BEREA, Ohio – Baldwin Wallace University Women's Lacrosse Head Coach Nicholle St. Pierre has announced that Heather Coppola has joined her coaching staff as an assistant coach for the 2020 season.
"I am excited to announce the hire of Heather Coppola to Baldwin Wallace University and our lacrosse program," St. Pierre began. "The opportunity to bring a coach of her caliber to our program is very exciting for our athletic department, student athletes and myself. I am looking forward to getting her to campus this January and for us to build on the foundation of success we continue to grow each season."
Coppola comes to BW following a two-year stint at NCAA Division II's Concordia University – St. Paul (Minn.). She spent her first season as a graduate assistant and offensive coordinator, before being promoted to interim head coach in May of 2018. 2019 marked her first full season as its head women's lacrosse coach, where she guided the program to its best-ever finish with a 11-7 overall record and 7-4 mark in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). The team also hosted its first playoff game and reached its first ever GLIAC Tournament semifinal. She also anticipates earning her master's degree in leadership and management, come September 2021.
"I would like to thank Coach St. Pierre and the administration at Baldwin Wallace for the incredible opportunity to work with the student-athletes at Baldwin Wallace," Coppola stated. "I'm excited to get started and work towards the goals the team has set out for the season."
Prior to her tenure at Concordia-St. Paul, Coppola also held assistant lacrosse coach positions at NCAA Division I program Robert Morris (Pa.) University for the 2017 season, NCAA Division III programs Oswego State (N.Y.) University for the 2016 season, and Allegheny (Pa.) College for the 2015 season. Coppola also held titles of operations manager at Robert Morris, and recruiting coordinator while at both Oswego State and Allegheny.
As a player, the Fulton, New York native was a four-year member of the lacrosse team at Alvernia (Pa.) University, helping guide her team to an ECAC Championship in 2012. While at Alvernia, she earned her bachelor's degree in social work, and graduated with honors.
The Yellow Jackets open the 2020 season on Wednesday, February 19, where they will host Ohio Wesleyan University for a non-conference matchup in George Finnie Stadium at 7:00 p.m.