Caitlin Defliese Watkins - Women's Lacrosse Coach

Caitlin Defliese Watkins

Title:
Assistant Coach
Email:
cdeflies@syr.edu

Caitlin Defliese Watkins joined the Orange staff as an assistant coach in the fall of 2016. She came to Syracuse after spending the last five years as associate head coach at Stony Brook.

During her tenure, she mentored 2019 ACC Rookie of the Year Sarah Cooper, who earned IWLCA First Team All-America honors in 2021 and 2022. Cooper is one of four defenders who have earned IWLCA All-Northeast Region honors under the guidance of Defliese Watkins.

Syracuse held its opponents to 10 or less goals 13 times in 2023 and ranked 22nd in the nation in scoring defense (9.57). The Orange ranked 15th nationally in scoring defense in 2021 (9.95) and led the nation in shortened 2020 campaign (7.00).

Defliese Watkins served as Stony Brook’s defensive coordinator, leading one of the top defenses in the nation. In 2016, the Seawolves ranked second in the nation in scoring defense (6.1 gpg) and fourth in scoring margin (7.33). Goalkeeper Anna Tesoriero was second in the country with a 6.07 goals-against average. During her time at Stony Brook, Defliese mentored two All-Americans, two all-region honorees and seven all-conference selections.

A four-year letterwinner at Boston University, Defliese Watkins earned a spot on the All-America East Second Team in 2010 after being named to the conference’s All-Rookie Team in 2007 after recording 13 caused turnovers, 23 draw controls and 21 ground balls. Defliese earned her bachelor’s degree in health and rehabilitation from Boston University in 2010.