By Dom Simonetta
Contributing Writer
Former North Central College women’s lacrosse player Danielle Fiala has gone from star performer on the field to head coach at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa.
Following a tremendous four-year career with the Cardinals that ultimately led to her becoming one of the top players in the Midwest Women’s Lacrosse Conference, Fiala realized that her love for the sport would not end there.
“I am very passionate about lacrosse and I knew I couldn’t leave the game,” said Fiala. “I enjoy playing it and appreciate the opportunities it has given to me.”
With that in mind, the Naperville native searched for a job that would fill the empty void that the end of her playing career had created. To say the least, the 2013 alum found the perfect one.
“I saw the job posted on the NCAA website and applied knowing it was a stretch to become a head coach right out of college, but I knew I couldn’t pass up the opportunity,” said Fiala. “I was a good fit for Wartburg, and Wartburg was a good fit for me.”
Fiala was announced as Wartburg’s head women’s lacrosse coach back in July of last year along with being named Wartburg’s first women’s lacrosse head coach in school history, as the college doesn’t begin its inaugural season until Spring 2015.
As a result, Fiala is hard at work preparing for the program’s first campaign.
“This year, I am recruiting and building my team,”Fiala said. “Next year, I will be coaching and will take a lot away from my experiences at North Central.”
Those valuable experiences are ones that she remembers quite fondly and that have helped her become the woman she is today.
“I played on the team for four years. My freshman year (only the second year as a program) we struggled but continued to progress into a team that was a real threat by my senior year,” said Fiala. “The progress was due to committed players and coaches that helped us to excel to the next level.”
Jenni Kapanen, Fiala’s former head coach and current head women’s lacrosse coach at North Central, is the person she refers to most when attributing her success within the sport.
“Jenni was my coach the entire time.,” Fia;a said. “She did something that I will never be able to repay back. Coach gave me the opportunity to play lacrosse in college and it was the best decision I have ever made.”
As much of an effect that Kapanen had on Fiala’s life on the field, the impression that she had off of it may have been even more defining.
“Jenni made it clear that as a coach you can have a tremendous impact on others and that drove me to purse coaching,” Fiala said. “I will always refer to Jenni as ‘Coach.’ She played a very big role in my transition from being a teenager to being an adult.”
As for Kapanen, she had nothing but words of praise for the soon-to-be first year head coach.
“We were really fortunate to have Danielle for four years,” said Kapanen. “Particularly, because it wasn’t until pretty late into her senior year (of high school) when she started thinking about a four-year college and playing lacrosse when we discovered her.”
“While having a phenomenal individual career as a student-athlete at North Central, Danielle played a big role in helping the team and program grow,” she said.
She also commends Fiala for deciding to follow in her footsteps so to speak.
“Obviously, it’s been neat to see that she’s now decided to go into coaching,” said Kapanen. “She is knowledgeable and passionate about the game and will most certainly be able to relate to the women.”
Acknowledging how influential her own coach was, Fiala relishes the chance to give back.
“Being a college coach is an honor, and I am happy to have the opportunity to coach and mentor college athletes like my former self,” Fiala said.
Although she we will miss the feeling of playing the sport competitively, she fully understands the worthwhile experience that is soon to come.
“It’s heart breaking to not be playing anymore, but I know that I am helping others get to their full potential in life, which is very rewarding,” said Fiala. “There is a lot to be said about playing Division III collegiate athletics. As a team and an individual, athletes are growing and maturing into their ideal selves, and I knew I wanted to help be a part of that.”
She will get that chance next spring when Wartburg’s women’s lacrosse team takes the field for the very first time.
Knowing that she got to where she is in life by going after her aspirations with no fear of failure, Fiala hopes that others, especially within the growing lacrosse community, will do the same.
“Set your goals high,” Fiala said. “This world has a crazy way of making things work out if you reach for them.”
