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Kutztown University

Kutztown University Athletics
Keystone Hall 15200 Kutztown Rd Kutztown, PA 19530
Division 2 Pennsylvania Northeast
Public Medium Competitive team

Coaches

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Kristen Nicholson

Kristen Nicholson completed her second season as the head coach of the Kutztown University women's lacrosse program in 2023, one in which she authored the greatest turnaround in program history.


The Golden Bears showed a nine-win improvement from 2022 to 2023, tying a school record with 13 victories (13-6), while achieving a number of "firsts." Kutztown qualified for its first PSAC Championship tournament in the conference tournament era, advancing to the semifinals, earned its maiden berth in the NCAA Division II Championship tournament, entered the IWLCA national rankings for the first time and captured its first-ever wins over a nationally ranked opponent.


Nicholson's team won its first five games, setting the stage for a successful season. Hard-fought setbacks by a combined three goals to No. 14 Lynn and No. 12 East Stroudsburg proved the Golden Bears belonged among some of the nation's top teams. The Bears locked up a postseason spot with a 17-11 win at Millersville, April 22, before knocking off No. 13 East Stroudsburg, 16-14, at Keystone Field in the regular season finale April 29 to secure the PSAC East's No. 2 seed. Battling the now 15th-ranked Warriors again three days later, KU came through with another victory, this time by a 12-9 count, to reach the PSAC semifinals.


The Golden Bears fell, 9-7, to No. 22 Seton Hill in a back-and-forth affair to bow out of the conference tournament, but their resume was plenty strong enough to hear their name called as one of 16 teams selected to the NCAA Championship field. Kutztown made a late push in its national tournament debut, but could not get past defending national runner-up East Stroudsburg for the third time in 13 days, dropping its first round game, 15-8.


Kutztown broke into the IWLCA national poll on May 1 after five consecutive weeks receiving votes, first appearing at No. 23. The Bears jumped to 21st before the NCAA Tournament and finished the year ranked 18th. Nicholson's squad also rose as high as 14th in the Nike/USA Lacrosse DII Poll on May 8. Following the season, Sam Graf and Emma Meakim earned IWLCA All-America Third Team honors, becoming the program's first All-Americans since 1984.


Nicholson was announced as the ninth head coach in Kutztown University women's lacrosse history on Aug. 3, 2021, after a successful seven-year stay at NCAA Division III Moravian College (now University).


She joined Moravian back in 2014 with the Greyhounds in the midst of a five-year hiatus from varsity play and spent the 2015 season leading the school’s club team, while vigorously recruiting a freshman class for a return to varsity competition in 2016.


Following two respectable seasons, Nicholson guided Moravian to its first winning season since 2008 --and second in its history-- with an 11-5 record in 2018. That started a run of four consecutive winning seasons for the Greyhounds and back-to-back appearances in the Landmark Conference semifinals (2018 and 2019).


Nicholson led Moravian to an ECAC Division III quarterfinals berth in 2017, signaling the program’s first-ever postseason game. In 2021, the Hounds defeated Elizabethtown College 15-12 in the Landmark quarterfinals for their first-ever postseason victory.


In six seasons with the Bethlehem-based school, Nicholson composed a 46-37 record (.554). She coached 11 All-Landmark student-athletes, two IWLCA All-Metro Region players, 2016 ECAC South Rookie of the Year Jillian Picciuto and 2019 Landmark Conference Player of the Year Liz Bill. Nicholson also had more than 40 representatives on the Landmark Academic Honor Roll since 2017.


Nicholson coached on Adrienne Carr’s staff at FDU-Florham, her alma mater, for three seasons prior to taking the reigns at Moravian. The Devils won 13 games and qualified for the postseason in each campaign. Nicholson was an assistant on FDU-Florham’s 2012 MAC Freedom championship team and led the program to a 13-8 record, its second straight conference title and a spot in the ECAC Mid-Atlantic Region Tournament in 2013 while serving as interim head coach with Carr on maternity leave.


The former Kristen Schuster played for FDU-Florham from 2007-10, scoring 179 career points on 131 goals and 48 assists. She also totaled 77 ground balls and 60 draw controls. As a senior, Nicholson was elected a team captain and named All-Middle Atlantic Conference Second Team. She also led the Devils to the ECAC Mid-Atlantic championship and was named Most Valuable Player of the championship game.


FDU-Florham made postseason appearances in each of Nicholson’s four seasons as a student-athlete, winning the MAC championship in 2008 and receiving a berth to the NCAA Division III Tournament.


Nicholson earned a Bachelor of Arts in fine arts from FDU-Florham in 2010 and later received her Master's Degree in sport management from the school. She currently resides in Milford, N.J., with her husband, David, and their son, Gavin.

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Tiffany Anderson

Tiffany Anderson concluded her third season as an assistant coach with Kutztown in 2023, helping the Golden Bears to a fantastic turnaround that ended with the program's first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division II Championship tournament.


Anderson joined the Maroon and Gold in 2021 after two seasons as a graduate assistant coach at East Stroudsburg University. She remained with the program following Kristen Nicholson's appointment as head coach in 2022 and the duo have quickly steered Kutztown in the right direction.


The 2022 season served as a learning opportunity for both coaches and student-athletes, but 2023 was a clear indication of the potential the Bears possess going forward. KU improved its win total by nine --the best single-season turnaround in team history-- and matched a program record with 13 victories (13-6).


Kutztown clinched a spot in the 2023 PSAC Championship tournament for the first time in the conference tournament era, advancing to the semifinals. The Golden Bears also received their first-ever berth in the NCAA Division II Championship tournament, entered the IWLCA national rankings for the first time and collected their first two wins over a nationally ranked opponent. KU ended the season ranked 18th in the IWLCA Poll.


During Anderson's first season on staff as a graduate assistant in 2019, East Stroudsburg posted a 15-6 overall record and 10-2 conference mark. The Warriors advanced to the second round of the NCAA DII Championship (Atlantic Region final) and recorded a program single-season record 290 goals. The team boasted three IWLCA All-Americans, five all-region honorees and five All-PSAC selections en route to a No. 16 ranking in the final IWLCA Poll --East Stroudsburg's fourth consecutive top 20 finish.


Anderson was a three-year starter for the Dragons of Tiffin University before graduating in 2018.


In 60 career games from 2014-18, the native of East New Market, Md., amassed 22 goals, nine assists, 31 points, 80 ground balls, 58 caused turnovers and 55 draw controls. Anderson was an IWLCA Division II Senior All-Star and All-GLIAC honorable mention selection following a 20-goal, 8-assist campaign during her final season.


Off the field, Anderson claimed a spot on the GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team as a sophomore, junior and senior. She graduated from Tiffin with a bachelor's degree in sports & recreation management and received her master's degree in management and leadership in sport management from East Stroudsburg in 2020.


Prior to her time on staff at ESU, Anderson gained three years of coaching experience with teams at Winter Meltdown and Endless Summer lacrosse camps in Cambridge, Md.

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Ashley Grimes

Ashley Grimes joined the Kutztown University women's lacrosse staff as a graduate assistant ahead of the 2023 season.


Grimes helped the Golden Bears to a record-tying 13 wins, a spot in the PSAC semifinals and their first-ever NCAA Division II Championship tournament appearance in her first season on the sideline.


A native of New Freedom, Pa., Grimes played in 41 games and made 31 starts on defense for NCAA Division III Shenandoah University between 2019-22. Grimes finished her career with 32 ground balls, 21 caused turnovers and four draw controls. She was a two-year team captain and earned All-ODAC Second Team honors as a senior.


Grimes received her bachelor's degree in business administration from Shenandoah in 2022.

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