FREDERICK, Md.--The Hood College Athletics Department announced the hiring of Molly Hesterberg as the fifth women’s lacrosse head coach in program history Tuesday.

A 2005 graduate of Western Connecticut State University, Hesterberg was a four-year starting defender and two-time captain on the women’s lacrosse team. She led the Colonials to four straight Little East Conference tournaments, including a third place finish her senior year. Hesterberg also participated in several Western Connecticut lacrosse clinics.

In 2006, Hesterberg served as the head lacrosse coach at Mercy High School in Middletown, Conn., where she coached the junior varsity squad and assisted with the varsity club.

Prior to coming to Hood, Hesterberg also gained valuable experience working with youth as a substitute teacher and tutor for Windsor Public School, as a youth worker for Plainville Group Home and as a juvenile caseworker for the Choice Program in Baltimore, Md. This past year, she worked as a forensic service coordinator at Service Coordination, Inc., in Baltimore, Md., where she helped the developmentally disabled.

Hesterberg has volunteered her time as a coach in the Special Olympics in Windsor, Conn., in addition to coaching in the Windsor International Basketball League.

Hesterberg earned a bachelor of science degree in justice and law administration and went on to earn an master’s degree in criminal justice at American International College in May 2007. She currently resides in Baltimore, Md.

Hesterberg takes over the squad from Staci Thomson, who after five years at the helm chose to focus her efforts exclusively on Hood’s field hockey program. The Blazers owned a 4-9 record last season and will be embarking on their inaugural season in the Capital Athletic Conference this spring.