ROCHESTER, NY – The Roberts Wesleyan University Athletic Department announced the hiring of Ellen Newton as the new head coach for the Women's Lacrosse program.

Newton becomes the fifth head coach in program history after Kristin Paolini left the role to become the head coach at Barry University in Florida to start a new varsity program.

"We are excited to welcome Ellen to the Roberts Wesleyan family," said Executive Director of Athletics Bob Segave. "She takes over a successful program and has experience in the region and in the conference that should help her to be successful from the start. Her dedication to the sport and the team activities off the field should be a great fit for what we strive for here at Roberts."

Newton comes to Rochester after a four-year stint as an assistant coach at East Coast Conference (ECC) opponent D'Youville University, where she completed her Master's Degree in Occupational Therapy.

The former NCAA Division I goalie at Canisius College was an academic All-American and All-Monroe County selection at Victor High School. The team captain was the team MVP and an All-Tournament team selection at the New York State Tournament as a senior.

Newton played four seasons at Canisius and was a finalist for the Yeardley Reynolds Love Unsung Hero Award, which recognizes six women's lacrosse players throughout all of Division I who help their teams achieve success in ways that cannot be measured in goals, saves, or ground balls.

She also earned the athletic department's Community Service Award in 2018, as well as the Heart of a Griffin Award in 2019.

Off the field, Ellen has worked at Cradle Beach in Angola with children from disadvantaged communities and children with developmental and intellectual disabilities. She was inspired to pursue a degree in the field of Occupational Therapy after she led mission trips to Krakow, Poland, where she worked at the Dzielo Pomocy Dzieciom, a Children's Home for abandoned, abused and neglected children.

In the past five seasons, the Redhawks have complied an overall record of 55-27 including a 26-4 mark in ECC play. Roberts has appeared in four of the last five ECC Tournament Championship games winning twice and advancing to the NCAA Division II Tournament in 2021 and finished with a 14-2 record.

Roberts Wesleyan opens the 2026 season February 18 at American International College and will open the home portion of the schedule Saturday, February 21 against St. Anselm College.