Bryn Mawr College Head Lacrosse Coach Shannon Algeo has been selected as one of five national recipients of the Moms In Coaching Grant, provided by the Alex Morgan Foundation in partnership with WeCOACH. The $10,000 grant celebrates and supports mothers in the coaching profession, providing resources that empower them to continue thriving in their careers while balancing motherhood.
The Alex Morgan Foundation's Coaching Moms Initiative Grant was started in 2024 and is designed to provide funding for childcare, resources and community support, allowing mothers to stay in coaching, while balancing their professional and personal lives.
Algeo first learned about the grant through WeCOACH's outreach and applied on a whim, writing a short paragraph about what the support would mean to her family. A few weeks later, she was invited to what she believed was an interview—only to discover on the call that she had been selected as one of five recipients. "I was shocked," Algeo recalled. "It still doesn't feel real. One hundred dollars is a lot of money, but ten thousand dollars is life-changing for our family. I still can't even wrap my mind around it."
Algeo credits motherhood with transforming her coaching philosophy, especially in how she approaches empathy, emotional regulation, and patience. "Becoming a mom has given me a completely new perspective," she shared. "I use what I've learned with my daughters — like deep breathing, goal setting, and emotional awareness — with my athletes too. It's made me a better coach and a better listener."
Balancing motherhood and coaching is no easy task, and Algeo is the first to admit it. "It's hard. It's really hard," she said.
With two young daughters, her days often begin long before she arrives on campus. Between preparing lunches, organizing clothes, and managing the morning rush, Algeo relies on structure and her daycare community to make it all possible.
"Everyone always says you need a village—and we consider the daycare our village," she said.
Despite the challenges and occasional "mom guilt," Algeo finds strength knowing her children are happy and thriving while she continues pursuing a career she loves.
"Being able to make a difference in other people's kids' lives means a lot to me," she said. "That's not something I ever want to give up if I don't have to."
Algeo is looking forward to seeing all of the lacrosse team's hard work come to life this upcoming spring season. With the largest incoming class Algeo's had at Bryn Mawr, the group is full of positive energy.
"Especially from a few of the first years, we've found such positive feedback about how much they feel like they're growing and how much the feedback has been helping them. And that means so much to me because that's what we want. And so, we're excited to see how that comes to fruition."
