Staten Island, NY –Wagner College Athletic Director Walt Hameline has announced the hiring of Karen Rife as Head Women's Lacrosse Coach today. A former-standout college lacrosse player at Syracuse University, Rife will take over the Seahawks' program after a highly successful academic and athletic coaching stint at Bryant University.

"We are extremely thrilled to have a coach with Karen's credentials join our staff here Wagner," said Hameline. "She has been a proven winner throughout her coaching career and has continually produced quality student-athletes."

Rife, who most recently headed up the women's lacrosse program at the Rhode Island institution, compiled a 32-16 record in her three seasons at the helm of the Bulldogs which also included an impressive 23-7 Northeast 10 Conference mark over that same tenure. In her first season, 2005, Rife took Bryant all the way to the conference semifinals and placed five players on the NE-10 All-Conference teams, including three first team selections.

"I would like to thank Athletic Director Walt Hameline for giving me this wonderful opportunity," said Rife. "It is exciting to be back at the Division I level and I am looking forward to becoming a member of the Wagner College family. I see a lot of potential in the program and am eager to start a great new chapter with the team this fall."

The Freeport, New York native began her collegiate coaching career as an assistant at UMASS-Amherst after graduating from Syracuse University with a bachelor's degree in African-American studies. She stayed in Amherst for two seasons (2003, 2004) before moving onto Boston where she took a position as the Assistant Program Director at MetroLacrosse, Inc., an organization that provides free lacrosse to underprivileged youth in Boston and its surrounding communities.

A high school All-American as a senior in 1997, she then moved on to play at nearby Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York. There, she would garner second team All-American honors twice while helping to lead the Orange to three NCAA Championship appearances on the heels of earning second team Big East All-Conference honors her senior season.

She now resides in Staten Island with her husband, Jason, Wagner's head men's lacrosse coach.

2007-07-17