BANNER ELK, N.C. – Lees-McRae College Director of Athletics Marty Favret announces the addition of 2008 alumnus Jason Levesque as the new head women's lacrosse coach for the Bobcat program. Levesque returns to Banner Elk after serving as an assistant women's lacrosse coach at Queens University of Charlotte and stints across all three NCAA Divisions.
"We were looking for experience at the college level, passion and energy as a recruiter, and familiarity with Lees-McRae and Conference Carolinas," said Favret. "Jason checked all those boxes and then some. We are thrilled to welcome him back to the Bobcat family."
At Queens, Levesque served as the offensive and recruiting coordinator for the Royals. He helped lead a first-year Division I program to a 10-8 overall record in 2023 and top four conference finishes in each of his three seasons on staff. In 2023, the Royals finished as semifinalists in the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament. In 2024 and 2025, Levesque mentored the ASUN Player of the Year while also helping several players earn All-ASUN post season accolades across his three seasons in Charlotte including five First Team, eight Second Team, and three All-Freshman Team honors.
"I am extremely thankful to President Lee King, Vice President Kevin Phillips, Director of Athletics Marty Favret as well as Assistant Director of Athletics Brad Dunn for this opportunity and their support throughout this process. Our shared visions for the program are strongly aligned and positioned firmly to elevate the Bobcats new heights. I am looking forward to working with each of them as well the current and future student athletes within the program and very much excited to be returning to Lees-McRae."
Before joining the staff at Queens, Levesque led the St. Bonaventure University women's lacrosse program for three seasons. In 2020, the Bonnies started the season 4-0, their best start since 2006, and finished the COVID shortened campaign at 5-2. Under the leadership of Levesque, two student-athletes to academic honors, one Atlantic 10 All-Rookie, one NCAA Woman of the Year nominee, and a CoSIDA Academic All-District. 109 student-athletes were named to the A10 Commissioner's Honor Roll, and 28 student-athletes earned the IWLCA Academic Honor Roll.
In August 2021, Levesque joined the Canadian Senior Women's National Team coaching staff after spending six seasons on the Canadian Senior Men's National Team coaching staff as an assistant coach. Levesque is one of only two people in the sport to have coached in the top division at both a Men's and Women's Senior World Lacrosse Championship and the only coach to have won gold medals with both men's and women's national teams at World Lacrosse events. While on staff with the Women's National Team, Levesque helped the team earn the silver medal at the 2022 World Championship as well as gold at the 2022 World Games, a precursor for the Olympics. From 2013-2018, Levesque helped guide the Canadian Men's National Team to gold at the 2014 World Championship as well as silver in 2018. In addition, Levesque was also an assistant coach with the Canadian U19 Men's team that earned a silver medal at the 2016 U19 World Championships.
At Adams State, Levesque guided the men's lacrosse program from 2014-16. Levesque coached the 2015 Western Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Co-Offensive Player of the Year as well as the 2015 Co-Longstick Midfielder of the Year. In his tenure at Adams State, he guided 11 all-conference selections and ten all-academic honors.
Prior to his tenure at Adams State, Levesque started both the men's and women's lacrosse programs at Alma College in Alma, Michigan, in 2011. He recruited and developed eight first-team selections, fourteen second-team All-MIAA selections.
After starting his coaching career with the Lees-McRae men's lacrosse program as the defensive and recruiting coordinator from 2006-08, Levesque returned to Canisius College in the same roles where he helped mentor five all-MAAC award winners and sixteen All-MAAC Academic honorees. He also developed five professional lacrosse draft picks including two first-round selections and the 2012 National Lacrosse League Rookie of the Year.
In his collegiate playing career, Levesque was a four-year starter for Canisius from 2000-04. Levesque helped the Griffs earn their first MAAC tournament berths in program history.
Levesque earned a bachelor's degree in physical education from Canisius and a bachelor's degree in sport management from Lees-McRae in 2008. He also obtained a master's degree in sport administration from Canisius in 2010. The hiring of Levesque is subject to final approval.
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