Women's Lacrosse | 7/3/2024 2:39:00 PM
ELMIRA, NY – Elmira College Director of Athletics Rhonda Faunce announced the hiring of Cassidy Prather as head women's lacrosse coach. Prather becomes the seventh head coach in program history and will lead a Soaring Eagles program that will return to the field in the spring of 2025 after having last played in 2021.
"Cassidy is a great fit for the department," said Faunce. "She is a hard worker and ready for her own program, and it is comforting that we are providing her the resources, along with a turf field to enter back into the Empire 8 with. Being a native of Penn Yan, Cassidy is eager to return home and we are looking forward to having her on campus."
A native of Penn Yan, New York, Prather returns to New York after spending the last six months at the University of Wisconsin Stout, serving as an assistant coach of the Blue Devils' women's lacrosse program. While in Menomonie, Wisconsin, Prather implemented practice plans that focused on improving all skills, with a primary focus on goaltending. In just its second year of existence, Prather helped assist the Blue Devils to its first victory in program history in 2024, an 18-2 victory over Mount Mercy University. Wisconsin-Stout would go on to win four games during the 2024 campaign.
"I am beyond excited for this opportunity to help grow and bring back the lacrosse program here at Elmira College", said Prather. "I would like to give a big thank you to Rhonda and the athletic staff at Elmira for welcoming me into the family. I am happy to be back in New York doing what I love most and am ready to get started!"
Prior to her time at UW-Stout, Prather spent a season at her alma mater, Baldwin Wallace University as a graduate assistant under Nicholle Shoger. Serving as a student assistant during the 2022 season, Prather would return during 2023 in the graduate role. During her time with the Yellow Jackets, she was primarily responsible for coaching the defensive side, while providing feedback to all players.
A four-year starter with the Yellow Jackets (2018-21) on defense, Prather ranks 12th in program history for caused turnovers (43) and 18th in ground balls (69), while ranking within the top-20 for career games played (47).
Prather graduated from Baldwin Wallace with her bachelor's degree in Sport Management in 2021 before attaining her master's degree in Business Administration: Sport Management in 2023, also from BW.
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