BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Former Illinois Wesleyan University standout Grainne Kelly will join the women's lacrosse staff as an assistant coach, IWU Women's Lacrosse Head Coach Lindsey Kellar announced Thursday, July 15. 

"I am very excited to welcome Grainne back to IWU as a member of our coaching staff" stated head coach Lindsey Kellar. "Grainne knows what it takes to be a successful Titan on the field and in the classroom and will bring unmatchable energy, passion, and commitment to our program." 

Since graduating from IWU in 2019, Kelly has served as the Head Lacrosse Coach at Lockport Township High School. She has also worked as a club coach for the New Wave Lacrosse Club.

Kelly is a familiar face to the Titan lacrosse community, having donned the Green and White from 2016 to 2019. During her stint at IWU she was named the team captain in her junior and senior seasons. She was a part of the IWU's first College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Tournament Championship in 2017, and then led the team to two more CCIW Tournament titles in 2018 and 2019. Kelly aided the Titans to three NCAA Tournament appearances, twice making it to the second round. 

A strong midfielder, Kelly earned All-CCIW First Team honors three years in a row, and was also named All-Great Lakes Region by the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association twice. She was a second team selection as a junior and a first team pick as a senior.

Off the field, Kelly was recognized on multiple occasions for her academic prowess. She was a four-time CCIW Academic All-Conference honoree, a Jack Swartz awardwinner in 2019, and the recipient of the CCIW's Merle Chapman Leadership Award in 2019. 

Kelly, who graduated from IWU with a degree in psychology and double minored in hispanic studies and coaching, is working towards her masters degree in secondary education with a focus in psychology from Lewis University.