By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University Assistant Women's Lacrosse Coach Annie Longtain puts in plenty of hours working with the team. She also commits many hours as a co-advisor for the Willamette Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, helps with the SECURE group that supports student-athletes in maintaining mental health and wellness, is attending the NCAA Leadership Academy Workshop, and is in her third semester of working toward a master's degree in Athletic Leadership from Clemson University (S.C.).
"She's handling so much right now, and is still capable of keeping all the balls in the air," Willamette Head Women's Lacrosse Coach Sarah Lautenbach said. "I credit her disciplined organization that allows her to be successful doing so many things at once."
Longtain's list of activities keeps her busy, but she's glad to be committed to multiple organizations and projects. She has found it rewarding to be involved with SAAC and SECURE. She works with Associate AD/Senior Woman Administrator Leslie Shevlin as co-advisors for Willamette's SAAC and as a learning pair in the NCAA Leadership Academy Workshop.
"Working with SAAC and SECURE, has been incredibly rewarding. The student-athletes are really passionate about helping their peers. It's fun to see all of their ideas come to life," Longtain said. "As we're getting close to wrapping up our first session of the Leadership Academy Workshop, I'm getting more and more excited to collaborate with Leslie to create something great for our student-athletes. Hearing what other campuses are doing and learning about all the different tools we can be utilizing here on campus makes me eager to get started!
The Leadership Academy Workshop is designed to help athletic administrators learn how to build a sustainable leadership development program and to prepare student-athletes for leadership roles on their respective campuses.
Additionally, Longtain spends plenty of time helping coach the Willamette women's lacrosse team. She has impressed Lautenbach with her efforts.
"Annie is such a valued member of our staff and program," Lautenbach said. "She is truly so diverse in her skill sets and has this innate ability to recognize where others need help and is assertive in taking action.
"One of her biggest strengths is how she is able to build great connections and relationships with each member of our team," Lautenbach continued. "She cares about the individual player, the things they are going through, and how she can help them."
"Coaching at Willamette has been such a great experience," Longtain commented. "Whether it's on the field coaching or in a player meeting, building relationships and connecting with our student-athletes is my favorite part of my job. They inspire me to work hard every day!"
It's also important for Longtain to find time to pursure her master's degree.
"Working toward my master's and working full-time has definitely taught me a lot about time management," Longtain said. "The best part of working and going to school is how quickly I can implement the things I'm learning into my career. I've learned a lot about myself as a leader, as well as some skills and techniques to help the team. Having to balance assignments and group projects on Eastern time and my work schedule on Pacific Time has probably been the most difficult part so far."
Longtain also kept a busy schedule as a college student-athlete at the University of Oregon. She played lacrosse and was named All-Academic in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation in 2017. She was an Athlete Scholar at U of O in 2015, 2016, and 2017. She represented the Ducks at the PAC-12 Student-Athlete Advisory Committee meeting. In addition, she was selected for the 2017 NCAA Career in Sports Forum. Longtain received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Planning, Public Policy and Management from the University of Oregon in the spring of 2017.
She was active as a co-chair of the Women of Oregon SAAC in 2016-17. She developed and delivered the Women's Empowerment Symposium for female student-athletes, providing them with a chance to network with professional females, as well as preparing them for life after college athletics. She participated in setting up a domestic violence workshop for student-athletes with One Love Foundation. She also helped student-athletes learn about body image, nutrition, and professionalism.
Longtain mentored children in the Middle School Mentor Program and interacted with youngsters on a weekly basis at The Boys and Girls Club of Emerald Valley. She coached girls' lacrosse to multiple age groups. She helped teach life skills to children with cancer and their siblings. She traveled with Courts of Kids to the Dominican Republic to build a community multipurpose court.
In the fall of 2017, she joined the Willamette coaching staff to help the Bearcats prepare for their first season of women's lacrosse in the spring of 2019. When she graduated from college, Longtain wasn't sure she wanted to coach. A few months later, she realized that during her career as a college lacrosse player she had been preparing to become a coach.
"I remember in college one of my coaches asking our team who wanted to be a coach after graduating. One person raised their hand and it wasn't me," Longtain said. "I think it's crazy that I never really saw myself as a coach even though I'd always tell people I wanted to work in athletics after graduating. Playing lacrosse at the collegiate level is such a great experience and I think a lot of the things I learned as a player helped me prepare to become a coach. I think the biggest thing that helped me was being a student of the game and trying to learn all of the drills and skills we did at practice. A lot of the drills we use in practice are one's I learned from all my previous coaches (high school and college). Also, the drive to succeed has propelled me to pass on a hard work ethic to the team."
"She's just so sharp intellectually and quick on her feet," Lautenbach said. "She's a great observer and listener. She always knows what's going on around her and learns extremely fast. This is a big reason why she is such an asset when it comes to game management."
