Ashley Flanigan begins her third season as the head coach for the American women's lacrosse team.

Last season, Flanigan coached the Eagles to a third place finish in the Patriot League and guided the Eagles to their fourth consecutive conference playoff appearance. Although the Eagles lost in the semifinals, several American players were rewarded for their individual accomplishments. AU had five players named to the All-Conference squad, including three First Team selections. Off the field, Flanigan had seven student-athletes named to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.

In her first season, the 2001 AU alum led the Eagles to within one goal of the squad's second consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament. Leading a squad with just 16 active players, Flanigan guided the Eagles to an 8-9 overall record and a 5-1 record in the Patriot League. Seven of the Eagles' 12 starters were named to either the PL First- or Second-Team All-Stars. In addition, 13 players were named to the PL Academic Honor Roll for maintaining grade point averages above 3.2.

Flanigan's 2004 team won the third-most games in a single season. Furthermore, the squad's 184 goals and 75 assists were second only to the 2003 team. In addition, the 160 goals the team gave up were the third-fewest in school history. The 2004 Eagles three times gave up only three goals in a game, which tied for the sixth-fewest goals allowed in a game.

Flanigan was an assistant coach the 2003 Eagles squad, which finished 11-8 and lost to Virginia in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Flanigan, a co-captain of both the lacrosse and soccer teams, is second all-time in assists for the women's lacrosse program. She is also third all-time in career goals scored and points in a career. She was named to the All-Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) First Team in 2000 and Second Team in 2001 while leading the team in scoring both seasons. Flanigan was also named to the CAA All-Tournament Team in 2000. In 2001, Flanigan was selected to play in the North-South game, an all-star game for seniors.

One of only three women in AU history to score 100 goals in women's lacrosse, Flanigan holds the school record for free position shots in a career. She was invited to the U.S. Women's National Team Lacrosse tryouts in 2000.

A member of the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll in women's soccer, Flanigan graduated in the winter of 2001 with a degree in public communications. A native of Glastonbury, Conn., Flanigan currently resides in Washington, D.C.