Mendham Native Joins Rutgers Women's Lacrosse Team As Assistant Coach

She spent summers as a mentor for young girls playing lacrosse near her Mendham hometown, as well as at a number of lacrosse camps along the East Coast. Now the N.J. native Nicole Graziano is returning to take a position as an assistant coach with the Rutgers women's lacrosse team.

Head coach Laura Brand-Sias announced the latest addition to the Rutgers team earlier today. A 2016 Tewaaraton Award finalist and Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association of America (IWLCA) All-American, Graziano was consistently among the top-performing lacrosse players in the BIG EAST during her five year career at the University of Florida. Graziano earned a master’s degree in management at Florida in 2016 after completing her undergraduate studies in 2015 with a degree in sociology.

"Certainly Nicole's athletic resume speaks for itself, but as soon as you meet her you can sense her competitive nature and her drive to win,” Brand-Sias said in a press release. “We are at a critical point in the development of our program at the Big Ten and national level, and Nicole possesses the characteristics that will assist our players in the elevation of their game.”

Graziano, an IWLCA All-South First Team selection, tallied at least 21 points in all four seasons played at Florida, saving her best performance for last in 2016 with 44 goals and 17 assists (61 points), 31 ground balls, 22 caused turnovers, and 45 draw controls. Her all-around dominance earned her one of five invitations as a finalist at the 16th Annual Tewaaraton Award Ceremony on June 2.

"I am beyond excited to start my collegiate coaching career under Laura Brand-Sias and Katie Hertsch and I am grateful for the opportunity they have given me to coach at Rutgers University,” Graziano said. “I cannot wait to bring my knowledge and passion for the game to the Scarlet Knights."