Jill Rizzo Hired as MU WLAX Assistant Coach
6/16/2021 10:56:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
Rizzo played goalie at Ohio State from 2016-21
MILWAUKEE - Marquette University women's lacrosse head coach Meredith Black has tabbed Jill Rizzo as her new assistant coach, she announced Monday. Rizzo joins associate head coach Caitlin Wolf and Black to round out the staff.
Rizzo comes to MU after a phenomenal career on the field as Ohio State's goalie from 2016-21. She was a five-year starter (COVID year in 2020) in college and saved a program-record 777Â shots, which is No. 1 among current NCAA women's lacrosse players. She tallied a .469 save percentage and won 28 games as a starter during her time in Columbus. Her 203 career ground balls also put her at No. 2 all-time among NCAA players.
"I am beyond grateful for the opportunity provided by coach Black on the Marquette women's lacrosse coaching staff," Rizzo said. "I am honored to be a part of the rich culture of excellence at MU and I'm so excited to get started!"
A four-time team captain at OSU, Rizzo was named Second Team All-Midwest Region and Second Team All-Big Ten in 2021. She played in 70 of 71 games in five-year career, starting 69 of them. Not only is she OSU's all-time leader in saves (777), but she's the only Buckeye with more than 600 saves in her career.
Although this will be her first experience as an assistant coach, Coach Black believes that Rizzo's leadership and on-field experience will translate seamlessly into her coaching career.
"I am so excited for the addition of Jill to our program," Black said. "Her experience and success as a goalie at the Division I level speaks for itself. She has an extremely high-level lacrosse IQ and I know she will work wonders with our defense and goalies as our new assistant coach. Jill is very motivated and eager to jump in and make us better."
A two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, she was also a four-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and a five-time Ohio State Scholar-Athlete. Rizzo ranked second among active players in career saves per game (11.03), and ground balls (203) while ranking fifth with 2.90 ground balls per game. During OSU's 2020 matchup with the Golden Eagles, Rizzo started in net and saved 17 shots in a 16-14 win.
The Queensbury, N.Y., native earned her Ohio State degree in business administration in the Spring of 2020 and enrolled in graduate school for sport management.Â
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