Dingler Named Manhattan Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach
Riverdale, NY – Manhattan College Director of Intercollegiate Athletics
Marianne Reilly has tabbed
Jenna Dingler as the next head coach of the women's lacrosse program.
"Our program took a huge step forward last year, and we believe that Jenna is the right person to keep the momentum going," said Reilly. "Jenna is a promising young coach in women's lacrosse, who is aligned with our goals, mission and values."
Dingler, a Turnersville, NJ native, has spent the last two seasons as the head coach at Division II Caldwell College. During her time there, she oversaw the development of four All-Central Atlantic Athletic Conference (CAAC) selections.
"It is a true honor and privilege to be named the head women's lacrosse coach at Manhattan College," said Dingler. "I felt the support for this program, as well as the focus on the student-athlete experience, the second I stepped on campus. I am extremely excited to start working with this outstanding and dedicated group of young women, and I'm eager to share my passion for this game and continue the success of the program."
This past year, junior midfielder Arden Kassaleh cracked the 200-goal plateau under Dingler's mentorship, en route to earning ECAC Offensive Player of the Year honors. Kassaleh was also Caldwell's first All-Region individual honoree, and was selected to the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Atlantic Region Second Team.
In Dingler's first season, the Cougars advanced to the CAAC Final Four for the first time in program history, while midfielder Rachel Lucia was tabbed as the ECAC Defensive Player of the Year. Lucia was also a standout off the field and was cited as Caldwell's NCAA Woman of the Year nominee this past July.
Dingler, who also was the director of recreation at Caldwell, took over the reins of the Cougars after serving as an assistant coach in 2017. This past year, she served as the director of Evolution Girls Lacrosse Academy, and previously was the head coach of the South Jersey Devils.
A four-year standout at Lock Haven University, Dingler totaled 102 points in four seasons with 89 goals. As a junior, she was named an IWLCA First Team All-American selection and helped lead the Bald Eagles to back-to-back NCAA Division II Championship game appearances and a pair of PSAC titles.
Dingler graduated with a degree in recreation management, before earning her master's degree in exercise science with a concentration in sports administration and coaching from Montclair State University.
"I want to thank
Marianne Reilly,
Kathryn Mirance and the rest of the search committee for believing in me to lead this program to success," Dingler noted. "Manhattan College is something extraordinary, and I am so humbled to be a Jasper."