ST. JOSEPH - Missouri Western women's lacrosse head coach Rachel Benzing has finalized her coaching staff for the team's inaugural season in 2021.
Benzing tabbed Courtney Baker as the team's assistant coach and Garland Fiser as the start-up program's first graduate assistant.
"I am extremely excited to welcome Courtney and Garland to the Griffon Lacrosse family," Benzing said. "The two of them are bought into the vision of our program and are ready to grow this thing from the ground up. Courtney brings a wealth of knowledge from her East Coast background and playing experience at the Division I level. This budding coach made a huge impact at North Greenville during her first year on the collegiate sideline and her determination and passion will propel her forward here at MWSU.
"Garland has winning experience in both the GLVC and on the national stage. She will be integral in our total-player development and implementing a championship mindset. The combination of coaches we now have truly rounds out our staff on all sides of the ball and sets us up for success. I'm ready to get to work with these two by my side."
Baker spent last season as an assistant at North Greenville University where she led defensive and goalie training. She was a four-year goalie at Furman University where she earned first team All-Southern conference and All-Southern Conference Tournament honors as a senior. The two-time Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Week left Furman as the program's leader in single season saves as well as holding the Southern Conference record for goals against average in a season. Baker received her bachelor's in political science with a minor in Middle East and Islamic studies from Furman.
"I am very excited and thankful to join this staff and work under Rachel Benzing to help build the program at Missouri Western," Baker said. "Rachel is very passionate about this program and our players and that is what immediately stood out to me during the interview process. Lacrosse is growing rapidly in the Midwest and I look forward to assisting Rachel in building an immediate championship caliber team and culture her at Missouri Western."
Fiser comes to MWSU after helping lead Lindenwood to two RMAC women's lacrosse championships as a student-athlete. Fiser was on three Lindenwood teams that advance to NCAA postseason play, including a national championship semifinal appearance. She earned her bachelor's degree in exercise science with a minor in adapted sports and recreation from Lindenwood.
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