Rachel Cibulas Named Women's Lacrosse Head Coach

ADRIAN, Mich. - The Adrian College athletic department welcomes the addition of Rachel Cibulas as the head coach of the women's lacrosse program. The program had been under the direction of John Sung for the first four years of existance. Sung accepted a position as head coach at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C. and will field a team for the first time during the spring of 2013.

Cibulas is no stranger to Adrian College as she served as assistant coach during the first year of the program's existance in 2008. The Bulldogs compiled a 6-7 record during that season and Cibulas was largely responsible for recruiting one of the largest and most talented classes in NCAA Division III along with Sung.

"I'm very excited about coming back to Adrian College," said Cibulas. "I know that the program has been successful over the past four years and I have a lot of respect for Adrian College as a great academic and athletic institution. I want the program to continue to climb each year and build upon making the NCAA Tournament last season. The team has a lot of talent returning and they have a great deal of experience. I can't wait to get started."

Cibulas gained valuable experience during the 2011 season as the head coach at NCAA Division II Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, N.C. Lenoir-Rhyne compiled a 6-10 record in their first year as a program under Cibulas. She was in charge of all facets of the program.

"I gained great experience being at a Division II school during my year at Lenoir-Rhyne," said Cibulas. "I've now been able to observe coaches and their styles at all three NCAA levels. It has really helped me become a real teacher of the game."

The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania native coached a pair of teams in her hometown as assistant coach at Bethel Park High School in 2010 and as head coach of the Intrepid Girls Lacrosse Club from May 2009 to August 2010. While at Bethel Park, Cibulas helped the team to a four-win improvement going 10-6 in 2010. The squad also made its first-ever WPIAL playoff appearance and Cibulas coached three all-sectional players.

"We are thrilled to have Rachel back at Adrian College," said athletic director Mike Duffy. "She has learned a lot from her experiences over the past few years and she is ready to guide our women's lacrosse program in the future. She is a hard-working person who will demand excellence on the field and in the classroom."

Cibulas joined Slippery Rock University in June 2008 after leaving the Bulldog program. She was in charge of goalkeeping and defensive units for The Rock and coached two all-league student athletes.

Cibulas played collegiately at Robert Morris University (Pa.) and was a letterwinner for the Colonials for three years. She was named team captain for both the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons and was the first female player to sign a National Letter of Intent for the Colonial lacrosse program.

She graduated from Robert Morris University in May 2007 with a bachelor of science in business administation. She completed her master of science in sport management from Slippery Rock University in May 2010.