Synonymous with women’s athletics at Cabrini, Jackie Neary begins her 22nd season with the Cavaliers’ field hockey and women’s lacrosse programs in 2017-18. The 2013 Cabrini Hall of Fame inductee also starts her 12th 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 16 CSAC titles, including a run of eight straight crowns from 1998-2005 and each of the last six (2012-17).
Neary, owner of a 274-118 career record, has mentored the Cavaliers to 14 appearances all-time in the NCAA Tournament, leading Cabrini to the conference’s first five automatic qualifying berths from 2000-05. In eight of the last nine years, the Cavaliers hoisted the CSAC hardware and advanced to the national postseason.
Neary is an 12-time CSAC Coach of the Year in women’s lacrosse, last earning the honor in 2017. She also was awarded the accolade in 1997, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. Neary was also named IWLCA Metro Region Coach of the Year in 2014.
On the field hockey side, Neary has totaled a 223-187 career mark, guided the Cavaliers to four conference titles, including back to back championships in 2015 and 2016 and is a five-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 led the Cavaliers to their third CSAC crown in 2015, the program's first title since 2010. Neary claimed her 200th career win with a victory at Drew University early in the campaign, before closing the season with a 12-9 mark. The Cavaliers were powered by two-time CSAC Player of the Year Kerry Anne Farrell, who closed the season as the program's all-time leader in goals, assists and points.
Neary reached the 100-win plateau 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.
In October 2012, Neary and her rest of the members of the 1984 national championship team were inducted into the Temple University Athletic Hall of Fame.
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 and Sean, both Cabrini alums and former soccer and tennis student-athletes, Jackie, a senior on the field hockey and lacrosse teams, and Shea.
