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Carly Normandeau Finds Similar Purpose In Her Two Passions: D1 Training & Coaching Lacrosse | D1 Daily

May 8, 2025 / Author: D1 Training
Carly Normandeau

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Carly Normandeau’s journey in athletics has come full circle. A 2011 graduate of the University of the South (Sewanee), she returned to her alma mater last year as an assistant women’s lacrosse coach and has helped the team to a historic year in her second season with a whistle. But Carly’s story goes far beyond the field—she also serves as a field support administrator for D1 Training, bringing her passion for discipline, development, and leadership to both roles.

As a former dual-sport athlete in lacrosse and field hockey at Sewanee, Carly understands firsthand the transformative power of collegiate athletics. She brings that same energy and commitment to the student-athletes she now mentors. “I love providing young women with the knowledge, passion, and love I have for lacrosse,” says Carly, who also coached high school lacrosse in Tennessee before joining Sewanee. “My goal is to motivate them to work hard and be multi-faceted people who can do hard things.”

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Carly (left) with Sewanee women's lacrosse head coach Michelle Dombrowski. (Courtesy photo)

Her influence has helped spark an unforgettable season for Sewanee women’s lacrosse. In 2025, the team accomplished a historic run: an undefeated regular season, regular season Southern Athletic Association champions, SAA conference champions, and SAA Coaching Staff of the Year honors. For the first time ever, Sewanee will host the first and second rounds of the NCAA Division III Women’s Tournament, which begins this weekend. This marks just the third NCAA appearance in program history, with the first coming during Carly’s senior year in 2011 when Sewanee won the conference title for the first time.

Carly’s coaching philosophy is deeply influenced by her work with D1 Training. Since joining D1 in 2016 as a front desk team member at the Cool Springs location, she has worn many hats—rising through the ranks, helping launch the Field Support program, working in development, and now supporting franchisees, general managers, and staff across the country. She’s passionate about D1’s mission and often finds herself weaving the company’s values into her coaching. “There are so many similarities between Sewanee and D1,” Carly says. “This season, our focus was discipline—a D1 Character Word—and I find myself sharing D1’s mission and values with my team daily.”

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Carly (second from right) at 2024 D1 Coach Summit in New Orleans with D1 VP Operations Austin Clark, D1 Coralville Owner Lisa Lepic and Director of Franchise Development Chad Barribeau. (Courtesy photo)

Now 35, Carly lives outside of Nashville with her husband and still enjoys regular workouts at the original D1 Cool Springs facility. Whether she’s in the gym or on the sidelines, Carly is driven by a singular purpose: to uplift, empower, and challenge the next generation of student-athletes.


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D1 Daily is written and produced by Dom Bonvissuto

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