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Jack Cribbin
Jack Cribbin enters his 19th season as the head coach of Lindenwood’s women’s lacrosse program. Cribbin has led the programs historic transition from a club program to a NCAA Division II program to now a NCAA Division I program. Cribbin helped lead the program in 2021 to winning a National Championship, which is Lindenwood's first and only NCAA Team National Championship in school history in any sport. Cribbin was inducted in the St. Louis Chapter of the USA Lacrosse Hall of Fame on February 13, 2020.
Jack Cribbin Coaching Accolades:
St. Louis Chapter of USA Lacrosse Hall of Fame (2020)
NCAA National Champion Coach (2021)
Five NCAA Final Fours (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2021)
Eight Consecutive NCAA Tournament Appearances (2014-2022)
National Coach of the Year (2010, 2021)
IWLCA Regional Coach of the Year (2017 & 2021)
8X Conference Coach of the Year
In 12 years at the NCAA level, the Lions have won eight conference championships, three conference tournament titles, reached the NCAA Tournament in its first season of eligibility, has eight consecutive NCAA postseason appearances, five NCAA semifinal appearances, and finished the season nationally-ranked eight times. Cribbin has earned six conference Coach of the Year honors in those 12 seasons, was named the 2021 National IWLCA Coach of the Year and was the IWLCA South Region Coach of the Year in 2017 and 2021.
Under the direction of Cribbin, the Lindenwood women's lacrosse team finished its inaugural NCAA Division I season with a record of 8-10, including three wins in conference play. During the year, the Lions erased a pair of large deficits to defeat Central Michigan and Stetson, respectively. Logann Eldredge had an outstanding season, leading the ASUN in goals, while ranking 10th in the country overall with 68. She was one of three Lindenwood players to earn all-conference honors, joined by Lexy Biller who was a second-team selection and Elizabeth Goth who landed on the all-freshman team.
In 2022, the Lindenwood women's lacrosse team finished with a 15-5 record, including its eighth straight trip to the NCAA tournament. Under Cribbin, many individual award-winners were recognized once again. This included senior netminder Eleanor Kast, who was named the IWLCA Goalkeeper of the Year following the conclusion of the season, adding to her All-America First Team distinction. Bridget Considine also garnered IWLCA All-American honors, and four other Lions (Emma Arnold, Logann Eldredge, Alyssa Kneedler, and Kate MacDonell) were named to IWLCA All-Region teams. Cribbin also guided nine Lions to All-GLVC recognition this past spring, including Considine, Eldredge, Emma Arnold, and Alyssa Kneedler on the first team; Kast, Long, Kym Ardrey, and Paige Sutton on the second squad; and Kate McDonnell for honorable mention.
In 2021, the Lindenwood women's lacrosse team finished with a record of 17-1, capping off a historic season by winning the program's first-ever National Championship. The Lions concluded the season as the No. 1 team in the final IWLCA Coaches Poll. The list of award-winning athletes under Cribbin was lengthy, including IWLCA All-Region first-teamers Lexy Biller, Hailey Dobbins, Carly Fedorowski, Alyssa Kneedler and Erin McGuire, USA Lacrosse Magazine All-Americans Biller (first-team), then Dobbins and McGuire (second-team). Four Lions were named first-team all-GLVC Biller, Dobbins, McGuire, Kneedler), while eight more were named to other all-conference teams. Biller was also named the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player, while Dobbins, Fedorowski, McGuire and Eleanor Kast found their way onto the NCAA All-Tournament Team.
In 2020, Cribbin guided the Lions to a 9-1 start prior to the cancelling of the season due to COVID-19. The team was ranked as high as No. 3 in the IWLCA Coaches Poll and No. 1 in the Nike/US Lacrosse Magazine Poll. Several student-athletes received accolades under Cribbin, with Carly Fedorowski (GLVC Offensive Player of the Week) and Shannon Modl (GLVC Defensive Player of the Week x2) receiving weekly conference honors. Lexy Biller (IWLCA Defensive Player of the Week), Erin McGuire (IWLCA Player of the Week x2), and Modl (IWLCA Defensive Player of the Week) received IWLCA weekly honors throughout the campaign. Eleanor Kast, Emma Wildhart, Biller, Fedorowski, McGuire, and Modl were named 2020 Maverik Division II Media All-Americans for their efforts during the 2020 season.
In 2019, Lindenwood advanced to the NCAA postseason for the sixth consecutive season, and finished with an overall record of 16-3. Lindenwood began the season with 12 consecutive wins, and were ranked as high as No. 4 in the IWLCA Coaches Poll and No. 2 in the Nike/US Lacrosse Magazine Poll. The Lions advanced to the RMAC Tournament Championship game for the fifth consecutive season, ultimately falling to Regis in triple overtime. Lindenwood ranked 14th in the IWLCA Coaches Poll at the conclusion of the season.
