Carolynn Keal was intodroduced as the head coach of the Rams’ 20th intercollegiate sport, women’s lacrosse, in June 2023.  

Keal has spent the last two seasons in the Pacific Northwest at Willamette as an assistant coach in 2022 and an associate head coach in 2023. She was an integral part of the program’s post-pandemic resurgence that saw the Bearcats scatter 25 victories over the last two campaigns highlighted by an appearance in the first-ever NWC Championship this spring.  

Before assisting in all facets of Willamette’s program, Keal got her collegiate coaching career underway as a graduate assistant at New England College. In Henniker, New Hampshire, she not only coached the 2019 New England Collegiate Conference Player of the Year, but helped guide the Pilgrims to the 2019 NECC Championship, en route to NCAA Division III Tournament berth. On top of her coaching responsibilities, Keal obtained her Masters of Business Administration at NEC with a concentration in Sports, Recreation and Management.  

Prior to picking up a coaching whistle, Keal was a four-year member of the women’s lacrosse team at Southern Connecticut State. A four-year starter, two-year captain for the Owls, the midfielder graduated as the all-time record holder in assists, ground balls and caused turnovers and held the mark for single-season handouts as well. She finished her career in 2018 with 161 career points.  

A 2018 graduate of Southern Connecticut State’s Honors College, Keal earned a Bachelor of Science. Since completing her course work in the classroom, she has broadened her traditional education with numerous certifications including QPR Gatekpeer Training for Suicide Prevention and A Long Talk, anti-racism activation.