Josh Klein - Program Director, Coach
Coach Klein has spent over a decade coaching girl’s lacrosse in Wisconsin. He is the current head coach and program director for the Oregon Panthers high school girls program and was the Eastside Varsity team head coach for the 2017 season and is the former head coach of the Verona Varsity girls team. CK is a USA Lacrosse Women's Level 3 certified coach and official. He is a member of USA Lacrosse and involved with the USA Lacrosse Coaching and Officials Education Program and the PCA. Coach Klein also serves as the Director of LAXERGIRL Foundation, a non profit committed to providing low to no cost lacrosse experiences for girls.
Courtney Novak - HS Coach
Courtney is the Head Coach at Edgewood College after stints at Vermont State University - Lyndon in Lyndonville, Vermont and Chapman University in Orange, California. She was raised in Long Hill, New Jersey where she went on the play defense for the Ursinus College Bears. After a career ending injury at the end of her freshman season, Novak began coaching at the club and high school level. Upon graduation, she attended Long Beach State University to earn her Masters in Sport & Exercise Psychology working as a Sport Psychology Consultant at the high school and NCAA DI level. Her love of coaching has brought her to Wisconsin and Laxergirl to continue to help players with their game and the mental side of sport.
Alex Byers - HS Coach
Alex is the Head Coach at Middleton High School after over 12 years of coaching experience in both her home state of Oregon and a 3 year stint in Austin, Texas. She started playing lacrosse as a freshman in high school at Lincoln High School in Portland, Oregon, her hometown and then went on to play 4 years of starting attack at Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania, even acting as goalie for half of her freshman season due to a teammate’s injury. Since graduating, Alex has not only coached all levels of girls lacrosse, but also founded inaugural volleyball and girls soccer programs, coached youth boys basketball and acted as a lacrosse umpire. She currently teaches full time as a Spanish teacher at West High School. When she’s not coaching, teaching or working on her Masters of Education, Alex enjoys camping, hiking, exploring the city on foot, and hanging out with her dog, Mae.
Nicole Dolcimascolo - HS Coach
Nicole is the current assistant coach of the Oregon Panthers with 11 years of experience. She grew up playing the game of lacrosse in Redding, Connecticut. Coach Nicole played her college career at Beloit College, graduating in 2020. Nicole is a USA Lacrosse level 1 certified coach. Currently, she works in sales and in her spare time she enjoys hiking, spending time with family, her dog, crafting and completing puzzles.
Zack Silber - Goalie Coach
Zack is the current assistant coach and head goalie coach of the Oregon Panthers and also served as the assistant coach at the Lancers. He grew up learning the game of lacrosse in Baltimore, Maryland where he graduated from Duke University. He played for a few years and now enjoys coaching goalies. He is a trained Women's lacrosse official, USA Lacrosse level 1 certified coach and has officiated in North Carolina and in Wisconsin.
Melissa Cartagena - HS Coach
Mel is from Wayne, New Jersey and has been playing the game of lacrosse for the past 8 years. Coach Mel is a 2022 graduate of Muhlenberg College where she played both field hockey and lacrosse. She is the assistant coach for Edgewood College and has experience coaching at multiple camps and clinics on the east coast. She currently works for Epic Systems and in her spare time enjoys cooking, staying active, and being around friends and family.
James Brady - Youth Coach
As far back as he can remember James has had a lacrosse stick in his hands. He played collegiately at Colby College; competing in the NESCAC conference and serving as a captain for both his junior and senior seasons. James is certified as a USA Lacrosse level 1 coach, men's official trainer, and men's collegiate lacrosse official. In the spring of 2022 he had the opportunity to join the coaching staff of the Oregon Girls 14U lacrosse team and could not be more excited to continue coaching with Laxergirl. When he's not working or coaching you can find him drawing on his driveway with chalk and eating fla-vor-ice popsicles.
Kiersten Pelletier - Youth Coach. UW, La Crosse. DIII
Coach Pelletier, is from Madison Wisconsin and graduated from Verona Area High school in 2020. She started playing lacrosse around the age of 10 and has been playing ever since. Kiersten will be a Junior at UW La Crosse in the fall where she will also be playing lacrosse. She is very involved with the sport as it is her passion.
Ari Hinton - Youth Coach. Davis & Elkins College, WV. DII
Coach Ari is from Waukesha, WI and graduated from Waukesha West High school in 2021. She played for the Waukesha Lady Nighthawks and was a draw specialist and high attacker. She has gone on to play at the D2 level at Davis and Elkins College in West Virginia as a high attackman. She started playing lacrosse in 7th grade and continues to play as she will be entering her junior year in college. She has had 3 conference accolades, has broken 6 different records at the collegiate level, and has earned national recognition for being the EGA leader during the spring season of 2023. She looks to continue to grow the game and teach young players the culture behind the game!
Kate Stigsell - Youth Coach. Old Dominion University, VA. DI
Coach Kate Stigsell is an accomplished lacrosse player and current Division 1 student-athlete who brings her experience and expertise to coaching. Kate graduated from Edgewood High School in 2022 and has just finished her freshman year at Old Dominion University. With a versatile skill set honed through playing both attack and defense at the Division 1 level, she has developed a deep understanding of the game from multiple perspectives. Throughout her career of over 11 years she has earned recognition as a three-time Under Armour All-American and being selected twice to the Under Armour Top 150. Additionally, she brings the experience of playing at IMG Academy. With her deep understanding of the recruiting process she is well-equipped to guide aspiring athletes through the complex landscape of college lacrosse recruitment. Having successfully navigated the process herself she possesses firsthand knowledge of the requirements and expectations of Division 1 programs.