The Lions ranked seventh in NCAA Division II in scoring defense, allowing just 7.21 goals per game. Lindenwood outscored its opponents by an average of 7.89 goals per game, the eighth-best mark in the nation.
Lindenwood boasted nine all-RMAC award winners, including three first-team selections. The Lions also claimed three IWLCA all-region performers and two IWLCA All-Americans. Morgan Reader was tabbed as a second-team All-American, while Carly Fedorowski earned third-team All-American honors.
In 2018, Lindenwood finished with a 19-1 record and advanced to the NCAA postseason for the fifth consecutive season. The Lions rattled off 19 straight wins to begin the season, and achieved the first number one ranking in the IWLCA Division II Coaches Poll in program history.
Lindenwood claimed 10 all-RMAC performers in 2018, including five first-team selections. Additionally, the Lions had seven players receive all-region recognition, and four earn All-American status. Sophie Buelow was tabbed as a first-team All-American, Allison Hurley was chosen as a second-team All-American, and Rachel Ortell and Morgan Reader were picked as third-team All-Americans.
In 2017, Lindenwood won 21 games, tying for the second-most in NCAA Division II history. The Lions had a perfect 19-0 regular season, which included wins over eight nationally-ranked teams, including No. 1 Florida Southern. Lindenwood won the RMAC Championship with a 9-0 mark.
After finishing second in the RMAC Tournament, the Lions were the top seed in the South Region. Lindenwood defeated Queens in the NCAA Division II Quarterfinals by an 11-5 score. The Lions advanced to the semifinals for the fourth straight year, before falling in final minute by one goal.
The Lions ranked in the top-10 nationally in both scoring offense and scoring defense.
Four players earned All-American honors, including first-team accolades for Erin Abbott, Rachel Benzing, and Sophie Buelow. Eight players earned all-region honors and 11 earned all-RMAC accolades. Abbott was the RMAC Defensive Player of the Year, Benzing was the RMAC Offensive Player of the Year, Rachel Ortell was the conference Goalie of the Year, and Maria Johnson was the Rookie of the Year. Cribbin was honored as the RMAC co-Coach of the Year.
Academically, Judd repeated as a NCAA Elite 90 Award winner, and was a first-team Academic All-American. Abbott and Benzing were RMAC first-team all-academic members, and ten other Lions were named to the RMAC honor roll.
Cribbin led Lindenwood to a 17-3 record in 2016 and the season ended with a third straight trip to the NCAA Division II Semifinals. Lindenwood won the RMAC with a perfect 6-0 record and it won the RMAC Tournament after a 9-8 win over Regis in the championship game. Lindenwood hosted the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament, including a 13-4 win over Queens to advance to the final site of the national tournament.
Lindenwood’s defense was one of the top stories in 2016, as the team lowered its GAA by nearly half a point. The Lions ranked sixth in NCAA Division II in scoring defense and seven in caused turnovers per game. The team still had a high-powered offense, scoring over 14 goals a game and ranking 13th nationally.
A program record four players were named All-Americans, including first-team honors for Erin Abbott and Jordyn Constance. Seven players were all-region selections, and ten earned all-RMAC awards. Included in the RMAC awards were three players receiving position player of the year honors.
In the classroom, five women’s lacrosse players were named to the RMAC first-team all-academic team and two others were on the RMAC Honor Roll. Morgan Judd was named the RMAC Academic Player of the Year, and she received the RMAC Summit Award and the NCAA Elite 90 honor.
2015 was the top season in Lindenwood history as the Lions were ranked in the top four nationally throughout the season. Lindenwood finished with a 19-2 overall record and it advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament for the second straight season. In the national tournament, the Lions defeated Florida Southern in overtime to advance to the semifinals. Lindenwood won the RMAC Championship with a perfect 6-0 record, and it won the RMAC Tournament by winning both games by double-figure points.
Cribbin led Lindenwood to having the No. 1 scoring offense in the country with 16.14 goals a game. The Lions ranked eighth nationally by allowing just 7.38 goals a game. The program went 7-2 against nationally-ranked teams during the season, and the only setbacks came against NCAA finalist Lock Haven.
Three Lindenwood players earned All-American honors in 2015, including the first two first-team All-Americans in Melissa Menchella and Bailey Knapton. Six players were all-region honorees, and ten players were named to one of the all-RMAC teams. Included in the conference awards were Lindenwood winning five of the six major awards, including Cribbin being the RMAC Coach of the Year.
Academically, three Lions were RMAC first-team all-academic picks, and seven others earned RMAC Honor Roll honors. Menchella became the first women’s lacrosse player to earn Academic All-American honors as she captured first-team accolades. Menchella was also named the Lindenwood Female Student-Athlete of the Year.
