Carrie Kubasta is an alumna of Wittenberg University who has transitioned from being a key player on the women’s lacrosse team to an assistant coach for the Tigers.
Head coach of women’s lacrosse, Nicholle St. Pierre, asked Kubasta to stick around and help coach following her senior season in the spring of 2016. It was an offer she couldn’t refuse, as lacrosse has been a big part of her life for so long.
“It was hard to imagine playing for years and years and never picking up my stick again,” Kubasta said. “Still being able to have [lacrosse] in my life is what made it fun.”
As a sophomore, Kubasta transferred to Wittenberg after playing lacrosse at St. Bonaventure University her freshman year. She quickly found success as a midfielder, earning All-Conference honorable mention sophomore year, second team All-Conference junior year and first team All-Conference senior year. She also earned NCAC defensive player of the year and first team All-Region her senior year.
Kubasta has also found success in academics, gaining entry into Ohio State’s graduate program after completing a major in math and minors in economics and business at Wittenberg. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in actuarial and quantitative risk management, in hopes of becoming an actuary or an analyst. In the meantime, being a coach at Wittenberg is a way for her to finance her graduate school.
“That’s pretty much all I do is homework and coach,” Kubasta said with a laugh.
Going forward, Kubasta does not see herself coaching long-term. However, she would like to keep lacrosse in her life somehow. Right now, she is focused on successfully completing graduate school, and passing exams to become an actuary.
When asked about the challenges of coaching people she used to play with, Kubasta expanded on the different relationship she has with friends on the team. Their relationship has become a more professional one.
“It’s a completely different relationship now,” she said. “I don’t think the transition was hard for me personally, but there are certain things I can’t do with them now as opposed to last year.”
As a coach, Kubasta has realized things that are hard to see as a player. Now that she is on the sidelines with St. Pierre, she sees what all goes into making a successful team.
“The most valuable thing I’ve learned from coaching so far is how much our coach puts into things. She has our best interests in heart,” Kubasta said.
The team recently finished off fall ball, and Kubasta is looking forward to her first spring season as a lacrosse coach for her alma mater.
