Olivia Cope was named Head Coach of the women's lacrosse team in the summer of 2023. In her first two seasons, Cope has led the Knights to the USA South tournament semifinal twice, which included 10 wins in 2025. Her teams have produced 10 all-conference performers and one conference Rookie of the Year during that time.
Many athletes have excelled offensively under Cope, including Piper Searle and Kiah Biasden who became just the second and third Knights to record a sixty goal season in program history in 2024. Most recently, Makenzie Mickelsen became the first rookie to break the 50 goal barrier.
Prior to joining the Southern Virginia staff, Coach Cope built a remarkable coaching career which includes several stops at prominent schools and clubs in Utah. With over a decade of experience, Cope has made significant impacts at Pleasant Grove High School, Judge Memorial High School, Bingham High School, and Bountiful High School, where she helped developed competitive teams and fostered a passion for the sport among her athletes.
In addition high school coaching, Cope helped development young athletes in the Mamaci Club. Also, her time as an Assistant Coach at Brigham Young University allowed her to refine her coaching philosophy.
Cope's dedication to the sport extends beyond coaching, evident by her Level 2 US Lacrosse Official certification, obtained in March 2020 and maintained to this day. This certification attests to her comprehensive understanding of the game and her commitment to upholding its integrity both on and off the field.
Cope's academic background further complements her coaching expertise, earning a degree from Brigham Young University in 2012, where she was also a four-year student-athlete. As a member of the women's lacrosse team, she helped the team earn three national tournament appearances.
