Magazine spread puts McCords, JU Lacrosse in national spotlight

Jacksonville University and its rapidly developing women’s lacrosse team are receiving a tremendous public relations boost through a three-page spread titled “The McCord Accord: A Dolphin Tale” in Lacrosse Magazine’s November edition.

Mindy McCord founded the Dolphin lacrosse program in 2010; she is the women’s team coach. Her husband, Paul, is the women’s team assistant coach; and the McCords’ daughter, Taylor, is a star player on the team.

Lacrosse Magazine is circulated to more than 300,000 US Lacrosse members.

“The Dolphins carved out their niche by tapping talent in non-traditional lacrosse regions and from less-established high school and club programs …” the article says. “Over the past few years, recruiting has picked up, as Jacksonville became more selective and found its beachside location made it easier to entice players.

“The roster now features a broader geographic spread. An 11-member recruiting class for 2013-14 includes two players each from Long Island, New Jersey and the Southeast, four from Maryland, and one from Pittsburgh (Pa.).”

With an exciting run-and-gun style of play under the McCords, the Dolphins are perennially the nation’s highest-scoring team. In 2013, the Dolphins finished 13-6 and earned an NCAA postseason berth; all six of the team’s losses were to NCAA tournament teams.

“We were humbled by the article,” Mindy McCord said. “Lacrosse is a labor of love for our family, which extends to our JU family. There are a lot of great people out there growing the game. It is fun to put sticks in kid’s hands and support them.”

McCord noted that by fielding the only NCAA Division 1 men’s and women’s lacrosse programs in Florida, “JU is truly a visionary leader of lacrosse in the South.”

“The national exposure for Jacksonville University and our program was a great opportunity to highlight one of the best private schools in the nation,” she said. “We want our players and staff to be visionary leaders on the campus and in the community. When we put on our uniform, it’s the name on the front, ‘Jacksonville Dolphins,’ and the pride we take in representing that name that really matters, (and) we are most proud of our accomplishments in the classroom.”