Whitaker Willocks joined the Navy women’s lacrosse staff prior to the fall of 2023. In her position with the Midshipmen, Willocks plays a vital role in the holistic development of student-athletes, helping them excel on and off the field while contributing to the overall success of the lacrosse program.
Willocks mentors, fosters leadership qualities, and promotes values such as sportsmanship, teamwork, and resilience; building strong relationships with players to support their growth. Additionally, she prioritizes the well-being of student-athletes, including their mental and physical health.
She brings a wealth of experience to the Navy women’s lacrosse staff.
Willocks, formerly Hagerman, played women’s lacrosse for the University of Virginia, suiting up for the Cavaliers from 2005 to 2010. A team captain during her senior season, Willocks was a four-year member of the Student-Athlete Council, a board that consisted of just 10 individuals elected by peers and coaches based on leadership, communication and positive decision making both on and off the field of play. During Willocks’ time with the team, the Hoos won three consecutive Atlantic Coast Conference titles (2006, ’07, ‘08) and finished as a national finalist once (2007).
In addition to her roll at Navy, she currently serves as the Director of Outreach / Assistant Director of Advancement at Indian Creek School in Crownsville, Md.
Prior to Indian Creek, Willocks was the Associate Director of Admission at Kimball Union Academy in Meriden, N.H. (2020-22), while also serving as the ECHO Lacrosse Club owner and director (2017-22). In her position with ECHO, she was responsible for creating, facilitating and implementing the programs and service tools designed in line with the strategic direction of the association; financial planning; development of marketing plans for all programs, events, and services; and overseeing and managing all association events, programs and services.
Willocks also worked with the State College Area High School varsity girls’ lacrosse team in State College, Pa., serving as an associate head coach (2016-17). Additionally, she was an assistant coach at Hanover High School (2014-17), while serving as a board member and head coach for Empower Lacrosse Club (2015-19) in Hanover, N.H.
Willocks was the Assistant Director and Panelist for the Young Women in Sports Foundation (2014-18) out of Boston, Mass., a group of ex-college athletes, current college coaches and Olympians who travel around the country hosting panel discussions and workshops around the impact sports has on young females growing up.
In 2013, Willocks was an assistant coach with the Dartmouth women's lacrosse team. She helped the Big Green advance to the Ivy League Championship in her one season, while helping Dartmouth earn an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament where the Big Green advanced to the second round.
Prior to working at Dartmouth, she served as the assistant varsity coach for both the lacrosse and field hockey teams at Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford, Conn. in 2011-12. Additionally in 2012, she served as a co-head coach of the Under Armour All-American New England Team.
Out of college, Willocks gained valuable coaching experiences throughout the Northeast. She worked in a coaching capacity with Team Rev Club, Nor'Easter Club and Andover High School where she helped the team reach the Massachusetts State Finals in 2011. She also instructed at camps held at UVA, Yale, Babson and Dartmouth, as well as high schools and prep schools across New England.
A native of North Andover, Mass., Willocks earned a Bachelor’s in Psychology in 2009 and a Master's Degree in Education in 2010, both from UVA. Willocks resides in Arnold with her husband, James, who is an assistant men’s rugby coach for Navy, and their children, Charlie, Bo, and Hunter.
