Jason Childs enters his fourth season as head coach of Shorter University's men's lacrosse program, ready to help the Hawks transition from the NAIA ranks into a successful NCAA Division II program. He was named Shorter's second men's lacrosse head coach on July 11, 2012.
During his first season at the helm of the men's lacrosse program, Childs led the team to a 7-7 record, which concluded with a five game win streak.
Childs, a native of Baltimore, Md., with previous ties to Rome, comes to Shorter from NCAA Division I Mercer University, where he spent two seasons as head coach after starting the state of Georgia’s first Division I lacrosse program in 2009.
Childs became Mercer’s first head coach for men’s lacrosse in September 2009 and led Mercer onto the field of competition for the first time in spring of 2011. Over his two seasons with Mercer, Childs built a reputation as a hard worker that worked to engage the community while building a successful program on the field.
Prior to his time at Mercer, Childs started the men’s lacrosse program at Presbyterian College in Clinton, S.C. He began his tenure with Presbyterian in 2006 and coached for three seasons, guiding the Blue Hose men’s lacrosse program’s transition from NCAA Division II to NCAA Division I status.
Prior to that, Childs was an assistant at Limestone College in Gaffney, S.C., where he was an instrumental part of the Saints highly successful program. During his two seasons, 2003 and 2004, Limestone went 24-2, winning the Deep South Conference title in 2004 and finishing second in the nation at the NCAA Division II Championships in both 2003 and 2004.
Childs is no stranger to Rome and Floyd County, having spent several years coaching on the prep level in Northwest Georgia.
Before joining the college coaching ranks, Childs was the offensive coordinator for the lacrosse team at the Darlington School from 2001-03. He taught American and British Literature and served as a resident faculty member. Childs was an assistant basketball coach, as well as middle school football coach, at Darlington, as well.
As a student-athlete, Childs was a four-year starter and two-year team captain as an attackman and midfielder at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Penn. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Studies in 2001.
Childs had a stellar playing career for the Red Devils, twice serving as the team’s captain and earning the program’s “Unsung Hero Award.” He set a school and Centennial Conference record for assists in a game with 11, while also posting the second-best single-game scoring performance of 12 points (11 assists/1 goal), on March 22, 2000 versus Susquehanna University.
Childs left Dickinson ranking fourth in career assists (64) and eighth on the school’s all-time scoring list with 108 points (44 goals/64 assists).
Childs prepped at the St. Paul School for Boys in Baltimore, Md., where he was a three-sport athlete, competing in lacrosse, soccer and basketball.
Childs is married to the former Mary Foss of Rome, Ga. The couple has three children, Elizabeth Ann, Jackson and Katy.
