Meet Lyndsey Boswell – Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach at High Point University
Lyndsey Boswell, Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach at High Point University and the winningest coach in Big South Conference history, joins host Jennifer Busco on Oui Talk Raw for a powerful conversation on leadership, pressure, and personal growth.
Leading Under Pressure & Building a Championship Program | Oui Talk Raw
About Me – Lyndsey Boswell
Lyndsey Boswell was hired in 2009 as High Point University’s first women’s lacrosse head coach and has been the architect of the Panthers’ swift rise to a championship-winning league power.
Under Boswell’s tutelage, the Panthers have compiled a 176-94 (.652) record, including a 80-9 mark (.899) in Big South regular-season play and 19-6 (.760) in tournament play. Boswell has been named the conference coach of the year seven times in her career (2014, 2016-18, 2021-22, 2024), including six out of the last nine seasons in the Big South.
Boswell has led the Panthers to 13 conference championships and five straight in the program’s first 11 seasons (2011-14, 2017-19, 2021-22) and guided HPU to six NCAA Tournament appearances in 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2021.
In 2021, Boswell led HPU to a 10-9 overall record while going 8-1 in the Big South. The Panthers appeared in their sixth NCAA Tournament in 2021 as HPU swept the regular season and tournament championships in the Big South for the fourth-straight season.
Coach Boswell is the winningest coach in the Big South Conference with 176 wins. She has the most Big South Tournament titles and NCAA Tournament appearances among active BSC head coaches.
HPU extended its conference unbeaten streak to 26 games in 2019, en route to its third straight Big South regular season and tournament championships. From 2017-2019, the Panthers went 48-12 and undefeated against conference competition on the way to Big South regular season and tournament championships in all three seasons. The 2017 season also featured the first-ever HPU win of any sport in the NCAA Tournament, a 21-15 victory over No. 18 Towson.
In 2018, Boswell guided the Panthers to a school-record 17 wins, including a school-record tying 16 consecutive wins. During the season, the Panthers were tabbed as high at 16th in the national rankings, the best mark of any HPU program.
The Panthers appeared in the NCAA Tournament in 2013 and 2014. The 2013 season was the first for women’s lacrosse in the Big South Conference and marked the first time HPU was playing for an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament. HPU went 6-1 in league play, earning the No. 2 seed to the Big South Tournament, where the High Point beat Davidson in the championship game. Heading into the NCAA Tournament, High Point had a 14-5 record in 2014 and won the Big South regular season with a 7-0 mark.
The Panthers won 15 games in their first season of 2011, a record for a first-year Div. I program, then won 15 games again in 2012. In 2012, the Panthers went 15-4 while beating both Navy and Oregon, which won their respective conferences. The Panthers won the NLC regular season with a 7-0 record. During the program’s first season in 2011, The Panthers won the National Lacrosse Conference (NLC) Tournament, defeating top-seed Jacksonville in overtime in the championship game.
Boswell came to High Point after three seasons as head coach at St. Andrews University, where the Knights improved from six wins in her first season of 2007 to a program-record seven wins in 2008 and another program-record 11 wins in 2009. The Knights’ 11-8 overall record and 7-5 conference record in 2009 marked the first winning records in program history. The team advanced to the Conference Carolinas semifinals twice.
Prior to St. Andrews, Boswell spent two seasons as an assistant coach at her alma mater, Pfeiffer University, where she assisted in all aspects of the program. As a student-athlete at Pfeiffer from 2000-04, Boswell was a two-time IWLCA first-team All-American, four-time womenslacrosse.com All-American and was Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference Player of the Year in 2004. She led the nation in points and goals per game in 2002 and, over her four seasons, garnered National Player of the Week honors six times and was a three-time All-Region selection. As a team captain, Boswell helped lead Pfeiffer to a CVAC Championship in 2004 and set the program records in points, goals, and assists. She was named Pfeiffer Athlete of the Year twice.
