Robert Morris University

Moon Township, PA 15108

Pennsylvania Northeast

Private Small Developing team

I'm interested in this program!

Coaches

Email coach

Courtney Grove

Courtney Grove was named head coach of the RMU women's lacrosse program July 5, 2023.

"We're thrilled with the addition of Courtney as the new leader of our women's lacrosse program," King said. "Her vision for our program stood out throughout the interview process, as Courtney embodies the key characteristics of what we were looking for in our next head coach. She is passionate about serving as the next head women's lacrosse coach at RMU, is a relationship builder and emphasized the importance of the player-to-coach relationship. Most importantly, Courtney understands the importance of serving, mentoring and leading our student-athletes on and off the field."

Grove, a native of Boyertown, Pa., joins RMU after spending the last 10 years as head coach at Seton Hill. The last decade marked her second tenure as head coach with the Griffins, as she also led the program for four seasons from 2008 to 2011 before being named the first assistant coach in program history at Marquette. Grove spent two seasons as the top assistant with the Golden Eagles before returning to the Greensburg, Pa., campus.

"I'm extremely excited for the opportunity to be the next head women's lacrosse coach at RMU and I promise to give the program everything that I have to offer," Grove said. "I would like to thank athletic director Chris King and the search committee for the chance to lead this program. I played against Robert Morris in college and have followed the program closely since my time as a student-athlete and am looking forward to building on the tradition that has been established."

While leading Seton Hill over the last decade, Grove helped guide the Griffins to an overall record of 106-64 (.624), including a mark of 76-31 (.710) in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). Grove guided Seton Hill to each of the last three PSAC West Division crowns, compiling an overall mark of 42-13 (.764), including 32-2 (.941) in conference action, from 2021 to 2023. The Griffins appeared in two of the last three finals of the PSAC Championship and also earned automatic bids to each of the last four NCAA Division II Tournaments (2019, 2021-23).

"Courtney's core values aligned with our department core values, and she understands the importance of maintaining the championship level of success that RMU women's lacrosse has become accustomed to," King said. "Everyone involved in the hiring process was equally impressed, and we're excited to have Courtney represent the women's lacrosse program as the next head coach at Robert Morris University."

Grove is a four-time PSAC Coach of the Year honoree (2014, 2019, 2021, 2023), and her student-athletes have won numerous PSAC postseason awards and all-conference accolades. Last season, Makayla Kinter was named the 2023 PSAC West Defender of the Year, while Mila Udovicic was tabbed 2023 West Freshman of the Year.

The award for Kinter marked her second consecutive PSAC West Defender of the Year plaudit, as she was also honored in 2022. That season the Griffins swept the West Division awards, with Jaclyn Frank tabbed the 2022 PSAC West Athlete of the Year while Megan Bunker was named the 2022 West Freshman of the Year. In 2021, Kristi Kada collected PSAC West Athlete of the Year honors.

Grove is a 2007 graduate of Duquesne with a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education. A student-athlete for the Dukes, Grove appeared in 68 games, including 66 starting assignments, and finished with 118 points courtesy of 93 goals and 25 assists. She concluded her career ranked in the top 10 in program history in eight different categories. As a senior in 2007, Grove was named to the All-Atlantic 10 Second Team, a year after earning honorable mention accolades.

Grove and her husband, Matt, have two daughters, Mia and Brooke, and a son, Austin.

Email coach

Emma Simmers

Emma Simmers was named associate head coach for the Colonials in August of 2023.

"I am so excited to welcome Emma Simmers to the RMU family," RMU head coach Courtney Grove said. "Having worked with Emma a number of years I know her talent as both a coach and a Pittsburgh standout player will be invaluable as she molds the Robert Morris defense. I look forward to watching her positively impact another team."

Simmers, a native of Pittsburgh, Pa., joins RMU after spending the last five years as an assistant coach at Seton Hill. In her five seasons in Greensburg, Pa., Simmers helped guide the Griffins to an overall record of 56-25 (.691), including a mark of 41-6 (.872) in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). She helped pace Seton Hill to each of the last three PSAC West Division championships, compiling an overall mark of 42-13 (.764) and a 32-2 (.941) mark in conference action, from 2021 to 2023. The Griffins appeared in two of the last three finals of the PSAC Championship and also earned automatic bids to each of the last four NCAA Division II Tournaments (2019, 2021-23).

