Grove City College has hired Lafayette, N.Y., native Cassley Jackowski as its inaugural head women’s lacrosse coach. Grove City will begin intercollegiate play in women’s lacrosse in spring 2022.
Jackowski comes to Grove City after spending the last three seasons as head women’s lacrosse coach at Division III Houghton College. In 2020, Jackowski led Houghton to the best start in program history.
That strong beginning reflected a continuation of Houghton’s rise in the Empire 8 conference under Jackowski’s guidance. Houghton achieved the program’s best winning percentage and highest conference finishes with Jackowski as head coach.
“We are excited to welcome Cassley to our athletic program and the Grove City College community,” Grove City College athletic director Todd Gibson said. “She brings head coaching experience and top-level lacrosse pedigree.
“We look forward to Coach Jackowski having the opportunity to guide our transition from club to varsity lacrosse and building a Christ-centered lacrosse program that will compete for championships and strive for excellence in all that they do.”
Jackowski’s coaching career began as an assistant coach in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes women’s lacrosse program in 2016 and 2017. She worked as the FCA Club Western National Team head coach in 2018 and also as FCA Camp head coach that year.
“I am very humbled and honored about this new opportunity at Grove City College,” Jackowski said. “The Lord’s hand has led me directly here and toward this exciting new chapter in life.
“I am extremely excited to create a competitive, Christ-centered culture where we look to strive for excellence in all that we do, both athletically and academically. I feel grateful for the opportunity to instill faith and integrity in student-athletes while directing their talents and hard work toward a greater purpose.”
“I would like to thank Coach Gibson and President McNulty for their confidence and trust in choosing me to lead this new program. I am thankful for their faith and support.”
As a collegiate player, Jackowski started all four seasons at Roberts Wesleyan, a Division II program in Rochester, N.Y. She set program records by scoring 242 goals and tallying 329 points. As a senior in 2017, she led NCAA Division II with 83 goals and 118 points. She also led Division II in goals (4.61) and points (6.65) per game.
The Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) honored Jackowski as a Third Team All-American following her senior season. She also earned IWLCA Second Team All-North Region and placement on the Division II Senior All-Star Team in 2017.
She also earned All-East Coast Conference (ECC) laurels in each of her four seasons, including three First Team All-ECC honors. The ECC named Jackowski as its Rookie of the Year for the 2014 season.
Jackowski played for the FCA’s National High School team in 2012 and the FCA Women’s National Lacrosse Team in both 2014 and 2015. She served as Roberts Wesleyan FCA president during her time as a student-athlete.
“As we set out to recruit the first class of varsity lacrosse athletes, we look forward to hosting top-level high school players from across the country on our campus in the coming months,” Gibson said. “Cassley’s varied experience with the FCA lacrosse program and the northeastern United States lacrosse community will help us target the special group of student-athletes that will help build our program.”
Jackowski graduated from Roberts Wesleyan with a bachelor’s degree in physical education. She then earned her master’s degree in health, physical education and recreation from Emporia State (Kan.) in May 2019.
She is also a certified U.S. Lacrosse official.
Jackowski will begin her position August 1. Women’s lacrosse is the 23rd intercollegiate varsity sport at Grove City College.
“This is a unique opportunity to play a key role in the initiation and development of a women’s lacrosse program, as well as to actively participate in a piece of history at a well-known, successful college whose legacy rests in the Lord,” Jackowski said.
“Grove City has all of the components to be able to recruit strong student-athletes. The campus is beautiful, the athletic facilities are great and the support staff and academics are exceptional. I’m looking forward to connecting and building relationships with the athletes, coaches, faculty and community. The potential at Grove City to create a program from infancy into a program that can compete at a high level is exciting and inspiring.”
-Grove City College Sports Information