Taking Over a Winner

SELINSGROVE, Pa. - Susquehanna University has named Deb Ranieri head women's lacrosse and assistant field hockey coach, director of athletics Don Harnum announced on Wednesday.

Ranieri replaces Gina Lucido, who resigned her positions in March to become assistant field hockey coach at Division I Indiana University. Following Lucido's departure, interim coach Sarah Catlin led the Crusader women's lacrosse squad to a 12-5 record and the Middle Atlantic Conference regular-season championship for the first time in program history.

Ranieri will assist 27th-year head coach Connie Harnum with the Crusader field hockey team during the fall in addition to her duties with the lacrosse team in the spring.

"Looking at what the (women's lacrosse) team has done over the past year, and with a good core of juniors and sophomores returning, I'm excited about the chances of taking them to the next level," said Ranieri.

Ranieri is no stranger to the next level, having served as an assistant field hockey and women's lacrosse coach at The College of New Jersey since 1998. During her three seasons with the Lions, both the field hockey and women's lacrosse teams claimed NCAA Division III championships.

A native of West Chester, Pa., Ranieri is a 1990 graduate of East Stroudsburg University with a bachelor's degree in physical education. At East Stroudsburg, she served as captain of the women's lacrosse team in 1989 and earned team Most Valuable Player honors as a senior.

Following graduation, she served as an assistant field hockey and lacrosse coach at Lafayette College in 1990 and 1991, helping the Leopards to the 1991 NCAA Division I Women's Lacrosse Tournament. From 1993 to 1998, Ranieri was head field hockey and lacrosse coach at Perkiomen School in Pennsburg, Pa.

Ranieri is active in the Philadelphia Women's Lacrosse Association, currently serving as president of the organization, and has coached at the Sure Shot Lacrosse Shoot Out camp for high school girls lacrosse players since 1996. She played club lacrosse with the Pennsylvania Women's Lacrosse Association from 1994 to 2000.

Currently a resident of Bensalem, Pa., Ranieri will relocate to Selinsgrove in July.