George Fox University

George Fox University Athletics
414 N. Meridian Street Newberg, OR 97132

Division 3 Oregon Northwest

Private Small Competitive team

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Coaches

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Jordyn Merkel

Jordyn Merkel begins her first season as the George Fox women's lacrosse coach in 2025. Merkel comes to George Fox after two years as the head coach of Wisconsin-Stout. She served as the head coach during their inaugural season in 2023, building the program from the ground up. The Blue Devils showed massive improvement in their second season, showing statistical improvement in shots, goals, ground balls, and caused turnovers.

In her first season with the Bruins, Merkel led the team to its 10th straight Northwest Conference title, boasting a perfect 8-0 in conference play and extending the Bruins' conference win streak to 83. They beat Whitman in the NWC tournament and advanced to the First Round of the NCAA's, falling to Stevens Institute of Technology 22-3 to cap off their season. Eight Bruins earned All-NWC honors in Merkel's first year, with Lana Davis and Morgan Maxfield leading the charge on the All-NWC first team. Ava Bluhm, Shae Katagi, Gabriella Muzquiz, Myah Pack, and Cirpriana Flores earned All-NWC second team honors, while Merrick Gibson made the All-NWC honorable mention team.

Prior to her time in Menomonie, Wisc., Merkel was the head coach at Thiel College and spent several years as an assistant coach. While an assistant, the Tomcats saw the best season winning percentage and made it to the Presidents' Athletic Conference Championship tournament final.

In her collegiate career, Merkel was part of an Augustana team that went 19-2 overall, won the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin title and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament. A Littleton, Colo. native, Merkel transferred to Northern Colorado after her freshman season and played three years on the UNC women's club lacrosse team.

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Jen Preap

Jen Preap ('19) joined the Bruins' coaching ranks as an assistant coach for women's lacrosse in the fall of 2022..

Preap was the program's first All-American, the 2020 Northwest Conference Woman of the Year, a three-time honoree as a first team All-NWC midfielder, and an IWLCA first team all-region selection. Preap's name is all over the Bruin's record book for her work as a midfielder. During her career, Preap was often a one-woman fast break for Fox and had multiple goals from winning a draw by herself and out-sprinting everyone for a score. She brings that experience with her for the Bruins' current players and is an excellent resource for Brand as someone who understands the team culture and the game of lacrosse at a high level.

Outside of coaching, Preap is a teacher and is happily married to a fellow Bruin alumnus, Brian. The pair met as part of the Bruin's spoof on the Bachelor/Bachelorette at a campus event.