COLCHESTER, Vt. - Saint Michael's College has hired Mike Ruggiero as its new women's lacrosse head coach, Associate Director of Athletics for Compliance/Senior Woman Administrator Kristen Milne announced on Thursday. Ruggiero comes to Saint Michael's after serving as an assistant coach at fellow NCAA Division II member Converse (S.C.) University the past two seasons. He begins his duties at the College on July 13.
 
"I'm incredibly excited and humbled to have the opportunity to become the next head women's lacrosse coach at Saint Michael's College," said Ruggiero. "Vermont has always held a special place in my heart - it's where I went to college, where I met my wife, and where we started our life together. The chance to return to a place that means so much to me and lead this program is truly special. I'm looking forward to building relationships with our student-athletes, alumni, and the campus community, while helping write the next chapter of St. Mike's women's lacrosse. My goal is to build a program that competes at a high level every day, creates a culture our players are proud to be a part of, and consistently puts itself in a position to win. I can't wait to get to work."
 
During his time at Converse, Ruggiero was offensive coordinator and led recruiting efforts for its women's program while assisting in practice planning, scouting, and goalkeeper development. The Valkyries finished above .500 in Conference Carolinas play for the first time in 2026 while placing in the top half of the 12-school league to qualify for the six-team postseason tournament. Converse was 8-8 in Conference Carolinas action over his two years, while Valkyries combined for nine all-league accolades and nearly a dozen academic laurels.
 
"Mike brings collegiate coaching experience, a passion for coaching and player development, and a strong commitment to recruiting student-athletes who fit our program culture and team environment," said Milne. "We are confident that his leadership, combined with his exceptional understanding of the women's game, will build a strong foundation and elevate our women's lacrosse program in the years ahead."
 
Ruggiero arrived in South Carolina after finding success in the college and high school ranks in Wisconsin. He was hired as an assistant coach for the first-year Milwaukee School of Engineering women's lacrosse program during the 2023-24 school year, helping build a team that finished above .500 in league play with a conference semifinal appearance by its second season before finishing as league runner-up in 2026. Raider student-athletes combined to earn nine all-conference honors during the program's first three campaigns.
 
During the 2023 and 2024 seasons, Ruggiero was offensive coordinator and assistant coach with the Oconomowoc High School varsity girls' squad, as the Raccoons improved from 4-6-1 in 2022 to 18-3 by his first spring. Oconomowoc advanced to the regional final that year and a regional semifinal in 2024. Between 2020 and 2022, Ruggiero was head coach of the Kettle Morraine High School varsity boys' team, landing Classic 8 Coach of the Year honors in 2021. After his initial season was wiped out due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lasers were state semifinalists in 2021 and 2022, going a combined 29-7-1.
 
Ruggiero's prior college and high school experience came on sidelines in New England and New York. He was head assistant coach, offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator for the State University of New York Purchase men's team in 2018 and 2019, when the Panthers were a combined 11-16 in the program's second and third seasons of existence and saw student-athletes earn three all-conference accolades. Ruggiero was simultaneously offensive assistant coach for the Mahopac (N.Y.) High School boys in 2019, helping them reach a section semifinal.
 
In 2017, Ruggiero returned to his alma mater, Vermont State University Castleton, as a volunteer offensive assistant coach of the men's program. The Spartans went 10-9 overall and 6-1 in North Atlantic Conference (NAC) play before finishing as league postseason runners-up. Six student-athletes were named all-conference at season's end. During the 2016 season, Ruggiero helped the Brewster Academy varsity boys win a league title as an assistant coach.
 
Ruggiero also carries a vast amount of experience as a club coach, working with numerous teams in New Hampshire, New York, South Carolina, and Wisconsin. In the latter, he co-founded the Milwaukee Junior Muskies, a boys' box lacrosse program that produced two athletes who represented the United States and won gold at the 2023 International Indoor Junior Lacrosse (IIJL) World U18 Lacrosse Championship.
 
A native of North Olmsted, Ohio, Ruggiero began his college playing career at NCAA Division II member Catawba (N.C.) College, where he redshirted as a first-year in 2011 as Catawba won the Deep South Conference tournament crown. After two years at Mercyhurst (Pa.) University's North East campus, Ruggiero played two seasons at VTSU Castleton, helping the Spartans win the 2015 NAC Championship and earn a spot in the NCAA Division III Tournament. Ruggiero earned a bachelor's degree in history from VTSU Castleton in 2015.