Rife Leaves Post as Women's Lacrosse Coach for Wagner College

July 17, 2007

Rife was 23-7 in the NE-10 during her three year stay in Smithfield

SMITHFIELD, RI- Smithfield, RI- Bryant head women's lacrosse coach Karen Rife has resigned to become the head coach at Division I Wagner College in New York. Rife leaves the Bulldogs after three years at the helm in which she compiled a record of 32-16. Rife joins her husband, former Bryant men's assistant Jason Rife, who was also named the head coach at Wagner.

"I would like to thank Athletic Director Walt Hameline for giving me this wonderful opportunity," said Rife. "It is exciting to be back at the Division I level and I am looking forward to becoming a member of the Wagner College family. I see a lot of potential in the program and am eager to start a great new chapter with the team this fall."

The Freeport, New York native began her collegiate coaching career as an assistant at UMASS-Amherst after graduating from Syracuse University with a bachelor's degree in African-American studies. She stayed in Amherst for two seasons (2003, 2004) before moving onto Boston where she took a position as the Assistant Program Director at MetroLacrosse, Inc., an organization that provides free lacrosse to underprivileged youth in Boston and its surrounding communities.