Sierra Cockerille
Assistant Coach
UMBC head women's lacrosse coach Amy Slade announced the addition of Sierra Cockerille to the Retrievers' assistant coaching staff in June of 2013.
In her first season in Baltimore, Cockerille helped lead the Retrievers to an America East Conference playoff spot in 2024 after the squad went 4-2 in the league. Grace Bruce, Katana Nelson and Kennedy Evans were all named to the America East First Team All-Conference squad while Kolby Weedon, Lauryn Warfield, and Ella Killian all earned Second Team recognition. In addition, Isabella Fontana and Evans were named to the All-Academic Team.
Cockerille enjoyed a decorated career at Syracuse University, where she helped lead the Orange to an appearance in the 2023 Final Four. The Baltimore native finished with 76 career goals and 53 assists while playing in 73 games. The midfielder was named to the All-American squad, earned All-Region Team accolades, and garnered Second Team All-ACC honors in 2023. In addition, she competed in the National Championship game in 2021 and earned All-Region and Second Team All-ACC honors that season.
"We are so excited to welcome Sierra," Slade said at the time of her hiring. "She has played at the highest level and has been coached by some of the best in the game. She will bring a wealth of knowledge to our team and help us continue to elevate our student-athletes to perform at the highest level on and off the field. Sierra is very hard working and driven, and we feel confident that she will fit into our coaching style and help us grow as a coaching staff."
Cockerille received her bachelor's degree from the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics in 2022, where she majored in Human Development and Family Science. She also gained a certificate of advanced study (CAS) in Intercollegiate Athletic Advising and Support this past May.
No stranger to Baltimore, Cockerille played at Roland Park Country School from 2014-through 2018 and was the team captain as a senior. She scored 50 goals and distributed 60 assists for the Reds in her final season.
Cockerille is a member of the Haudenosaunee Women's National Team, where she competed in the first ever Sixes Lacrosse game in 2021. She was named the Most Valuable Player of the Sixes Tournament in 2021.
Cockerille has experience as a coach for Monster Lacrosse, TLC Lacrosse, GoalieSmith, and YWCA/Girls Inc. She also served as a manager at Gait Lacrosse Incorporation, managing sales of equipment and tournaments.
In the summer of 2024, she competing in the Athletes Unlimited Pro Lacrosse League, which features 56 of the best women's professional lacrosse players in the world. Cockerille was a midfielder for Team Moreno.