GREENVILLE, Pa.—Jordyn Merkel was recently named the assistant women’s lacrosse coach at Thiel College.
Merkel is the first assistant coach in the history of Thiel’s women’s lacrosse program, which started in 2012. She spent the 2020 season as the assistant coach at Johnson and Wales University in Denver, Col., primarily working with the team’s defense and goalies.
A native of Littleton, Col., Merkel played at NCAA Division III Augustana College (Rock Island, Ill.). She was part of an Augustana team in 2015 that went 19-2 overall, won the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin title and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division III Tournament.
Merkel went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in recreation, tourism and hospitality with a minor in business administration from the University of Northern Colorado, where she was a member of club women’s lacrosse team for three years.
Prior to her time at Johnson and Wales University, Merkel was an operations team member for Chuze Fitness and Vasa Fitness. She was a game day operations intern for the Denver Outlaws of Major League Lacrosse and served as an assistant athletic director for South Suburban Parks and Recreation.
About Thiel College
Thiel College is an independent college founded in the Lutheran tradition. Located in Greenville, Pa., the College offers 60 majors and minors, 24 varsity sports, and an 11:1 student-faculty ratio. The College is also home to a new Master of Science in speech-language pathology and 2Master of Business Administration. Both master’s degree programs offer innovative and accelerated five-year paths which allow students to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years. The speech-language pathology program also has an accelerated 15-month graduate-level program. The M.B.A. program also has a 12-month post-graduate program.A dedicated faculty paired with dynamic research and internship opportunities produce numerous graduate school and job placements. Coeducational from its beginnings, the College remains committed to combining tradition with innovation as it celebrates 150 years.