Lauren Sinacola 2020-21 Women's Soccer Staff
Assistant Coach
In her third season with the Irish in 2020-21, Fisher continued to grow under Sinacola’s watch. She earned second team All-ACC honors after finishing second on the team in goals (3) and points (7). Kiki Van Zanten also had a breakout season in her sophomore campaign through the guidance of Sinacola. She finished the year with the team lead in goals (7) and points (14) while earning All-ACC third team honors.
The Irish made a number of strides in Sinacola’s second season in 2019. The Irish won their first six games of the season, the first six-game winning streak since 2014 and the best start to the season since 2015 when the Irish went unbeaten in their first eight games. The Irish returned to the NCAA tournament for the 26th time in program history and knocked off Saint Louis, 1-0, in the first round.
Sinacola oversaw juniors Sammi Fisher and Eva Hurm have their best offensive seasons of their Irish careers in 2019. Fisher led the team in goals (6), assists (5) and points (17) while Hurm was second in goals (5) and points (13). Both Fisher and Hurm earned third team All-ACC honors along with United Soccer Coaches All Region second team recognition.
Lauren Sinacola signed on at Notre Dame in April 2018 after serving as women’s soccer head coach at Western Michigan for the past two years.
A 2010 graduate of Michigan State, Sinacola has spent the last five years on the Broncos’ coaching staff. Sinacola compiled a record of 23-15-2 overall and 11-9-2 in conference play during her two seasons at the helm of the program. Sinacola led the Broncos to a third-place finish in the MAC West in 2016 after going 6-4-1 in conference play.
Western Michigan landed three All-MAC selections and had 26 student-athletes receive Academic All-MAC honors during her stint as head coach.
Prior to being named Broncos’ head coach, Sinacola was an assistant coach under Norman from Feb. 2013 to May 2016. The duo led Western Michigan to the MAC Tournament Championship game every year, including winning conference titles in 2013 and 2015. During her time as an assistant, 15 student-athletes were named All-MAC and 39 were Academic All-MAC selections.
Sinacola also was an assistant at Olivet College in 2012 and served as a volunteer assistant at her alma mater from 2010-11.
Sinacola also has experience coaching at the club level, where she coached with the TNT Dynamite Soccer Club for four years and served as the head coach of multiple TNT girls teams. Furthermore, Sinacola coached with Midwest United FC in Kalamazoo and has also spent time with the Olympic developmental program.
A native of Rochester, Michigan, Sinacola was a four-year starting central midfielder at Michigan State, where she earned All-Big Ten honors as a junior after leading the Big Ten with 11 assists. Sinacola finished her career with two Academic All-Big Ten selections and two NCAA College Cup appearances.
While at Michigan State, Sinacola earned a bachelor’s degree in communications with a specialization in public relations. Sinacola also earned a masters in sports administration from Michigan State.
Sinacola married her wife, Aimee, in 2019 and the two currently reside in South Bend.