Coaches

Emily Pasternak

Athletic Director Tim Seil has named Emily Pasternak ’17, a Hamburg, NY native, Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach at Hilbert College. Hilbert will restart the program, under Pasternak’s leadership, during the 2023-2024 academic year.


“Restarting our Women’s Lacrosse program is extremely critical for our athletic department. Being able to hire a head coach with Emily’s background and connections is very exciting,” said Seil. “I look forward to working with her to grow our program.”


Pasternak began her collegiate coaching career at Hilbert College in 2018, the same year she earned her Sport Industry Management degree from the college. After guiding the program for two seasons, she moved to the Uncasville, Connecticut and served as the Lacrosse Operations and Outreach Manager for the New England Black Wolves in the National Lacrosse League. Pasternak also gained experience helping to organize and coordinate the Kansas City Current in the National Women’s Soccer League from 2021-22 as the organization’s Team Administrator.


She is happy to return to Western New York to recruit and build a competitive lacrosse program for her alma mater.


“I am very excited to be back at Hilbert,” said Pasternak. “I’m ready to get started on building the foundation we need to have a successful and competitive program.”


Pasternak gained valuable leadership experiences prior to moving to New England in 2020. She continues to serve as the head coach in the Empress Lacrosse Travel Club, a position she accepted in 2017. Also, as an undergraduate at Hilbert, she developed the Breaking Boarders Lacrosse organization which provided lacrosse coaches and players the opportunity to coach underprivileged youth in the United States and abroad. Pasternak assisted in all aspects of the not-for-profit dealing with fundraisers, promotions and all aspects of travel for service trips as the President of Hilbert College ENACTUS (Entrepreneurial Action Though US) club.


Pasternak was a three-year starting varsity goalie at Frontier High School and was named a 1st Team All-WNY goalie in 2013 and a 1st Team Class A athlete in 2012. She began her collegiate career as a scholarship athlete at the Division I Delaware State University in 2014 before a career-ending injury forced her to walk away from the field of competition.