Lake Forest College Director of Athletics Nicki Pieart announced Friday the hiring of Casey Ryan as Forester Head Women's Lacrosse Coach. She takes over a team coming off the first conference tournament title and NCAA Tournament appearance in program history.
Ryan comes to the College after five years as an assistant coach at the collegiate level. She spent the last two seasons at NCAA Division I University of Akron, where she led the program's recruiting efforts and served as defensive coordinator for the Zips program that began play in 2019-20. She was also instrumental in planning team practices and individual training sessions, scouted opponents, coordinated academic advisement for 35 student-athletes, and assisted in the management of day-to-day team operations. Ryan spent the previous three seasons as the defensive coordinator at Division III Wittenberg University, where she had a similar set of responsibilities on the staff and also earned a master's degree in coaching and sports administration.
Her coaching experience also includes several seasons at the club level in Ohio, Illinois, and Wisconsin.
Ryan graduated in 2018 with a bachelor's degree in psychology from Beloit College, which like Lake Forest, is a member of the Associated Colleges of the Midwest. She played four years for the Buccaneers and was a Second Team All-Midwest Women's Lacrosse Conference selection as a junior. The two-year captain still ranks among the top five in program history with 101 ground balls and 60 caused turnovers during her career. She is also a graduate of nearby Libertyville High School, where she was a dual sport athlete, playing lacrosse and running cross country.
"I am thrilled to be selected as the next head women's lacrosse coach at Lake Forest College," began Ryan. "I want to thank Director of Athletics Nicki Pieart for giving me this opportunity. Lake Forest is a beautiful community and I am proud to now be a part of it. I look forward to working with the student-athletes to foster excellence on the field and in the classroom. I am excited to begin working with the team and for us to continue growing the program together."
"Over the past two years, we have laid a strong foundation within the women's lacrosse program and I am excited for Coach Ryan to begin her tenure and build upon that success," commented Pieart. "She has incredible passion for the sport and brings a tremendous amount of energy and enthusiasm to the position. Her previous experience in recruiting, player development, and student-athlete support will prove instrumental in enhancing our Tradition of Excellence."
