CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Austin Peay State University Director of Athletics Gerald Harrison announced on Tuesday, June 25, the hiring of the Governors first-ever women’s lacrosse coach in Melissa Rausch.
Rausch comes to Clarksville after spending the past five seasons at the University of Colorado Springs (UCCS), where she served as an assistant coach from 2020-21 and the head coach since 2022, according to APSU Athletics.
Before her time at UCCS, Rausch played a major role in the athletic department at Nichols College, which included serving in positions such as assistant director of athletics, head women’s lacrosse coach and assistant men’s lacrosse coach.
In a press release, Harrison said it is a monumental day for Austin Peay and with the hiring of Rausch, she becomes the first Division-I head women’s lacrosse coach at a public university in the state of Tennessee.
“Coach Rausch’s teams have been successful on and off the field, and I know she will be a champion of the ‘Total Gov Concept,'” said Harrison. “I can’t wait to watch Coach Rausch build Austin Peay women’s lacrosse into a championship-caliber program! It is a great day to be a Gov!”
Coaches corner
“I would like to thank Vice President and Director of Athletics Gerald Harrison and President Dr. Mike Licari for seeing the value of adding a women’s lacrosse program at Austin Peay, and of course, for their belief in me to start this program,” said Rausch. “I would also like to thank Jordan Harmon, Mannie Reinsch and the entire search committee for not only their confidence in me, but for sharing their love and Austin Peay pride, making it impossible not to be ecstatic for this opportunity.
“The sport of lacrosse has offered me so many opportunities, and I am honored to have the opportunity to show Austin Peay, Clarksville and the Montgomery County communities how exciting women’s lacrosse is and to be able to continue to grow the sport. To have the privilege to be trusted to not only coach at Austin Peay, but to start a Division I program, is humbling and a dream come true.”
Rausch added to her comments by thanking the entire UCCS community for all of their support over the years, including Eric Gobiel, who offered Rausch her first college coaching job. She also said, “One of the important parts of having the privilege of coaching at the collegiate level is immersing myself into the community and continuing to grow the sport. I can’t wait to get to Clarksville and see where and how I can help support the sport of lacrosse. Let’s Go Peay!”
In her final season with the University of Colorado Springs, Rausch led the Moutain Lions to a 7-9 record, which included a 5-5 conference record in the Rocky Moutain Athletic Conference (RMAC). In her two seasons, she also led the program to 22 wins and three straight trips to the RMAC Women’s Lacrosse Championship, according to APSU Athletics.