CLINTON, S.C. – Presbyterian College Director of Athletics Dr. William B. “Bee” Carlton announced the hiring of Kristina Llanes on Monday as PC’s women’s lacrosse head coach.

Llanes replaces interim head coach Mike Smith, who currently serves as an Associate Athletic Director at PC. Smith guided the Blue Hose to a .500 record in 2008.

Mike Smith took over the program from Stephanie Allen, who led the Blue Hose through their first two varsity seasons in 2006 and 2007.

“Coach Kristina Llanes is an outstanding addition to our women's lacrosse program,” noted Dr. Carlton. “She brings experience and energy to the program and I am confident she will build an excellent program at PC. Her broad connections in women's lacrosse will contribute to her ability to recruiting outstanding student-athletes. Women's lacrosse is a rapidly growing sport and Coach Llanes' skill and experience will help PC continue to lead the growth of the sport in the southeast.”

Llanes joins the Blue Hose athletic department after three seasons as head coach at NCAA Division III Maritime College in Throgs Neck, N.Y. Llanes was the first head coach in Maritime’s women’s lacrosse history.

After two years as a club program the 2008 season was the first year as a varsity program for Maritime. The Privateers competed in the Skyline Conference.

Llanes led the Privateers to their first ever varsity victory in 2008 with an 18-5 home win over Pine Manor College on March 17.

Maritime was awarded the Skyline Conference’s Sportsmanship Award in its first full season in the league in 2008.

Llanes took over the Maritime program after a stint as the assistant women’s lacrosse coach at Averett University in Danville, Va. During her time at Averett she also served as the assistant boy’s varsity lacrosse coach at Hargrave Military Academy.

A native of Tracys Landing, N.Y., Llanes earned a Bachelors of Arts in Communications from Pfeiffer University in 2004. Llanes was a four-year starter for the Falcons during her four years with the program. She helped lead Pfeiffer to the Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference (CVAC) championship during her senior season in 2004.

Llanes is currently finishing up her Masters in Sports Management/Sports Administration from the United States Sports Academy.

“I am extremely excited to become a part of the Presbyterian College community and to also continue the growth of the women's lacrosse program at PC,” remarked Llanes. “I want to continue the strong recruiting efforts Coach Smith has implemented and spread the message that there is competitive lacrosse at PC and in the south.”

Llanes will be joined at PC by her assistant from Maritime. Kathleen Macari served in the 2007-08 school year as Llanes’ assistant.

Macari joined the Maritime women’s lacrosse program as an assistant coach after four years as a member of Ohio University’s women’s lacrosse program. During her time at Ohio, Macari was named to the 2005-06 American Lacrosse Conference Academic All-Conference squad.

A native of Huntington, N.Y., Macari graduated in June of 2007 from Ohio University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education.