Oberlin College

Oberlin, OH 44074

Ohio Midwest

Private Small Developing team

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Coaches

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Erin Mitchell

Interim Head Women's Lacrosse Coach

Erin Mitchell is entering her sixth season as the assistant coach for Yeowomen's lacrosse in the 2023-24 season.

In her first two seasons on staff, Mitchell guided the Yeowomen to the North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament. Mitchell has coached 11 NCAC All-Conference players, including goalie Sienna Marcelle '19 who capped off her career finishing second in the conference in saves (153) and third in save percentage (.486).

Prior to Oberlin, Mitchell spent the past three seasons (2016-18) as the head coach at nearby Westlake High School. As the first-ever head coach of the Demons, she improved the team’s record each year while expanding the program’s roster size.

The Northeast Ohio native helped establish the Westlake youth program in 2016, and coaches for the Ohio Premier Lacrosse Club. In the fall of 2022, Mitchell was appointed the Recruiting Director of Ohio Premier Lacrosse.

A former standout at Siena Heights University (MI), Mitchell was a three-time Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference selection, earning first-team honors in 2014 and 2015. A two-team National Women’s Lacrosse League All-American, she holds Saints records for career goals (189) and points (214) for a four-year player..

A native of Rocky River, Ohio, Mitchell graduated from Siena Heights University with a bachelor’s degree in education. In 2022 Mitchell received her masters in Coaching and Sports Leadership from Randolph College.

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Ryan Polak

Ryan Polak was named head men's lacrosse coach in February of 2021 and had a historic first season in 2022.

Polak led Oberlin to a school-best 12 wins against just five losses, while guiding the Yeomen into the North Coast Athletic Tournament for the first time in school history. Oberlin, which went 6-3 in the NCAC, had five players earn postseason recognition. Michael Muldoon headlined the contingency as a second-team honoree at midfield, while Tom Decker, Max Cha, Kiernan Stone, and Connor Quinn each earned honorable-mention accolades.

The Yeomen cashed in a league-best 1.75 man-up goals per game in 2022 and also led the league with 10.5 caused turnovers per game.

He followed up his rookie year as head coach with more success in 2023 as the Yeomen made a return trip to the NCAC Tournament, finishing the year 8-8 and 4-4 in league play. He coached Michael Muldoon and Kiernan Stone to United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) Honorable-Mention All-American status and set a program record with seven athletes earning All-NCAC honors.

Prior to his Oberlin tenure, Polak served as the lead assistant coach at Kenyon College for three seasons where he was the Lords' offensive - and recruiting coordinator. Polak was instrumental in making the Lords a perennial force within the North Coast Athletic Conference with two conference tournament appearances (2018-19) and a 5-1 start in 2020 before the season was cut short due to COVID-19.

In 2019, Polak's high-powered offense ranked third in the NCAC in goals per game with 14.29 as they posted 243 tallies and 131 assists, 57 which came out of the stick of Nick Vitale to rank second in the league. When the season came to an abrupt halt, Kenyon's Will Robbin's was fifth in the conference in points with 18 (13 g, 5 a).

Polak mentored nine All-NCAC selections during his time with the Owls and helped the team achieve a record of 25-13 overall and 11-5 in the NCAC.

Prior to coming to Gambier, he was the director for True Lacrosse Idaho and also worked as the head lacrosse coach at Bishop Kelly High School in Boise, Idaho.

Polak got his start in coaching as a college counseling intern and assistant lacrosse coach at Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, Ohio in 2015 and 2016.

A 2014 graduate of Washington College (MD), Polak helped the Shoreman make three NCAA Tournament appearances as a midfielder and attackman. As a senior, he guided WC to a Centennial Conference Championship in 2014 and an appearance in NCAA DIII semifinals.

Polak earned a bachelor's degree in business management from WC and completed a master's of science in sport coaching from West Virginia University in December of 2020.

He is married to assistant softball coach Lauren Dockrill and together they have one daughter.