"I am very happy for the opportunity to continue my coaching career at RMU," Simmers said. "A massive thank you to Coach Grove and the RMU staff for trusting in my ability to help move the women's lacrosse program forward. I cannot wait to start working with the team and see what we can achieve together."

Under the direction of Simmers as the defensive coordinator and goalie coach, Seton Hill had numerous student-athletes receive PSAC postseason accolades as well as all-conference honors. In 2023, Makayla Kinter was named the PSAC West Defender of the Year for the second consecutive season as she earned the honor in 2022. She was also awarded IWLCA All-American status for the third straight season while being a PSAC West First Team selection in 2023. Along with Kinter, graduate student goalkeeper Kyleigh Hessian was chosen to the PSAC West First Team after ranking fourth in the conference in saves percentage (.471) and goals against average (9.84). Hessian also collected 164 total saves, which ranked sixth in the PSAC.

While at Seton Hill, Simmers worked as a youth and adult program assistant at the Greensburg YMCA. She provided instruction and coaching techniques for a variety of sports while also enforcing discipline on and off the playing field. Prior to her stint at Seton Hill, Simmers worked as the assistant lacrosse coach for Upper St. Clair high school.

Simmers is a 2015 graduate of Seton Hill, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Educational Studies with a concentration in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). She is no stranger to the Griffins lacrosse program as she was one of the most decorated student-athletes to play for Seton Hill. Simmers was a two-time IWLCA All-American as well as a two-time IWLCA First Team All-Region honoree during her junior and senior campaigns. She was awarded All-PSAC West First Team accolades twice while securing All-ECC honors as a sophomore.

Email coach

Craig McDonald

Craig McDonald enters his second season with the Colonials, after having a successful first year in the 2022 season. Under McDonald's leadership, RMU went on to win the 2022 ASUN Championship against Utah, winning 18-17. The team then qualified for the NCAA Playoff Tournament, playing Delaware in the first round. This was the third time in school history that RMU made the NCAA Tournament.

In 2022, RMU entered the ASUN conference. This was the first year the conference featured men's lacrosse. McDonald's team went 10-6 overall and had a 4-1 record in conference. After winning the championship, RMU is officially set to host the 2023 ASUN Tournament, at the Joe Walton Stadium, May 2-7.

McDonald and his staff have done an incredible job developing their athletes to the pro level. This past season, senior midfielder Jake Boudreau was officially drafted in the NLL Entry Draft in the 1st round, 7th overall.

Returning this season from Coach McDonald's squad is Will Johansen, Owen Down, Colton Lidstone and Taggart Clark. All four players were selected in the first round of the 2022 NLL Entry Draft, and will continue their careers at the professional level with their respected teams after the Colonials 2023 campaign.

On the recruiting front, McDonald and his staff have brought in five transfers for the 2023 season. This includes Matt Duncan who was selected in the 4th round of the 2022 NLL Entry Draft. They also bring in four other players with impressive accolades entering the season ahead. The program brings in 12 freshman for the 2023 season.

Craig McDonald was named head coach of the RMU men's lacrosse program Sept. 20, 2021. He is the third head coach in program history.

"Today is an exciting day for RMU Athletics and the men's lacrosse program," King said. "Selecting Craig McDonald as our new head coach sets the course for a new era of success in all phases of our program. He's been part of championship-level lacrosse at UMass, and he will bring that kind of competitiveness to RMU lacrosse.

"When we started this search, we were looking for a coach that was energized by the challenge of competing for and winning ASUN and NCAA Tournament championships and also understood the importance of building upon the history of the RMU men's lacrosse program," King said. "After speaking with several of the top head coaches in college lacrosse, it became clear that Coach McDonald has a strong ability to recruit, lead, inspire, communicate and develop meaningful and long-lasting relationships with student-athletes. His philosophies on the student-athlete experience align with the vision, core values, purpose and culture of our department and the men's lacrosse program. We are thrilled to welcome Craig, his wife, Maggie, and son, Conor, to the RMU family."

