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Youngstown State University

Youngstown State Athletics
 One University Plaza Youngstown, OH 44555
Division 1 Ohio Midwest
Public Large Competitive team
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Coaches

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Rob Harris

Rob Harris was named the head coach of the Youngstown State women's lacrosse program in July 2023.


Harris joins the Penguins with an experienced background, having led the NCAA Division II Davenport Panthers women's lacrosse team for nine seasons, from 2014-22. In 2021, Harris delivered a historic season at Davenport, leading the team to its first NCAA top-25 ranking as well as a GLIAC (Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletics Conference) tournament finals appearance. During his tenure with the Panthers, he led the team to an impressive 70 percent win percentage (102-45), winning both an NWLL National and NAIA Invitational Championship in his career. Harris also founded the Mitten Select Lacrosse Club and served as owner/head coach from 2014-19.


After joining Davenport in 2014, Harris led the team to back-to-back WHAC (Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference) regular season and tournament titles with wins in 2014 and 2015. In 2016, the Panthers were co-WHAC regular season champions and brought home the NWLL National Championship as well as the NAIA Invitational Championship. In 2017, the team advanced to the NAIA Invitational semifinals after earning co-WHAC regular season champion regards.


In 2018, Davenport transitioned into NCAA Division II and began competing in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). In 2019, just the team's second season in the league, Harris led the squad to a GLIAC tournament appearance before guiding the Panthers to a GLIAC tournament finals appearance in 2021.


Before beginning his tenure at Davenport, Harris served as an assistant coach for the Florida Southern women's lacrosse team in which he helped lead the NCAA Division II Moccasins to as high as a 10th place ranking in the IWLCA (Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association) Top-15 pool.


Prior to his stint with Florida Southern, Harris spent time at Adams State University in Alamosa, Colo. where he served as the head recruiting and defensive coordinator. Harris earned his start with East Grand Rapids High's boys' varsity and junior varsity teams, helping guide the team to an appearance in the state championship during the 2011 season. In addition, he served as an assistant coach and director of lacrosse operations for Grand Valley State from 2009-11. In 2010 and 2011, the Lakers made back-to-back National Championship Tournament appearances. Prior to Harris' stint with the Lakers, Harris earned his Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice from GVSU in 2008. Harris went on to earn a master's degree in human performance and physical education from Adams State.


Harris, originally from Grand Rapids, Mich., resides with his wife, Kelsey, and young daughter, Emerson.

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Halle Bielke

Halle Bielke, a former Walsh University women’s lacrosse standout, is in her second season with the Penguins.


Bielke joined the YSU staff in January 2023 and later in the season took over as the interim head coach for the final 11 games of the campaign. She helped lead the Guins to their second straight appearance in the Mid-American Conference Tournament semifinals. Overall, 16 Penguins were named to the MAC Academic Honor Roll while Ali Korin, Erin Clark, Natalie Calandra-Ryan and Aryss Lindsey earned second-team All-MAC recognition.


She graduated from Walsh University in 2021 with a degree in Early Childhood Education. Bielke is currently working towards a Master's in Dual Endorsement: Leadership and Computer/Technology.


During her five-year athletic career at Walsh, she was a midfielder and defender and helped lead Walsh to its first-ever Great Midwest Athletic Conference title in 2021. The Cavaliers also claimed the GMAC crown in 2022.


At Walsh, she was a two-time defensive player of the year and two-time regular season and tournament champion.


Bielke, a native of Wooster, Ohio, attended Wooster High School where she was a four-time letter winner in lacrosse and named First-Team All-Region.


Both of Bielke’s parents are YSU alumni.

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Taylor Woolard

Woolard joined the Penguins as an assistant coach in August 2023 after spending three seasons as the head women's lacrosse coach at Division II Converse University. In 2023, she led the Valkyries to their first postseason appearance since 2019, leading three student-athletes to All-Conference honors. Under her leadership, Converse was ranked top-25 in the nation in numerous statistical categories: assists per game (20th), draw controls per game (22nd), and caused turnovers per game (24th).


Prior to leading the Valkyries, Woolard served as an assistant coach at Earlham College in Richmond, Ind. where she oversaw the program's defensive system and created practice plans and scouting reports among many other duties.


Before Woolard's stint at Earlham, she was the assistant coach and defensive coordinator at Ferrum College. During her time with the Panthers, she helped lead three student-athletes to USA South All-Conference honors. In addition, three earned IWLCA academic honors while one player earned an All-Sportsmanship team selection.


Prior to joining the NCAA, Woolard led the Hanover High School women's lacrosse team in 2017. The Hawks finished with a 9-8 overall record under her leadership with 14 players garnering all-conference honors and four being tabbed as all-region selections. Before serving the Hawks as head coach, Woolard served as the program's defensive coordinator and assistant coach during the 2014-16 seasons.


As a student-athlete, Woolard spent one season as a defender with Lynchburg College in 2013. She went on to earn a bachelor's degree in philosophy with minors in business and criminal justice from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2015.

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