How old? Alicia Rodriguez helms UMSV lacrosse at 22

In the world of college athletics, head coaching jobs don’t typically go to recent graduates. They’re earned after years of climbing the ranks through graduate assistantships, assistant roles and endless hours of recruiting and film study. 

But Alicia Rodriguez has broken that mold.

At just 22 years old, Rodriguez has been named the head coach of the University of Mount Saint Vincent women’s lacrosse team. It’s an extremely rare appointment in college sports, where most head coaches are two or three times her age.

Rodriguez isn’t just any recent graduate, though. A four-year starter for the Dolphins and one of the most accomplished players in program history, she returns to Riverdale just months removed from her senior year graduation.

“We are thrilled to welcome back one of the most decorated student-athletes in Skyline Conference and UMSV Athletics history,” said athletic director Phil Stern in the program’s official announcement. “Alicia is loved and respected by all on our campus and will be an amazing leader for our women’s lacrosse program. Her knowledge of the sport coupled with her passion for The Mount will shine through in all aspects of the program. I look forward to helping grow the program with her.”

Rodriguez, a native of Easton, Pennsylvania, starred for the Dolphins across three dominant seasons before suffering a season-ending ACL injury in the 2025 opener last Spring. Despite only playing one game as a senior, she left the program with her name all over the record books.

She was named First Team All-Skyline Conference in her first three seasons, earned Skyline Player of the Year as a sophomore, and was named Defender of the Year as a junior. She holds the school record for most points and goals in a single season, ranks second all-time in goals (168), third in points (216), fourth in assists (48), and top three in draw controls, ground balls and caused turnovers.

Those numbers might explain why, even at an age where most peers are just finishing their undergraduate degrees, Rodriguez was tapped to lead a program.

“I’m just super excited to be back,” Rodriguez told The Press. “Phil presented me with the opportunity to come back as a head coach — it was something I never thought I would have the opportunity to do being so young. I love the campus, I love the community, and just the athletic department as a whole.”

While young head coaches are sometimes hired at the Division I level in graduate assistant or interim roles, it’s rare for any coach — let alone a 22-year-old — to be handed the reins of an NCAA program. 

According to NCAA demographics, the average age of a head coach in women’s lacrosse is 43. 

Rodriguez is younger than some of the players she’ll be coaching against.

“It’s a really cool opportunity to have coming in so young,” she said. “I know the sport so well, and I know the team so well. I think this is a great opportunity to use my talents and abilities in that way. I know the team, know the strengths, know the weaknesses.”

Rodriguez takes over a team that’s looking to climb back into the Skyline Conference playoff picture. The Dolphins return First Team All-Skyline goalkeeper Makenna Reekie and 20-goal scorer Ella Meberg, along with veterans like Laziza Azimova, AB Burnett, Isabelle Gurley and Isabella Melecio.

As talented as the Dolphins are set to be, though, coaching a college program is a leap, even for seasoned assistants. 

Rodriguez admits the transition is a bit daunting — but she isn’t going it alone.

“It is very overwhelming,” she said. “I’ve coached little kids, but nothing to the realm of coaching a college lacrosse team. Just having a community that I know I can rely on makes the process a little bit easier.”

She credits Stern in particular with helping her take the coaching leap.

“Phil’s been there for me for the past four years, no matter what it was” she said. “Even just him talking to me about what being a head coach is going to be like, how to take over this role — it’s been very stressful coming into this with no idea what to really do. But Phil has been someone that I can totally rely on. Just always having him in my corner and constantly cheering me on makes me a lot more excited and confident in my role and my capabilities.”

As Rodriguez prepares for her first season leading the program she once starred for, she knows she still has much to learn. But age won’t be a barrier.

She’s already shown she can lead on the field. 

Now she’s ready to lead from the sideline, too.