Jenna Kasmarik

On staff this summer is Longwood women's lacrosse assistant coach, Jenna Kasmarik.

A two-time All-Big South first team performer in 2014 and 2015, Kasmarik returns to the Big South after assistant coaching stints at St. Bonaventure, Division-II Lindenwood, Lassiter High School and the Atlanta Blaze, as well a head coach stint for Eagle Stix Lacrosse.

A native of Suwanee, Ga., Kasmarik is among the most decorated players in Big South lacrosse history and was instrumental in leading Winthrop to the 2015 Big South Championship during her senior season. After beginning her collegiate career at Johns Hopkins University, Kasmarik transferred to Winthrop after her sophomore season and helped turn the program around from an 8-11 season in 2014 to a 17-4 follow-up in 2015. During that breakout senior year, Kasmarik led the nation in goals per game and set the Big South and Winthrop single-season goals record with 78. She was voted by the league’s coaches as Big South Player of the Year and All-Big South first team, joining former Lancer standouts Sarah Butler and Shiloh McKenzie on the first team that same year.

In her two season in Rock Hill, S.C., Kasmarik amassed 145 goals, 12 assists, 100 draw controls, 26 caused turnovers and 37 ground balls in 39 games. She was also a five-time Big South Offensive Player of the Week and saw her Big South career culminate with a five-goal performance in the conference championship game against Liberty, leading the Eagles to a 13-8 five-goal win over the Flames.

That decorated playing career paved the way for Kasmarik’s career in coaching, which has seen her climb from the high school and club ranks to the Division I level, where she most recently coached at St. Bonaventure of the Atlantic 10. At St. Bonaventure, Kasmarik assisted head coach Chelsea Rosiek in all aspects of running a Division I program, specifically in coordinating the offensive unit, organizing and executing practice plans, preparing scouting reports, breaking down film, and recruiting.

A history major at Winthrop and Johns Hopkins, Kasmarik also succeeded in the classroom at both Johns Hopkins and Winthrop and has continued that academic focus as a coach. She earned Dean’s List honors and American Lacrosse Conference Honor Roll recognition at Johns Hopkins and went on to continue that success as an Eagle, earning Big South Presidential Honor Roll honors every year. She also became a member of Phi Alpha Theta, the National History Honor Society, and won the 2015 Rock Hill Coca-Cola Award which is presented to the male and female athlete who demonstrates talent, integrity and spirit.

Kasmarik also earned her master’s degree in writing from Lindenwood in December, 2017, completing those degree requirements while also serving as a graduate assistant coach.

Prior to ascending to the Division I level of coaching, Kasmarik served as Lindenwood’s graduate assistant coach and oversaw the offense while assisting with goalkeepers. Prior to that, she was a community coach at Lassiter High School where she served as the varsity offensive coordinator.

After her graduate assistant season at Lindenwood, Kasmarik became a head coach for Eagle Stix Lacrosse – a role she still serves – for the 2020 Blue, 2018 Blue, 2022 Blue and 2024 teams.

At Longwood, Kasmarik will assist Jones in preparing a veteran-laden Longwood squad for the 2019 season, which will begin in February. The Lancers return six starters and 13letterwinners from the 2018 team, including All-Big South performers Molly Barkman, Dana Joss and Kaitlin Luccarelli.