Lawrentians are always busy, always moving and always seeking improvement. Athletics are no exception, with constant shifting and changes occurring in their coaching staff. Coaches across several programs have recently gone on to work in Division II and I athletics, creating new openings and opportunities for many programs.
Associate Athletic Director Michelle Detwiler leads team searches for new coaches. Photo provided by Lawrence University Athletics.
Volleyball was the first of several programs to see its former coach, Meg Gross, move onto DII coaching after one season at Lawrence University, now coaching at New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas, N.M. Jeff Van Lannen now heads the program, coming from several years of coaching as the Technical Specialist at UW–Madison and eight years as an Associate Director and Coach at Fox Cities Elite Volleyball Club. He is assisted by Reis Derousseau and Student Coach Cayden Mangal.
Women’s Swimming and Diving has recently hired new Head Coach Jody Riskowski, who is making the jump from high school to collegiate coaching after having experience as an assistant coach at the DII level. The team will have its first meet Oct. 12 at Carroll University.
Baseball’s former head coach, Chris Krepline (better known as Coach Krep), is headed to Cincinnati to be the Director of Player Development at the DI level. While at Lawrence, he saw many honors, championships and records set by players and is leaving the program in the capable hands of Interim Head Coach Trent Whitcomb alongside returning assistants.
Softball will also be seeing a new coaching staff in the 2024–25 season. Former Head Coach and Compliance Coordinator Tracy Cromer, who has led the program since 2021, will be the new Assistant Athletic Director at McKendree University, a DII program. In addition, assistant coach Emilia Keenan will be head coaching at Ripon College, with Tina Delpino serving as one of her assistants. This leaves many big shoes to fill for the pro- gram, with searches for a new head coach currently underway.
Women’s Hockey is also undergoing searches for a new head coach. Former Head Coach Kevin Dessart has joined University of Vermont Athletics after two years coaching for the Vikings’ growing program. Meanwhile, Men’s Hockey has hired new Head Coach Rylee Orr, who comes after assistant coaching at Marian University for two seasons.
Last but certainly not least, both Men’s and Women’s Lacrosse, new programs at Lawrence, have started up fall training with a brand-new team and leadership. Michael Zadroga, former head coach at Davis and Elkins College, will be the first coach of the Men’s program. Ben Morhac, who headed up Lacrosse at Notre Dame College since 2019, is the first coach in the
Women’s Lacrosse program. Change can be a scary thing, but Lawrence embraces opportunities for improvement and is excited for the opportunities it provides for incoming and outgoing staff. As Head Coach Jeff Van Lannen often says to his athletes, “the train keeps moving,” and after this uphill climb, several Vikings teams are looking at some promising upcoming seasons.