Mike Ruggiero – Director
Mike grew up in North Olmsted Ohio, graduating from North Olmsted High School in 2010. He played his high school lacrosse for both St. Edward and Brunswick High Schools, making one OHSAA Regional Championship and two Final Four appearances, while earning three varsity letters over his four year career.
Mike brings a wide range of experience as both a player and coach. As a player, Mike started his collegiate career in Salisbury, NC at Catawba College (NCAA Division II), serving as a redshirt freshman. He then transferred to Mercyhurst Northeast (NJCAA) in Northeast, PA and finally finished his career at Castleton University (NCAA Division III) in Castleton, VT.
Mike was a part of a SAC Regular Season & Tournament Championship team at Catawba College in 2011, an NJCAA Tournament participant at Mercyhurst Northeast in 2012, won back to back NAC Regular Season Championships in 2014 & 15, one NAC Tournament Championship in 2015 & earned an AQ into the 2015 NCAA Division III Tournament.
While at Castleton University, Mike’s graduating class (2015) became the winningest class in program history amassing a record of 51-25. During that time the Spartans never lost a regular season, in-conference game and claimed four Regular Season Championships and two Conference Tournament Championships. Mike went on to graduate with a degree in history in 2015.
As a coach, Mike started out as a Varsity Assistant at Brewster Academy in New Hampshire during the 2015/16 season, helping the Bobcats to a league title. He then served as a Volunteer Offensive Assistant at his alma mater, Castleton University, helping the Spartans reach the NAC tournament championship game in 2016/17. Finally, he moved on to SUNY Purchase and served as the Panthers Head Assistant and Head Recruiting Coordinator from 2017 to 2019.
After the 2019 season at SUNY Purchase, Mike served as Director for True Lacrosse Wisconsin & Wisconsin Mammoth Box Selects from 2019 – 2021 and currently serves as the Head Varsity and JV Coach at Kettle Moraine High School in Wales. Mike is also the Co-Owner, General Manager and Forward for the Milwaukee Muskies, a semi-professional box lacrosse team playing in the Great Plains Box Lacrosse League (GPBLL). The Muskies won the inaugural GPBLL Championship in 2020.
Will Kirkpatrick – Player Development
Will Kirkpatrick has previously played at the High School, elite club, JUCO, and NCAA DII levels. As a player, Will was a 2 time All-State and US Lacrosse All-American at Arrowhead High School. He continued into College playing at Howard Community College in Maryland, and University of Alabama in Huntsville. He has coached at the JV and Varsity level for high school, and the elite club level as well. He is now an Assistant Coach at Waukesha West high school.
Will is also one of the founding coaches of the Badger Prime Program and has been with the program since its inception in Fall of 2020