Syracuse chose Katrina Dowd as an assistant women’s lacrosse coach. Dowd served as a volunteer assistant at Denver last season. She recently finished her playing career at Northwestern, winning three consecutive national championships.

Other transactions

Athletics directors – Wesleyan (Connecticut) director of athletics John Biddiscombe is retiring at the end of this academic year. Biddiscombe has been with the institution for 37 years as both a coach and administrator.

Associate athletics directors – Detroit appointed Jason Horn associate athletic director for external affairs. Horn comes from Northwestern State, where he was assistant AD for marketing and promotions.

Assistant athletics directors – Stephanie Metz was elevated to assistant athletics director for compliance and student-athlete services at Western Oregon.

Coaches

Women’s basketball – Maryland extended the contract of head women’s basketball coach Brenda Freese through June 2017. Freese is entering her 10th year with the program, winning a national title in 2006.

Football – Virginia Tech head football coach Frank Beamer signed a new contract that will keep him with the Hokies through 2016. Beamer is entering his 25th season at the Helm.

Men’s and women’s lacrosse – Union (New York) promoted Tucker Kear to associate head coach. Next season will be Kear’s sixth with the program and his fifth as a full-time coach.

Men’s and women’s swimming and diving – Pace named Sean Raffile head swimming and diving coach. Raffile was an assistant coach at Merchant Marine for the past two seasons.

Staff

Business operations – Western Oregon hired Gonzo Grasis as director of business operations for athletics. Grasis takes over for Konnie Sayers, who went to work in the College of Education after spending the past 16 years as the director of athletics business affairs.

Development – Western Oregon tabbed Michael Feuling as its director of athletics development and sales.

Facilities – Jami Strinz is Western Oregon’s new director of athletics facilities.

Sports performance – Western Oregon named Cori Metzgar-Deacon director of sports performance.

Conferences

The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association will add men’s and women’s lacrosse as championship sports beginning with the 2012-13 season.

Send announcements – including hirings, contract extensions, retirements, milestones and deaths – to transactions@ncaa.org.