Lauren Simko enters her first season as Head Coach of JCU Women's Lacrosse in 2026-27.
Simko guided Ashland’s young program to new heights over the course of five seasons. In 2026, Simko guided the Eagles to the program’s first NCAA Division II playoff victory and a program-record 16 wins.
Simko steered Ashland to back-to-back Great Midwest Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament titles in 2025 and 2026. Ashland made back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Division II Tournament with the automatic bid. In 2024, Simko led the Eagles to the program’s first winning season and first conference tournament victory.
In each of the last seasons, Simko has garnered G-MAC Coach of the Year honors. Without a doubt, Simko molded the young program into a perennial contender. She departs Ashland with a 50-28 record.
Simko previously guided Ursuline College during two shortened pandemic seasons in 2020 and 2021. In her second season with the Arrows, Simko won G-MAC Coach of the Year recognition.
From 2017-19, Simko served as the head coach at the University of Findlay. Simko guided the Oilers to the 2019 G-MAC championship. In total, she compiled 32 wins over three seasons, including a 15-4 record in 2018. She coached 13 all-conference selections and four all-region picks.
Simko led two Division III programs for a season apiece, guiding the University of Dallas in 2016 and Cornell College in 2015.
Her college coaching career began at Lake Erie College, where Simko got her start as a graduate assistant. Simko acquired her Master’s in Business Administration. Simko is a 2011 graduate of Lees-McRae (N.C.) College, where she played lacrosse for four years.
