Lake Forest women's coach Jackie Slaats has announced to her team that this will be her last season as head coach. Slaats will continue as the athletic director and assume new responsibilities as senior advisor to the president while conducting a national search for her replacement.

The Foresters are 373-130 in Slaats' 22nd year as head coach and she entered the season 20th in Division III history with a .739 career winning percentage. Slaats has led the team to Midwest Conference championships in 1992, 1994, 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2007. Slaats served as the school's volleyball coach and posted a six-year record of 100-84.

Lake Forest currently owns an 8-1 record on the heels of the most successful year in team history. The 2006-07 Foresters won a school record 24 games against just three losses, claimed the program's sixth Midwest Conference championship, and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

"This was obviously an extremely difficult and emotional decision," Slaats said. "I can't begin to describe how enjoyable and rewarding coaching has been over the last 22 years. I also relish my role as athletic director and look forward to the new opportunities. ... The growing demands of my current positions, along with the exciting prospect of fundraising and building new recreation and athletic facilities that will benefit the entire Lake Forest College community, made the timing right for this decision."