Washington and Lee University has announced the hiring of Molly McLaughlin as an assistant coach for the Generals equestrian program. McLaughlin will begin her duties on Aug. 24, 2026.
McLaughlin joins the Generals after three seasons coaching in the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA), including the past two seasons as an assistant coach at Wofford College following a season as head coach at the University of South Carolina Aiken. She reunites with Washington and Lee Head Coach Chris Mitchell, who coached McLaughlin during her collegiate riding career at Randolph College.
McLaughlin brings more than 20 years of riding experience and 15 years working in high-performance training, lesson and competition programs. Entering her fourth season coaching collegiate equestrian student-athletes, she has developed experience in rider instruction, horse selection and preparation, competition management, horse welfare and the day-to-day operations of successful equestrian programs.
At Washington and Lee, McLaughlin will assist Mitchell with all aspects of the Generals' equestrian program, including coaching and developing student-athletes for both IHSA and NCEA competition, recruiting, practice planning, horse management and competition operations.
McLaughlin also brings firsthand experience competing in the IHSA, having ridden for Mitchell at Randolph College before spending one semester competing at the University of South Carolina Aiken and returning to Randolph to complete her degree. During her collegiate riding career, she earned All-ODAC honors in 2018 after winning the IHSA Regional title in Novice Fences and helping Randolph capture its first ODAC Championship in 13 years. She followed that with an IHSA Regional Reserve Championship, an IHSA Zone 4 Championship and a sixth-place finish nationally in Limit Fences during the 2018-19 season. While competing at South Carolina Aiken during the 2021-22 season, McLaughlin added IHSA Regional and Zone championships before claiming the IHSA National Championship in Intermediate Fences.
