GAMBIER, Ohio -- Possessing more than a decade of coaching and playing experience, Angelica Gero was selected as head coach of the Kenyon College women's lacrosse program. The announcement was made Monday morning by Jill McCartney, Kenyon's Director of Athletics, Fitness and Recreation.

For the previous five lacrosse seasons, Gero served as head coach at Aquinas College, a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) institution in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She'll come to Kenyon as successor to Jess Good, who resigned after six seasons with an overall record of 63-19 and a pair of NCAA Division III Tournament appearances.

"I can't wait to become a part of this stellar program," Gero said. "Coach Good has laid such a solid foundation and the student-athletes have continually shown that they are willing to put in the required work to grow and win as a team. I am just thrilled to join this group and see how we can soar to new heights."

Gero added, "Even having known the outstanding reputations of the College and the women's lacrosse program, I was still taken aback by how clear the sense of pride and community were upon my arrival on campus. It took me no time to realize what an amazing place this is and how much passion the people that call it home have for their work."

Over the last three seasons, Gero's Aquinas teams combined for a 30-14 record. Her 2022 team went 7-2 in Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) play and got to the conference semifinal. Last season, her squad went 8-1 in conference contests, defeated two nationally-ranked teams along the way, earned their own national rank as high as No. 9 and got to the conference final. In that same three-year span, the Saints produced 17 all-conference honorees, four conference Players of the Year and four NAIA All-Americans.  

Gero's players also produced impressive results in the classroom, placing 29 student-athletes on the WHAC All-Academic Team over the last four seasons. At the conclusion of the 2023 season, Gero had two players named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-America Team and each of her last two teams were included on the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association All-Academic Honor list.    

Gero has previous coaching experience, for two seasons, at Adams State University, an NCAA Division II school in Colorado, and as the first head coach for the NCAA Division II Felician University women's lacrosse program in New Jersey. While at Aquinas, Gero found time to serve as the assistant director and head coach for the club team Pure Advantage Lacrosse.

Gero attended Georgian Court University in Lakewood, New Jersey where she played lacrosse, was a four-year starter, a two-time all-conference honoree and helped the Lions win two conference championships.

"We are very glad to have Angelica as our new head women's lacrosse coach," McCartney said. "She brings head coaching experience from a variety of settings and knows how to create successful teams. Her thoughtful interactions and genuine enthusiasm for lacrosse were fully evident throughout the interview process." 

With her hiring, Gero becomes the 11th head coach in the 51-year history of the Kenyon program.