Marywood University Pacers

Ryan Nowell '15 returns to Marywood University to take over as the head men's lacrosse coach for the 2025 season, Director of Athletics and Recreation Andrew Smith announced. Nowell will also serve as the Coordinator of Athletic Operations for the department. 

One of the most-honored student-athletes in Marywood men's lacrosse history, Nowell returns to his Alma mater following a coaching career that spanned all three NCAA divisions. 

Nowell previously served as an assistant men's lacrosse and offensive coordinator at Moravian University. He has also served as an assistant at Lafayette College, Lake Erie College and Huntingdon College, as well as a stint at Marywood. 

It is Nowell's second career head coaching post. He previously was the head coach at Huntingdon College, a Division III school in Montgomery, Ala. During the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Nowell led the Hawks to a 4-6 overall record.

In his time with the Pacers, Nowell was a 2015 Preseason All-American. He led the Pacers to Colonial States Athletic Conference championship games in three of his four years. Nowell was an assistant coach for a Marywood team that finished CSAC runner-ups in 2017. 

Nowell holds the Marywood school record with 64 career starts. He is second in ground balls by a non-faceoff specialist (218), fourth in caused turnovers (72) and fifth in total ground balls. Nowell holds the record for single-season ground balls by a non-faceoff specialist (93, 2014). 

Nowell comes to Marywood after two stints at Moravian in 2018-19 and 2024. He served as the the Greyhounds' defensive coordinator, as well as administrative duties that included basketball tournament management and men's soccer site supervision. In 2024, Moravian kept opponents to just 10 goals per game and a No. 5 seed in the Landmark Conference postseason.

During the summer, Nowell coaches the USA national team in the Lisbon Lacrosse Cup in Portugal.

Prior to that, Nowell was as a volunteer assistant coach at Division I Lafayette College during the 2022 and 2023 seasons, specializing in faceoffs and defense.  He was an assistant coach and defensive coordinator at Division II Lake Erie College in Ohio in 2021. Nowell was also the Operations Support Coordinator in the registrars office. 

In his two seasons as an assistant at Marywood, the Pacers finished 15-21 overall and 9-5 in CSAC play. Marywood advanced to the 2017 CSAC championship after defeating Centenary 15-5 in the semifinals. 

Additionally, Nowell has been a club coach at Burning River Club, Building Blocks Lacrosse, NEPA Pirates and Ace Lacrosse Club.

As a player, Nowell was an Inside Lacrosse Preseason All-American in 2015. He was four-time All-CSAC, being awarded to the First Team (2014), Second Team (2015) and Honorable Mention (2012, 2013). Nowell closed his career ranked sixth in CSAC/PAC history in career caused turnovers. 

Nowell earned a bachelor's degree in Athletic Training from Marywood in 2015. He received an MBA from Lake Erie College in 2022.