Clarke Athletics welcomes Irene Carlquist as new head coach for Women's Lacrosse

DUBUQUE, Iowa - Clarke Univerity Athletics and Athletics Director Curt Long are excited to announce the addition of Irene Carlquist to the athletic department as the newest head coach for the women's lacrosse program.

Carlquist joins the Pride from Fishers High School in Fishers, Ind. where she was the head coah of their girls lacrosse program from 2021 until accepting the position at CU. While at Fishers, she would organize game day operations and coordinate volunteers, develop and execute practice plans, manage program game and pratice schedule, which included transportation and facility needs, and she would supervise fellow coaches and adjunct personnel.

"I am pleased that Irene has taken leadership of the program and I am looking forward to roster growth and competitive performances," Long said. " Irene played in a successful intercollegiate program and has coached at both the high school and college levels. Timing for Irene's arrival is good as our team moves from governance of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference to the Heart of America Athletic Conference."

During that time as a high school head coach, she also served as an assistant coach fo the women's lacrosse team at Anderson University in Anderson, Ind. where she would provide goalie coaching for players that received conference honors, assist with and implement game time decisions and adjustments, and would develop and run practice drills.

As a student-athelte, Carlquist was a member of the women's lacrosse team at the University of Indianapolis where she was a goalie for the Greyhounds from 2016 to 2019. While competing for UIndy, Carlquist received Rookie of the Year in the GLIAC Rookie of the Year as a freshman while also earning GLIAC and NCAA Division II Player oof the Week honors.

"We're very excited with the experience Irene brings to lacrosse here at Clarke, both her playing experience at UIndy and her coaching experience at the high school and collegiate level," Direct of Lacrosse Tucker La Belle said. "We look forward to her energy and enthusiam to building a successful women's lacrosse program and recruiting players nation wide."

Carlquist's first day was on Tuesday, Sept. 6 as she will immediately dive into getting to know the Clarke student-athletes and hit the recruiting trail.