Sharn Muffett joined the USF women’s lacrosse staff in July of 2023, after completing her post-graduate studies and athletic eligibility at Queens University of Charlotte. Muffett’s journey in lacrosse began at an early age, rising from her humble beginnings playing for the Wanneroo-Joondalup Lacrosse Club in Western Australia to competing collegiately at the Division I level in the United States. Her passion for the sport has driven her to achieve remarkable success on the lacrosse field, grow her knowledge of the game, and help other team members reach their athletic and personal goals.
During high school, Muffett emerged as a force to be reckoned with on the lacrosse field. Muffett represented Western Australia at the U15, U18, and Senior levels garnering accolades such as MVP honors and earning her spot as a 3x All-Star team goalkeeper. During her senior year, Muffett was recognized as the U18 Tournament MVP leading her team to a National Championship in 2016. She participated in lacrosse with enthusiasm, with her talent and dedication to the sport leading to a unique opportunity to represent her country in the FIL Rathbones U19 Women’s Lacrosse World Cup in 2015, where she proudly donned the Australian jersey alongside her future Jacksonville University teammate Ashtyn Hiron.
Before joining USF, Muffett began her college career as a player under the leadership of current USF coaching staff, Mindy McCord, Paul McCord, and Brittney Orashen. During Muffett’s time at JU, the team achieved four ASUN Championships, three NCAA First Round appearances, and an NCAA Second-Round appearance in 2021. As a freshman in 2018, Muffett faced a setback due to injury but remained resilient. In 2019, she truly found her stride, showcasing her goalkeeping skills in 14 games throughout the season. One of her standout performances came in a game against Michigan on May 10, recording eight saves and earning commendable praise despite the nine goals allowed. Muffett was also recognized for her contribution to JU’s program earning the program's Unsung Hero award for her efforts. The following year, in 2020, Muffett demonstrated her resilience once again when the worldwide Coronavirus outbreak impacted the season. Despite the adversity, she managed to participate in a couple of games, where she recorded five saves during the ASUN opener against Stetson on March 1. As a senior in 2021, Muffett again suffered from injury but found additional ways to contribute to the team’s success which grew her aspiration of coaching.
Between each off-season, Muffett would return home to Australia and assist her local club, Wanneroo-Joondalup Lacrosse Club as both a player and coach. Muffett sought to give back to the lacrosse community as a development officer and coach in the hope of continuing the growth of lacrosse in Australia. During this time, Muffett introduced many new youth players to the sport and was able to recruit members to her local club. As a Division II coach, Muffett’s team won back-to-back championships in 2019 and 2020.
Post-undergrad, Muffett finished out her athletic eligibility at Queens University of Charlotte, North Carolina. In 2022, Muffett took on a more significant role in the team, playing in 18 games and starting in nine. She recorded 60 saves and tallied 18 ground balls, demonstrating her versatility and athleticism on the field. Completing the regular season as SAC Conference champions, the undefeated Royals would go on to make an NCAA Division II Final Four appearance, where Muffett’s performance earned her recognition on the national stage being selected as the Final Four All-Tournament Team Goalkeeper for 2022.
The pinnacle of her college career came in the 2023 season when the Queens University of Charlotte Royals moved to the ASUN Conference to compete in Division I. Muffett competed in 17 games, amassing 99 saves, tallying 18 ground balls, and 6 caused turnovers. It was during this season that Muffett recorded her 100th career save at Queens, a testament to her consistency and skill as a goalkeeper. Her performances in the 2023 season also earned her national recognition, as she ranked among the top three players nationally in save percentage and GAA.
Off the field, Muffett is an aspiring communicator and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications at JU in 2021. Muffett whilst attending JU, additionally minored in graphic design and marketing as well as earned a Certificate of Strategic Social Media. Graduating with a 3.838 GPA Muffett was the Student of the Year recipient for both the Department of Communications and Division of Humanities in 2021. Muffett subsequently earned a Master of Arts in Strategic Communications at Queens University of Charlotte in 2023.
With her impressive achievements and unwavering commitment to the sport, Muffett has undoubtedly carved a path of excellence in women’s lacrosse. Her journey serves as an inspiration to aspiring athletes, and she continues to strive for greatness and build a legacy at USF that will be celebrated for years to come.
