Hilbert College Athletics

HAMBURG, N.Y. – The Athletics Department at Hilbert College, under the leadership of John Czarnecki, is pleased to announce the recent hiring of Katelyn Fass as the new head coach for the women’s lacrosse program.  Faas is currently finishing up her summer camp/clinic commitments but is extremely excited to assume her first collegiate head coaching position effective July 28th.

Czarnecki said, “Katelyn’s skills, passion, and potential stood out amongst the strong candidate pool for this position.  A National Champion during her playing days at Maryland, Katelyn is an up-and-coming lacrosse coach that we are now fortunate enough to call a member of our Hilbert Athletics team.  I look forward to working with her in her administrative capacity as well as watching her bring our women’s lacrosse team to the next level.”

Faas will use her previous experiences both as a player and as a graduate assistant coach, to mold the Hawks lacrosse program into winners.  “I know the sacrifices a college athlete has to make in order to be successful, just as I understand the commitment a college coach must make to their players and program.  With my determination, drive and passion for the game, I look forward to taking the program to the next level.”

Faas, a Rochester, NY native, brings a winning attitude to Hilbert.  She was a super-senior at the University of Maryland when the Terps won the Division I National Championship in 2010. The two previous seasons, Maryland finished as one of the top teams in the country, making it to the Final Four in 2009 and Elite Eight in 2008.  Faas red-shirted her fourth year due to an ACL injury in 2009 and battled back physically to contribute to the program’s national championship in 2010.

Faas attended St. Bonaventure University her first two years after high school (2005-06, 06-07) and then made a tough decision to change her academic field of study which led to the transfer to Maryland and the ACC league.  Even in Olean, the attacker was a dominating athlete on the field.  She earned several post-season honors from the Atlantic 10 conference: Offensive Player of the Year (2007), All Rookie Team (2006), 1st Team All-Conference (2006 and 2007) and 2nd Team All Region (2006 and 2007).

At the conclusion of her athletic career, Faas moved to the sidelines and accepted a Sport Administration Graduate Assistantship at Canisius College (Buffalo, NY) and served as an assistant coach in the women’s lacrosse program during her two-year assignment.  While there, the Griffs won back-to-back Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championships and moved on into the NCAA tourney, something Faas was familiar with as a player.

Faas gained teaching and coaching experiences even while in college as an undergraduate.  She worked numerous lacrosse camps either as a director or counselor since 2008 and most recently served as the head coach for the Hamburg Junior Varsity team (2014).

With her new full-time position at Hilbert College, Faas will be responsible for all facets of a Division III lacrosse program.  She will also support other administrators in the Hawks’ athletic department coordinating all transportation needs for the 13 athletic programs and serve as the primary administrator for the summer camps.
 
Faas graduated from the University Of Maryland with a bachelors of arts degree in kinesiology in 2010.  She picked up a master in sport administration from Canisius College in 2013 and served as an adjunct professor at Canisius teaching a Sport and Recreation Law class in 2013. 

Most recently Faas was employed as Fitness Professional at Omega Health and Wellness in Buffalo.