Ridge High School is excited to welcome Olivia Harpel as our new Head Girls Lacrosse Coach. Olivia is a dedicated leader who works hard to bring values-based direction, confidence, and guidance to the young women in her programs. On and off the field, her commitment is predicated upon the belief that empowering student-athletes to be well-rounded members of the teams and organizations that they are a part of is a critical pursuit. This includes focusing on collaboration and interpersonal development, disciplined engagement in the classroom and extracurriculars, and a strong adherence to integrity.
Coach Harpel was a heavily recruited three-sport high school athlete and captain in the nearby town of Princeton and has 14 years of experience playing lacrosse and 12 years of experience coaching the sport at every level. She was a two-time All-American, All-American Showcase MVP, and a top 15 recruit in her graduating high school class. She furthered her career at Northwestern University, earning a Bachelor of Science in literature and psychology, and then at the College of William & Mary, earning her Masters in Business Administration, while also a Graduate Assistant Coach for women’s lacrosse.
Coach Harpel brings to Ridge High School a wealth of experience coaching and directing high school lacrosse programs and clubs in New Jersey, Illinois, Virginia, Louisiana, and Pennsylvania. She has created and led skill-specific clinics and showcase teams at the state and regional level, managed the college recruiting process on behalf of her athletes, and worked for and with nationally-recognized coaches and mentors at every step in her career. She is proud to take this particular step to lead Ridge High School’s Girls Lacrosse program with candor, integrity, and compassion.
