howley is a club lacrosse coach for Intrepid Girls Lacrosse located in Western Pennsylvania. Howley a native of Long Island played for the Long Island Elite Yellow Jackets. She also coached the Yellow Jackets for two summers while she was back home on the Island.

"I am looking forward to being a part of the Bloomsburg University family,” said Howley. “I am excited to pursue my passion for coaching both field hockey and lacrosse. Bloomsburg has so much to offer its student-athletes and I look forward to being a part of the traditions at the school. I am thankful for the opportunity to work at such a great institution."

Howley will also be pursuing a master's degree at Bloomsburg University.