Ciara Thurlow, Co-Head Coach

Mackenzie Kirkup, Co-Head Coach

About Ciara Thurlow

GFA girls lacrosse co-head coach Ciara Thurlow is starting her sixth year with the program, winning the FAA tournament championship last year. Her 2019 team finished as the runners-up as did the 2021 squad.

In addition to coaching at GFA, Thurlow is the vice president of Darien Youth Lacrosse, where she serves as the head coach for Darien's U14 Team, which has won seven of the last eight CONNY Championships. 

Formerly the co-head coach at Wilton High School (2002–10), Thurlow helped lead the Warriors to four FCIAC championships and a pair of Connecticut state championships.

In 2006, she was named the Connecticut Coach of the Year, and three years later, she was inducted into the Wilton High Athletics Hall of Fame.

In 2013, Thurlow was honored as a YMCA Woman of Distinction.

Thurlow, who is co-founder of Triple Threat lacrosse, was a four-year letter winner at Villanova University.

About Mackenzie Kirkup

Co-Head Coach Mackenzie Kirkup joined GFA in 2019 and is the Assistant Director of Admission. She coaches both the Women's Varsity Lacrosse team and Middle School Lacrosse programs. She also has coached club locally for Sound Lacrosse. 

Coach Kirkup played Division I lacrosse at High Point University where she was the two-time Big South Offensive Player of the Year and a three-time All-Big South 1st Team selection. She is also High Point’s current leader in career assists and career points.

Upon graduation, Mackenzie lived in Dallas, Texas where she coached at Highland Park as the Assistant Varsity, Head JV and Head 7th/8th Grade Coach for three seasons, while also working full-time as the Admission Coordinator at The Episcopal School of Dallas. Kirkup and her husband moved back east in 2017 and have two beautiful daughters.