Garnet Valley Native and Former Penn State Captain Brings Nearly a Decade of Division I Coaching Experience to NXT.
NXT Lacrosse is excited to welcome Ally Heavens to its girl’s club program. A Garnet Valley, Pennsylvania native and former Penn State lacrosse captain, Heavens brings nearly a decade of Division I coaching experience to NXT, including stops at La Salle, Rutgers, and the University of Pennsylvania.
Heavens’ lacrosse roots run deep in the Philadelphia area. She starred at Garnet Valley High School, helping lead the Jaguars to a Pennsylvania state championship in 2011-'12 before continuing her playing career at Penn State University, where she served as team captain from 2012-16, including leading her team in an appearance in the final four.
Following her collegiate career, Heavens transitioned into collegiate coaching, beginning as an assistant coach alongside NXT Sports, Candace Bossell, while at La Salle University from 2016-19. She then spent six seasons at Rutgers University from 2019-25, competing in the elite conference, the Big Ten. She most recently served as an Assistant Coach and Director of Operations at the University of Pennsylvania within the prestigious Ivy League during the 2025-26 season.
Coach Heavens will bring that extensive Division I experience back to the Philadelphia lacrosse community through NXT.
“We are thrilled to have Ally join NXT,” said Candace Taglianetti Bossell, President of NXT Sports. “Her experience as a player, captain and coach at some of the top programs in the country is incredibly valuable, but just as important is her connection to the Philadelphia lacrosse community. Ally understands what it means to be an NXT player and what it takes to develop athletes at every level. I am thrilled to team up alongside Ally once again!”
For Heavens, joining NXT represents an opportunity to invest in the next generation of players in the community where her own lacrosse journey began.
Ally Heavens can be reached at aheavens@nxtsports.com.