CASTLETON, Vt. – Bella Ferraro has been named head coach of the Vermont State University Castleton women's lacrosse program, VTSU Castleton Director of Athletics Tim Barrett announced on Wednesday.
"We're excited to have Bella on board as the women's lacrosse coach at VTSU Castleton," said Barrett. "She has an extensive background both playing and coaching at a high level, and we feel her dedication to creating a high-level lacrosse experience for her student-athletes makes her the right person to guide this program moving forward."
Ferraro is a natural leader, twice being named a captain while playing at Smith College and serving in leadership roles on the Student Athlete Advisory Committee and the Student Club for Inclusion and Diversity. She was also selected as one of just 200 NCAA student-athletes across all divisions to attend the NCAA's Career in Sports Forum during her time at Smith, setting the path for her eventual climb through the coaching ranks.
She began coaching immediately after graduation, serving as an assistant varsity lacrosse coach at Amity Regional High School in Connecticut before helping coach both the JV and varsity programs at York High School in Maine. Ferraro then went overseas to become the head coach of Nottingham Trent University's women's lacrosse team in Nottingham, England.
At Nottingham Trent University, she was tasked with leading all training sessions, skill development and film sessions. Ferraro established a strength as a recruiter, bringing in a number of international and domestic recruits to solidify the roster. To bolster recruiting, she developed a guide for international and domestic prospective students to aid in the application and selection process. Her hard work paid off, as Nottingham Trent University was ranked top-five in the United Kingdom and top-three in its conference. In addition to her work with Nottingham Trent University, Ferraro also spent time as a volunteer coach with the England U20 Women's Team while in the United Kingdom.
"I am truly grateful for the opportunity to lead the women's lacrosse program at VTSU Castleton," said Ferraro. "I would like to thank Tim Barrett and the rest of the search committee for placing their faith in me and for offering invaluable guidance during this exciting transition."
"The dedication VTSU Castleton demonstrates towards athletics is inspiring, and I look forward to benefiting from the mentorship within the athletics department," Ferraro added. "I believe that my New England roots and my familiarity with the regional landscape will also facilitate effective recruitment, contributing to the future success of the women's lacrosse program."