McDonald comes to RMU after spending the last seven years at UMass, where he started as an assistant coach before being promoted to Associate Head Coach in 2018. While with the Minutemen, McDonald served as both defensive coordinator, working with the goaltenders while assisting with the faceoff unit, and recruiting coordinator.

During his time at UMass, the Minutemen appeared in three Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) championship games, winning the 2018 CAA tournament crown and advancing to the NCAA Tournament. In 2019, UMass advanced to the CAA Tournament semifinals behind a defense tutored by McDonald that ranked third in the country in scoring defense. Over the last four seasons with McDonald on the coaching staff, the Minutemen compiled an overall record of 31-18 (.633).

"My family and I are very humbled and thankful for the opportunity to join the Robert Morris University family," McDonald said. "I would like to thank Vice President and Director of Athletics Chris King for this great opportunity and his belief and confidence in me to lead the RMU men's lacrosse program forward as we move into the ASUN Conference. I'm excited to get started and look forward to building on the foundation and tradition that was established by Bear Davis and Andrew McMinn, as well as all the student-athletes that have come through this great program. I'm extremely honored with this great opportunity and can't wait to meet with the current players and alumni and get to work."

During a 2020 campaign that was shortened due to COVID-19, UMass ranked in the top 20 nationally and finished with a 5-2 (.714) mark behind a defense led by McDonald that allowed just 9.60 goals per game in its five victories. The Minutemen posted a landmark win during the year, a 13-10 triumph over No. 1 Yale (2/29), the program's first victory over a top-ranked team in the country. Earlier that season UMass also went on the road and knocked off No. 12 Ohio State (2/15), 9-7.

In 2019, McDonald guided a UMass defense that allowed just 8.87 goals per game, which ranked third in NCAA Division I. That defense was anchored by defenseman Isaac Paparo and goalie Sean Sconone, both which were named Inside Lacrosse First Team All-Americans as the Minutemen compiled an overall record of 10-5 (.667) and claimed the 2019 CAA regular-season championship. Sconone was tabbed the 2019 CAA Defensive Player of the Year, while Paparo garnered United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) Scholar All-America accolades.

In 2018, UMass earned a 12-8 victory over Towson (5/5) to claim the CAA Tournament crown and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. McDonald helped the Minutemen record an overall record of 12-5 (.706) in 2018, with Papano being selected the CAA Player of the Year, while attack Chris Connolly garnered CAA Rookie of the Year honors. Overall during his tenure at UMass, McDonald helped tutor a Tewaaraton Award nominee, two Academic All-Americans, eight All-Americans and 35 All-CAA honorees.

"Searching for a head coach can be a long and difficult process, but we were able to accomplish our goals in three weeks," King said. "That would not have been possible without the tireless efforts, counsel and leadership of our lacrosse sport administrator Marty Galosi, deputy athletic director Kim Graham and head women's lacrosse coach Katrina Silva during this national search. I would also like to give a shout out to our men's lacrosse student-athletes and their role during campus interviews. Their involvement, dedication and commitment to the process was extremely impressive, and their transparent and honest feedback was greatly appreciated and is reflected directly in today's hire of Coach McDonald."

Prior to UMass, McDonald was an assistant coach at Rutgers, serving as defensive coordinator, goalie coach and recruiting coordinator from 2011-14. McDonald also was an assistant coach at Siena (2010-11) and began his collegiate coaching career at Union College (2008-10).

A 2008 graduate of the University at Albany with a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology with a minor in education, McDonald was a four-year letterwinner with the Great Danes on defense. He helped guide Albany to the NCAA Tournament in both 2005 and 2007 and was a three-time All-America East honoree, garnering second team accolades in 2006 and first team plaudits in 2007 and 2008.

McDonald, a native of Geneva, N.Y., and his wife, Maggie, have two son's, Conor and Cian.