GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Joelle-Sara Prata has been promoted to interim head coach of the Tusculum University women's lacrosse program announced TU vice president for athletics Doug Jones.

Prata served as graduate assistant coach during the 2017-18 academic year for former head coach Jenna Handshoe, who stepped down last month to accept a similar position at NCAA Division I Presbyterian College.

In 2018, Prata helped the Pioneers to finish in the top half of the South Atlantic Conference standings with a fourth-place finish and a berth to the SAC postseason.  TU led the conference in shots on goal percentage (.826) and finished second in shooting percentage (.465). The Pioneers also finished third in clears (253).

"We feel Joelle has a very bright future and we look forward to seeing how our team progresses under her leadership," said Jones.

Prata helped mentor three All-South Atlantic Conference honorees in Madison Malone, Juliette Cusano and Rachel Holmes.

"I feel blessed with the opportunity to continue working with such a strong group of student-athletes and a supportive coaching staff here at Tusculum," Prata said.  "I'm eager to continue my collegiate coaching career with a well-respected women's lacrosse program."

The New Bedford, Massachusetts native played her collegiate career at St. Andrews University where she served as team captain in her second of two seasons at the Laurinburg, North Carolina school.  She finished her playing career at NCAA Division II Lees-McRae College where she played in 32 games with the Bobcats in Banner Elk, North Carolina.  She totaled 64 ground balls, 23 caused turnovers and won 32 draw controls.  She was also named to the Conference Carolinas Presidential Honor Roll.

She graduated from Lees-McRae in 2017 with a bachelor's of arts degree in psychology where she was a member of the National College Athlete Honor Society.