In 2014, Lindenwood made NCAA Division II women’s lacrosse history when it became the first program west of the Mississippi River to make the NCAA Division II National Tournament. The Lions were the fourth seed in the NCAA Region and advanced to the NCAA semifinals with a 14-8 upset over No. 1 seed Limestone in the first-round. The women’s lacrosse team became the first program at Lindenwood to advance to a final national championship site. In the national semifinals, the Lions nearly advanced to the championship game in their first season of eligibility before falling 10-9 in overtime to Lock Haven.
Lindenwood faced one of its toughest schedule in program history with eight games against nationally-ranked teams, including five against top-five programs. The Lions won the first game in program history over a ranked team with an 18-11 win over No. 15 Indiana of Pennsylvania, and they earned their first top-five win with a 13-9 road victory at Florida Southern. The Lions finished the season ranked fourth in the national poll, and they had an overall record of 15-4.
Lindenwood’s conference received a new name in 2014 as it joined the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC). The results were the same though as the Lions went 5-0 and captured another conference title.
Cribbin helped three Lindenwood players earn All-American honors, the first three in program history to be tabbed NCAA All-Americans. Christine Hehmeyer, Melissa Menchella, and Melissa Smith were all second-team selections. Smith and Menchella were also first-team all-region picks, and Hehmeyer was a second-team all-region selection. Ten Lions were named all-conference players, including four first-team picks. Menchella was the RMAC Player of the Year, and Smith was the RMAC Midfielder of the Year.
Off the field in 2014, Menchella received the prestigious NCAA Elite 89 award. Eleven players received RMAC Academic Awards, including Erin Abbott, Menchella, Jamie Miller, and Smith all being named to the 12-person RMAC All-Academic team.
Not only did the Lions win their second straight WILA Championship in 2013, but they also broke into the NCAA Division II national rankings for the first time. Lindenwood was ranked No. 15 in the April 16 ranking and remained in that spot for the rest of the season.
The team finished the season with a 15-2 overall record and it had a perfect WILA record at 10-0. Both losses came against teams that eventually reached the NCAA semifinals. Lindenwood had the highest scoring offense in NCAA Division II and also led the nation in scoring margin and draw control victories. The Lions also had the eighth-ranked defense in NCAA Division II.
Jack Cribbin was named the WILA Coach of the Year for the second straight season. Nine Lindenwood players earned all-conference honors, including four first-team selections. Shelby Polk was also named the WILA Offensive Player of the Year and she earned second-team all-region honors, the first Lindenwood player to be named to an all-region team. Fourteen players earned the conference’s Academic all-WILA award.
In 2012, Cribbin’s team turned heads nation-wide during its debut season at the NCAA Division II level. Lindenwood went 15-2 overall and won the WILA Championship with a perfect 8-0 record. The conference championship was the first for any Lindenwood sports at the NCAA level.
Cribbin was named the WILA Coach of the Year and he coached the Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year in the conference. Eleven players were named to one of the all-conference teams, including five first-team selections. Off the playing field, six players received the conference’s academic award and one was named an Academic All-District by CoSIDA.
Prior to 2012, Cribbin led Lindenwood for six years in the Women’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association (WCLA). Lindenwood had a 100-41 record in those seasons and Cribbin led Lindenwood to five national championship tournament appearances. He coached the Lions to 15 All-American Awards, 19 All-Academic Awards, one CPWLL Female Athlete of the Year, one CPWLL Player of the Year, two WDIA Player of the Year, two Lindenwood Female Scholar-Athletes of the Year, and 17 all-conference awards.
In 2011, Cribbin led Lindenwood to its fifth straight national tournament appearance after going 13-4 during the regular season. The Lions claimed 12th place at nationals
In 2010, Cribbin led the Lions to the program's best season in school history. The Lions finished in fourth place in the WDIA National Tournament while also winning the WCLL championship for the second consecutive season. Cribbin was named the National Coach of the Year in 2010.
Cribbin performed on the field as a goalkeeper for the Lindenwood men’s team from 2003-2005. During his playing career, he helped the Lions win two Great Rivers Lacrosse Conference titles (2003, 2005) and earn a trip to the MDIA National Tournament in 2005. He was named to the GRLC All-Conference Team in 2004, and also spent two years as a captain. He was also a two-year recipient of the “Heart of the Lion Award”, which is given annually to the Lindenwood lacrosse player who demonstrates the most commitment to the team. The award was renamed in his honor on April 17, 2005.
Cribbin graduated from Lindenwood in 2005 with a degree in business administration, and in 2006 he completed his masters in corporate communications at Lindenwood.
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