Boswell is the founder and director of All-Star Lax Camps, which holds camps year-round in North Carolina, Maryland, and New York. Boswell earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Services at Pfeiffer in 2005.
She and her husband, Jeff, reside in High Point with their two daughters, Trese and Carmela, and her three step-children, Paxton, Aimery, and Karstin.
From Player to Winningest Coach in Big South History
Lyndsey Boswell’s coaching journey began shortly after her college career at Pfeiffer University, where she played under the guidance of her former coach. She then spent three formative years coaching at St. Andrews University before joining High Point University. At just 26, she became the youngest Division I head coach and launched the women’s lacrosse program at High Point in 2009. Over the past 17 years, Lyndsey has transformed the Panthers into a powerhouse program, securing multiple NCAA Tournament appearances and top-level wins over programs like Duke, Notre Dame, Hopkins, and Virginia Tech.
Building a Championship Culture at HPU
Lyndsey has cultivated a culture of excellence that extends beyond the scoreboard. Through consistency, discipline, and a commitment to personal and team growth, she has built a program defined by championship success, including 13 conference titles and six NCAA Tournament appearances. Her leadership fosters a family-like environment, where players support each other on and off the field, creating a foundation for both athletic and personal development.
Leading Under Pressure: Insights from Coach Boswell
How Lyndsey Regulates Herself When the Stakes Are High
For Lyndsey, authentic leadership means maintaining composure under pressure. She approaches high-stakes moments with clear communication, discipline, and self-regulation rather than yelling or intimidation. Visualization, breath work, and a shared “green zone” language help her stay present, setting an example for her team to follow during intense moments.
Breaking Personal Patterns to Step Into Leadership
Over time, Lyndsey has learned to break personal patterns that once limited her leadership potential. By embracing authenticity, accountability, and vulnerability, she has grown into a coach who inspires trust and motivates her players to rise to their highest potential. Her journey reflects continuous self-reflection and a commitment to evolving as a leader.
The Skills That Matter Beyond the Stat Sheet
Leadership Lessons That Don’t Appear in the Box Score
Many of the skills that define Lyndsey’s impact are invisible in traditional statistics. She emphasizes mental toughness, accountability, resilience, and teamwork, shaping athletes who can navigate challenges on and off the field. Her guidance equips players with life lessons that last far beyond their collegiate careers.
Coaching Philosophies That Drive Team Success
Lyndsey’s coaching philosophy integrates mental and physical performance. Recovery practices like ice baths, stretching, and massages support wellness, while mental playbooks teach her team how to reset quickly after mistakes. By balancing discipline with support, she fosters a team that thrives under pressure and remains unified through adversity.
Reflections on Growth and Changing Priorities
What Matters Less Now — And Why
While wins are important, Lyndsey’s priorities have evolved. Today, her focus lies in the lasting impact she has on her players’ lives. Teaching life skills such as grit, teamwork, and accountability has taken center stage, reflecting a broader purpose beyond the scoreboard.
The Role of Resilience and Adaptability in Sports and Life
Personal challenges, including the loss of loved ones and her battle with stage-three cancer, have strengthened Lyndsey’s empathy and reinforced her dedication as a mentor. She encourages her players to embrace resilience and adaptability, lessons that serve them in sports, academics, and life.
Lyndsey Boswell’s Legacy & Impact
Championship Highlights and NCAA Appearances
Lyndsey’s tenure at High Point University is marked by a historic record of success, including 13 conference championships and six NCAA Tournament appearances. She is the winningest coach in Big South history, with a reputation for building competitive, disciplined, and resilient teams.
All-Star Lax Camps and Mentorship Beyond the Field
Beyond collegiate lacrosse, Lyndsey is the founder and director of All-Star Lax Camps, mentoring young athletes across North Carolina, Maryland, and New York. Her legacy is defined not only by victories but by the life lessons and guidance she provides, fostering future leaders both on and off the field.
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