Liza Oakley

Assistant Coach

Liza Oakley joined the Bucknell women's lacrosse staff as an assistant coach in August 2022. Oakley, formerly a standout defender at Mount St. Mary’s, has made previous coaching stops at Butler, Fresno State, and Lynchburg.

At Bucknell, Oakley serves as the team’s recruiting coordinator and defensive coordinator, among other duties.

“I am very excited to welcome coach Liza Oakley into our Bucknell women's lacrosse family,” said head coach Jackie Dando at the time of her hiring. “What really stood out to me in this search was Liza’s enthusiasm, work ethic, and desire to invest in our program. I have known Liza for a few years, and I am elated that the timing was right for her to join the staff. She will be an excellent coach for our defensive unit and a mentor to all of our players. I look forward to her spearheading our recruiting efforts, as we continue to bring in impactful classes.”

Oakley spent the 2022 season as an assistant coach at Butler, where she served as the defensive coordinator and helped mentor two Second Team All-Big East honorees.

Oakley also coached the defense and goalies at Fresno State during the 2021 season, and she was part of a Bulldogs squad that advanced to the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation championship game for the first time, despite a roster of only 18 student-athletes. Fresno State led the MPSF in caused turnovers and ground balls, and the Bulldogs’ first-year starting goalie was ranked fourth nationally in saves per game at season’s end.

Oakley coached the MPSF Rookie of the Year, four All-MPSF honorees, and four MPSF All-Tournament Team honorees during her season in Fresno.

Oakley’s coaching career began in June of 2018 as a graduate assistant at the University of Lynchburg in Virginia. She served as the offensive and draw team coordinator during the 2018-19 season and then oversaw the defense and draw unit in 2019-20. Oakley coached two All-Old Dominion Athletic Conference selections in each of her two seasons.

At Lynchburg, Oakley also coordinated the team’s travel, fundraising, and academic programs, all while earning her MBA as a Dean’s List student.

Oakley did her undergraduate studies at Mount St. Mary’s in Emmitsburg, Md., where she graduated cum laude with a major in finance and a minor in economics. Oakley was a four-year letterwinner as a defender and a three-time Northeast Conference All-Academic selection for the Mountaineers. As a senior in 2018, she helped her team rank third in Division I in scoring defense.

Oakley also has coaching experience with Valley Select Lacrosse and Blue Ridge Lacrosse Club in Virginia, and with Dodgers Lacrosse in Hartford, Conn.