Coaches

Emilia Ward

Emilia Ward was named the second lacrosse coach in Central Michigan history in July 2022 by Zyzelewski Family Associate Vice President/director of athletics Amy Folan.


The Chippewas earned the program’s first outright regular season conference title in 2024 and its fourth league title in either the regular season or postseason tournament since the start of the 2022 season with a 5-1 regular season record in Mid-American Conference play, spearheaded by MAC Goalkeeper of the Year Alexa Martel—who became the first in program history to record 200-plus saves in a single season and the second to reach 400 career saves. Martel was one of six All-MAC honorees, joined on the first team by attacker Skye DePrado and defender Jozy Allen.


In her inaugural season, Central Michigan continued its streak of league championships with a MAC tournament run of victories over second-seed Kent State and host Robert Morris en route to the program’s reappearance in the NCAA tournament, after falling to both programs in back-to-back weeks to close the regular season. Coach Ward’s first season in Mount Pleasant featured seven All-MAC selections, including first-team nods for attackers Maggie Diebold, Kelly Hoyt, and Audrey Whiteside and defender Hailie Moore.


Ward served as a volunteer assistant coach at Michigan in 2022 and before that was an assistant at Marquette from 2020-21. She also coached at Northern Michigan from 2015-19, serving as the inaugural head coach of the program.


In 2022 at Michigan, Ward worked with the goalkeepers, a unit that ranked second in the Big Ten, and was among the top 10 in the nation, in goals against average and save percentage as the Wolverines advanced to the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA Tournament.


Ward helped goalie Arielle Weissman to a bevy of postseason honors: Inside Lacrosse All-America second team, Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association All-America third team, USA Lacrosse Magazine All-America honorable mention, IWLCA West/Midwest All-Region first team and second team All-Big Ten.


During Ward's time at Marquette, she worked directly with the defense and goalkeepers. She also handled operations duties and served as the academic liaison as the program compiled a 3.45 cumulative grade point average during her two seasons.


Ward helped Sophia Leva to 2021 All-BIG EAST honors, the first Marquette goalie in history to earn the honor, after she led the conference in saves, saves per game and save percentage. In 2020 under Ward's leadership, Marquette ranked second in the Big East in saves per game and save percentage. Leva set the season program record for save percentage and Jules Horning broke the career record for saves.


Along with starting the Northern Michigan program, Ward also started the program at Kalamazoo College in 2014. Ward led her 2019 NMU team to a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament berth. She also served as an assistant at Adrian College from 2009-11.


Ward earned four letters at Manhattan College from 2005-08. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications in 2008. She earned a master’s in sports science from the US Sports Academy in 2013.