Her Story
About Christine
Christine Halfpenny is the head women's lacrosse coach at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, a position she has held for 15 years as part of a coaching career spanning 26 years. A Virginia Tech alumna, she competed for the university's lacrosse program during its early years as a Division I team before moving directly into coaching upon graduation. Her path to leading a major collegiate program included assistant coaching stints at Brown University, a return to her alma mater Virginia Tech, and a tenure at Duke University, where she gained experience with a top-ranked team competing in ACC championship and Final Four settings.
Before arriving at Notre Dame, Halfpenny spent five years as head coach at the College of William & Mary, where she guided the program to a top-15 national ranking. Since taking the helm at Notre Dame, she has continued to build on that foundation, steering the program through an era of significant transformation in college athletics shaped by name, image, and likeness rules, the transfer portal, shifting generational expectations, and increasing business and regulatory pressures. Through it all, she has remained committed to adapting her leadership approach while pushing for greater equity for women in a field still largely dominated by men.
Beyond her coaching record, Halfpenny is recognized for her dedication to mentorship and the development of young women both on and off the field. She is an active member of We Coach, a national community that supports women coaches across sports and levels, and she credits mentors such as Muffet McGraw with shaping her guiding philosophy: standing firmly by one's convictions, choosing integrity over convenience, and empowering others to find their voice. In recognition of her contributions to collegiate athletics and her advocacy for women in leadership, Halfpenny has been selected for inclusion in Influential Women 2026.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Christine
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the mentorship and influential coaches and role models I've had throughout my career, along with the opportunities and platform that came from years of hard work and building programs from the ground up.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I've received, including from mentors like Muffet McGraw, is to be strong in my convictions, stand up for my beliefs, and always choose the harder right over the easy wrong. I've also learned the importance of valuing everyone around me, lifting others up, and creating a platform where people feel comfortable to speak.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I encourage young women entering this industry to mentor and empower one another, to fight for equity and representation, and to show courage in the face of challenges. I believe in building platforms that support and elevate other women as they grow in their careers.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The landscape of collegiate athletics is changing rapidly, with name, image, and likeness opportunities, the transfer portal, generational shifts, evolving technology, the empowerment of young people, growing business demands, and even involvement from Capitol Hill. These changes require me to be fluid, flexible, and willing to adapt my leadership style, all while continuing to fight for equity as a woman in a field that remains largely male-dominated.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Empowerment, mentorship, conviction, integrity, and teamwork are the values that matter most to me. I strive to lift up the people around me both professionally and personally, and to lead with the same principles I hope to instill in others.
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