Ann Jennings, who put together one of the top girls lacrosse programs in North Jersey during her 16 seasons at Montclair, has announced that she is retiring from directing Mountie laxladies. (Photos by Scott Kennedy)

Longtime assistant Susan Murnick (standing, left) and veteran head coach Ann Jennings (right) talk to Montclair girls lacrosse team during a timeout.

MONTCLAIR- One of the most consistently successful girls lacrosse coaches in Essex County has decided to step aside as Ann Jennings has decided to retire from her post at Montclair after 16 seasons at the helm of her high school alma mater where she once excelled as a scholastic player.

Also stepping aside now is popular, longtime assistant coach Susan Murnick, also a former Mountie standout, who coached for all 16 years and also two years prior to Jennings’ arrival back on the scene at MHS, having worked as a freshman, jayvee and – for the last 10 years- as her friend and colleague’s proverbial ‘right-hand’ as part of the braintrust with the varsity squad.

Jennings was also the head coach at Montclair Kimberley Academy for six seasons prior to returning to her alma mater. 

“There is never an easy way to step back from the game you love,” said Jennings, a 1986 graduate of MHS who also played collegiately at the University of Massachusetts. “And, there is never a right time to say goodbye. Each year is a new team, new faces and new bonds that you create with your players.

“No matter when or who you say goodbye to, it will always be difficult.”
Jennings had directed the Mountie laxladies to seven straight winning seasons until this spring’s 8-13 rebuilding campaign; however, the team was still highly competitive in the county giving crosstown neighbor Montclair Kimberley Academy all it could handle before dropping a 7-6 decision to the Cougars in this past season’s Essex County Tournament semifinals.

Two of her best teams in recent seasons were the 2014 squad which finished 17-2 and the 2015 edition that went 18-5.

“During my coaching career at MHS I am proud hat we won a Group 4 state sectional title, an Essex County Tournament crown, have finished as the runner up in the ECT six times and have reached four Group 4 state sectional finals and five group sectional semifinals.”

Jennings has coached six Essex County scholar-athletes, three NJSIAA scholar-athletes, four scholastic All-Americans and 49 Academic All-Americans.

“I am honored to have served on many coaching committees, helped to serve the NJSIAA, coach the Under Armour NJ Underclassmen and have been the NJ North All-American chairperson.”   

Jennings, who was Ann King as a scholastic standout at MHS, playing field hockey for coach Louise Bellace and lacrosse for coach Hope Kerr, is married to Shawn Jennings, a former Mountie standout basketball player. Among the Jennings children are daughters Kayla and Jillian who were scholastic standouts in both lacrosse and soccer at MHS and have since enjoyed splendid college women’s soccer careers at Boston College.   

“I am proud to have played at Montclair and to have given back to the program, school and community” Jennings continued. “With an amazing staff and support system we have been able to build upon an existing program and bring it to a higher level.

“I initiated the re-establishment of the Montclair Youth Lacrosse League which currently has over 200 girls in the program, and was founder of the ‘On The Ball Lacrosse Camp’ which ran for 13 years.”

Most of all, the longtime Mountie girls lacrosse mentor will treasure the memories of so many terrific young ladies who she coached through the years.

“It has been my pleasure to have coached so many young women who have touched my life and I can only hope that I have made a difference in theirs,” she said. “I am grateful for all the relationships and people I have met along the way; coaches, players, parents, officials, athletic directors, and administrators. I am thankful for all of my staff over the years, for the mentors who have helped me in these 22 years, and - most of all - I am grateful for the love and support of my husband, children and family. 

“Montclair lacrosse will always be a part of me and I look forward to taking part in the search for a new coach. It is my intention to make it an easy transition for the program and the players.”  

Follow Steve Tober on Twitter @Chattermeister

Ann Jennings (left) and Susan Murnick were the 'braintrust' of Mountie girls lacrosse for the past 16 seasons together while guiding solid teams.

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