By BRIAN TORTELLA

Correspondent

Kingsway first-year girls lacrosse coach Suzanne Phalines had to know what she was getting herself into. 

Except — she didn’t. 

The Kingsway Regional High parent was thrust into the head coaching job of the reigning South Jersey group 4 champion after former coach Emily Wescott resigned suddenly last month. 

A West Goshen, Pa., native, Phalines played lacrosse and field hockey during her scholastic days as a 1991 graduate of West Chester East High School. She relocated to Woolwich Township in 2011, where she immediately made an early impact as a youth lacrosse coach, a position she held until 2020. She was the youth director/secretary from 2013 until she stepped down in 2020. Her eldest daughter, Haley, graduated from Kingsway in 2021 and plays collegiate lacrosse at the University of Albany. Her youngest, Ally, currently is a senior at Kingsway and is set to continue her lacrosse career at Virginia Tech.

Phalines never coached at the high school level, or higher, prior to March 14, the date the Kingsway Regional School District Board of Education approved her as coach. Just two weeks before the season, she had to prepare herself to lead a very talented group that captured its first South Jersey title last spring. 

What has made it easier for Phalines is the fact that she got to coach this same exact group of girls while they were in the youth program, including her daughter. 

“It’s always tricky when you’re a parent, because you’re trying to navigate dealing with your own child, plus the children you’ve known over the years,” she said. “Even though I was her youth coach, high school is a lot different. It was definitely hard coming in this quickly. I’ve watched a lot of high school sports, but I’ve never coached them.”

While Phalines may have been a little nervous, her daughter had all the confidence in the world that her mother would excel in her new role.

“This is definitely not what we expected,” Ally said. “See wasn’t originally planning on doing it, but she did step up to the role, and I’m so thankful that she did. I tried convincing her (at first) but I didn’t really have hope. It worked out for the better. I think she’s done such a great job so far this season and I love having her on the sideline with me.”

As you can imagine, there were limited options on such short notice. With the season rapidly approaching, Kingsway Athletic Director June Cioffi said she had to swiftly find someone qualified, and who was willing to take on the task. When she got the call from Phalines, a smile of relief immediately went to her face.

“I was excited and thankful coach Phalines was willing to step in and step up at the last minute to fill the head coach position at Kingsway,” Cioffi said. “I am glad it has been a smooth transition for her and the team so far and she is enjoying coaching so many of the girls she has known from the youth — and now being able to coach them, as well as her daughter her senior year. I look forward to what they can do this season.”

Thursday night’s home game against West Deptford was quite literally the first action Suzanne has had coaching in a high school setting. Both of Kingsway’s preseason scrimmages got canceled due to inclement weather. The Dragons opened their season with a major statement triumph over West Deptford, 19-4. Ally led the way with eight goals and three assists in the effort.

“I told the girls, (before the game), ‘today we go out there and we set the tone for the season,’” coach Phalines said. “It’s not just our season opener, but it’s the tone for the season. I told them we have to play with an underdog chip, because a lot of people think what those girls did last year was a fluke. It’s up to them to prove that it wasn’t.”

There’s never been this talented a team in Kingsway history. Despite Suzanne Phalines’ early jitters and concerns of what it would take to become a high school varsity coach, she was determined to not let this talent go to waste. Her prior knowledge and experience in the sport, as well as her bond with the girls,  made her the perfect fit to lead the Dragons.

“I would have laughed and said, ‘you are crazy. There is no way I could manage coaching a high school team.’ I retired after the youth league, and a lot of the South Jersey coaches have set the bar very high,” Phalines said when asked how she would respond if someone told her 10 months ago that she would be the head coach of her daughter’s team. 

Meet coach Suzanne Phalines — every player’s favorite mom-turned-coach.

Brian Tortella is a correspondent for South Jersey Glory Days. Follow him on X @tortreports.