Shelley Klaes-Bawcombe, Founder and President of Laxology, Inc., is in her third year as the Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach at James Madison University and is widely regarded as one of the premier Division I college coaches in the country. Her modern coaching techniques and tactical philosophies put her at the forefront of progression in the sport. As a successful coach at the top level, directing numerous youth camps and clinics, and giving many professional lectures, Coach Klaes-Bawcombe is nationally recognized for her superior knowledge of the game. She is a regular presenter at the U.S. Lacrosse Association Convention and is also featured in the U.S.L.A. video productions of "Team Offense"
and “The Game”.
Before arriving at JMU, Klaes-Bawcombe spent 8 years at Hofstra University building the Pride into a perennial top 20 program. During her tenure there, Hofstra garnered its first national rankings, NCAA tournament bid, America East Conference championship and claimed its three most winningest seasons in the team’s 30-year history. As well, the program produced All-American and All-Conference (both in the America East and CAA) selections.
Not just a successful college coach, Klaes-Bawcombe also had a storied playing career. At JMU, she was a 4-year starter on a team which was never ranked out of the top 10 in the national polls. Along with collecting All-American and All-CAA honors, she captained the school to a CAA Conference championship. Her senior year, she was selected the JMU female athlete of the year. Upon her graduation, she set the school’s all-time assists record and ranked second in total points. In 2000, JMU again honored Klaes-Bawcombe as one of the top 50 athletes in the history of the university. Coach K-B is known as a player’s coach because of her successes on the field, her ability to relate to young lacrosse minds, and for her passion and enjoyment of the game. It is from this enjoyment that she derives her consumate professionalism.
Klaes-Bawcombe holds a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with a concentration in Exercise Science from JMU, where she was a Dean’s List student and CAA Scholar Athlete. She holds a Masters of Science in Physical Education from Hofstra.
