Princess L. Zabel enters her second season as the head coach of the Bates College women’s lacrosse program in 2025-26. A dynamic and accomplished leader with more than a decade of collegiate coaching experience, Zabel brings a proven track record of program development, student-athlete mentorship, and competitive success at multiple levels of NCAA lacrosse.
Zabel arrived at Bates following a successful tenure at the University of Saint Joseph (Conn.), where she guided the Blue Jays to a 12-5 overall record and a 10-1 conference mark in 2025-26, leading the program to its first conference playoff appearance since 2014. Throughout her coaching career, she has helped mentor 16 All-Conference selections and 19 All-Academic honorees, while coaching teams that earned recognition in 15 NCAA statistical categories.
Known for her emphasis on player development, team culture, and academic achievement, Zabel has built a reputation for fostering cohesive, competitive programs centered on student-athlete growth both on and off the field. Her coaching philosophy prioritizes leadership, accountability, inclusion, and creating meaningful lifelong connections within the student-athlete experience.
In addition to her collegiate coaching work, Zabel is the founder and director of Black Pirate Lacrosse, an organization established in 2019 that focuses on recruiting events, youth program consulting, and athlete performance development. She also serves as head coach of the Dominican Republic Women’s National Lacrosse Team, helping prepare the program for the PALA 2025 Games and the 2026 World Games.
Prior to Bates, Zabel held coaching positions at High Point, Sacred Heart, Bucknell, Central Connecticut State, and Villanova, gaining extensive experience in recruiting, fundraising, alumni engagement, and program administration across Division I and Division III athletics.
A 2024 inductee into the Danbury (Conn.) High School Hall of Fame, Zabel graduated from Villanova University with a bachelor’s degree in political science and a minor in sociology. A former Division I student-athlete for the Wildcats, she earned All-Big East recognition during her playing career.
