Synonymous with women’s athletics at Cabrini, Jackie Neary begins her 14th season with the Cavaliers’ field hockey and women’s lacrosse programs in 2009-10. Neary also starts her fourth year as the athletics department’s student-athlete wellness coordinator.
Neary started the women’s lacrosse program at Cabrini from scratch in 1997. One year later, the Cavaliers had their first undefeated season, finishing 15-0 overall. Since then, Neary has guided the Blue & White to nine CSAC titles, including a run of eight straight crowns from 1998-2005. Cabrini has played in 13 straight conference title games.
Neary, owner of a 177-62 career record, has mentored the Cavaliers to seven appearances all-time in the NCAA Tournament, leading Cabrini to the conference’s first five automatic qualifying berths from 2000-05. In 2009, the Cavaliers hoisted the CSAC hardware and advanced to the national postseason.
Neary is a four-time CSAC Coach of the Year in women’s lacrosse, last earning the honor in 2008. She also was awarded the accolade in 2001, 2002 and 2004.
On the field hockey side, Neary has totaled a 132-122 career mark, guided the Cavaliers to eight CSAC semifinal contests and three title tilts, and is a two-time coach of the year. She garnered the leagues’ top sideline distinction in 2008, coaching the Cavaliers to a perfect 9-0 regular season CSAC record and the No. 1 seed in the postseason tournament.
Neary reached the 100-win pleateau with the Cabrini field hockey team in 2005. In 2000, she led the Cavaliers to the CSAC championship game despite a bout with cancer, and the effects of radiation and chemotherapy treatments.
In 2005, Neary served as an assistant coach for a team of American college women’s lacrosse student-athletes, including three Cabrini players, in the annual Friendship Games in Tokyo, Japan. In 2006, she took the Cavalier field hockey team on a 9-day trip to Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Prior to joining the Cavaliers, Neary spent three seasons (1991-94) as an assistant women’s lacrosse coach at her alma mater – Temple University. She also served 10 years (1986-95) as an assistant field hockey coach at Ridley High School, also her alma mater.
Neary’s success as a student-athlete at Temple is difficult to quantify in words. She was a part of four teams to reach the NCAA Final Four, helping the Owls to two national championship games and winning the ultimate prize with a 6-4 upset win against the University of Maryland in 1984.
As a junior, Temple ranked No. 1 nationally and boasted a 17-0 mark before a loss in the NCAA semifinals against the University of New Hampshire. Neary graduated from Temple in 1986.
Neary became the first inductee of the Ridley High School Women’s Hall of Fame in 2003. She was named a first-team high school All-American as a senior in 1982. Additionally, Neary was given the Eddie Coyle Award in 2004 for her contributions to Delaware County athletics.
In 2001, Neary received the most coveted of Cabrini Athletics honors – the Denise Edwards Award. Given to an individual who best exemplifies the spirit of Cabrini Athletics, Neary remains the only Cavalier coach to receive the prestigious award.
Neary added the responsibilities of the department’s student-athlete wellness coordinator prior to the field hockey season in 2006. Her position is dedicated to helping the student-athlete adjust to the college environment, specifically in the academic and personal spectrums.
Neary is a long-time resident of Logan Township, N.J. with her husband Joe. She and Joe have four children – Jake (19) – a member of the Cabrini men’s soccer and men’s tennis teams – Sean (16), Jackie (13) and Shea (9).
