Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 6/16/12
From Press Release
Pottstown High graduate Gina Oliver, an assistant coach at Duquesne University and United States Women’s National Team member, was named head lacrosse coach at the University of Cincinnati, Director of Athletics Whit Babcock announced Friday.
“I’m extremely pleased to welcome Gina to the Bearcats family,” Babcock said. “She has extensive ties to the State of Ohio which will benefit us from a recruiting standpoint and she has proven herself at the highest levels of lacrosse as an excellent player. She is also a great communicator and teacher of the game and I am excited for what she will bring to the future of UC lacrosse.”
“I am extremely honored to be named the head women’s lacrosse coach at the University of Cincinnati,” Oliver said.
“I am excited to join the Bearcats family, hit the ground running and continue the growth of lacrosse in Ohio and the Cincinnati area. I would like to thank Director of Athletics Whit Babcock and Sr. Associate Athletic Director Brendan Fouracre for awarding me this tremendous opportunity. I am also thankful to Mike Scerbo (Duquesne Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach), Greg Amodio (Duquesne Director of Athletics) and the entire Duquesne family for the opportunities they gave me and everything they have done for me over the past five years.”
Oliver spent the last five seasons (2008-2012) as the Dukes’ defensive coordinator, where she produced a 2012 Atlantic-10 Defensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year. During her time at Duquesne, Oliver coached six IWLCA All-Region players, 21 all-conference honorees, 13 members of theA-10 All-Rookie Team and 12 student-athletes who won academic all-conference accolades.
“Gina Oliver is an outstanding choice to lead the Cincinnati Women’s Lacrosse program into the future,” Scerbo said. “She is an extremely intelligent coach that can truly reach and motivate her players. She has one of the best defensive minds in our game and she is certainly ready for the challenges ahead.”
A 2005 graduate of The Ohio State University, Oliver spent the2006 and 2007 seasons on the Buckeyes staff, working under OSU head coach Sue Stimmel (Boyertown). While in Columbus, Oliver served as co-director of the Ohio State Women’s Lacrosse Camp, while also assisting with recruiting, budgeting and scholarship duties, as well as travel and team practice planning. She joined the Duquesne staff in the summer of 2007.
Oliver was on the U.S. team that won gold at the FIL Women’s Lacrosse World Cup in June 2009 and was named to the All-World Team, which is awarded to the best 12 players in the world. She was also chosen as one of 24 women in the country to represent the United States in international competition.
“Not only is Gina a great player and a knowledgeable coach, she is also a great person and is an outstanding role model for her players,” said Ricky Fried, Georgetown Lacrosse and U.S. National Team head coach. “She brings energy and passion to the sport and I believe she will help take Cincinnati to the next level in the Big East Conference.”
A standout midfielder at Ohio State (2002-2005), Oliver was a four-year letterwinner for the Buckeyes and earned All-America honors three times. She was named an Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association/U.S. Lacrosse Second-Team All-American in 2003 and was a third-team selection in 2004.
Oliver was a First-Team WomensLacrosse.com All-American in 2003 and a third-team honoree in 2005. Oliver was a First-Team Warrior/Inside Lacrosse All-America selection in 2003. She was the American Lacrosse Conference Player of the Year in 2003 as Ohio State won the American Lacrosse Conference Championship and the league’s rookie of the year in 2002. Oliver was also a four-time, First-Team All-ALC selection.
The Pottstown native is OSU’s career leader in ground balls (236) and caused turnovers (201) and is second in draw controls (121). She is third in career points with 166 while ranking second in goals (125) and sixth in assists (41).
She earned her bachelor’s degree in education from Ohio State in 2005.
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