ROCHESTER, N.Y. – RIT Executive Director of Athletics Jacqueline Nicholson officially announced the recent addition of six assistant coaches to the department.
 
Jazmyn Haywood – Women's Basketball Assistant Coach

• Haywood spent the last two seasons as head coach at nearby Edison Tech High School and is the founder and executive director for the Jazz Network, which is a non-profit organization for 11-18 year-old girls that provides mentorship, skill development and networking opportunities to empower the next generation of women leaders.
• Haywood was the Program Coordinator for Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP) and Monroe Community College from 2020-21 and served as a substitute teacher at the Rochester City School District from 2018-20.
• Haywood played four years at Clarkson, serving as captain during her senior campaign before graduating with a degree in science and digital arts and sciences. She went on to earn a master's degree in science and sport administration from Canisius in 2016. 

Emily Hawryschuk – Women's Lacrosse Assistant Coach

• Hawryschuk joins the program after most recently serving as an assistant coach at Division I Niagara for the past two seasons.
• Hawryschuk was a two-time IWLCA All-American and three-time First-Team All-Atlantic Coast Conference during her career at Division I Syracuse, finishing her career as the program's all-time leader with 272 goals and fourth with 341 points.
• After completing a degree in finance and accounting from Syracuse in 2020, she went on to earn a master's in entrepreneurship and emerging enterprises in 2021 and a certificate of advanced study in intercollegiate athletic advising and support from the Whitman School of Management in 2022. She is also the founder and coach of 51 Stars Lacrosse, which aims to develop the next generation of women's lacrosse players through on and off field skills-based training. 

Frank Sankey Jr. – Women's Rowing Assistant Coach

• Sankey began his first season with the RIT women's rowing team this fall. An active masters coxswain and rower, he also serves as an assistant coach with the Genesee Rowing Club and the Rochester Boat Club.
• Sankey was a four-year member of the Tigers' men's rowing team, serving as co-captain during his senior season before graduating in 2020 with a degree in mechanical engineering technology. 

Susan Valone – Softball Assistant Coach

• Valone joined the softball staff to serve primarily as the Tigers' pitching coach. She has experience coaching at the high school level in the greater Rochester area and has also lists numerous years as a private pitching coach on her resume.

Rachel Van Dongen – Men's and Women's Rowing Assistant Coach

• Van Dongen brings a strong rowing background to the Tiger staff, having served locally as an assistant coach and competitor with Flower City Rowing, the Fairport Crew Club and the Genesee Rowing Club. She recently completed an undergraduate degree in environmental science at SUNY Brockport and is currently enrolled at RIT pursuing a graduate degree in sustainable systems. 

Conor Whipple – Men's Lacrosse Assistant Coach

• Whipple joins the RIT staff after spending the last five seasons as a head coach at Division I Bucknell, serving as the face-off coordinator as well as the offensive and recruiting coordinator for last year's campaign.
• Whipple was a four-time USILA All-American during his playing career at Division I University of Tampa, graduating as the program's all-time leader with 354 points and 185 assists while finishing second with 169 goals and 75 games played. He also tied the single-season record with 99 points during his senior campaign in 2017, including a single-season program-record 60 assists, on his way to his third-straight Sunshine State Conference Player of the Year honor. He helped the Spartans to four-straight conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances.
• Whipple completed a degree in sports management in 2017 and went on to earn a master's in entrepreneurship from Tampa in 2018.