WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (Oct. 4, 2017)—William & Mary lacrosse head coach Hillary Fratzke has completed her staff for the upcoming season with the hiring of Will Mraz as an assistant coach.
 
While Mraz will be instrumental with both defensive and offensive strategy, his primary responsibilities will include working directly with the goalkeepers, equipment liaison, recruiting, practice plan, leadership development and clinic coordination.
 
"We are so excited to welcome Will as the second addition to our coaching staff," Fratzke said. "He has a wealth of experience with all levels of the game.  Will also shows strong initiative to continue to increase his expertise as a coach and his philosophy is in-line with the Tribe. I am confident he will be an immediate positive impact on the program."
 
Mraz joins the Tribe staff after serving as head coach at the Maine Maritime Academy last season where he led the program to its first postseason berth and its best conference record in school history. Additionally, the Mariners set 34 school records during the 2017 campaign under his direction.
 
"I am honored to be joining W&M and helping Hillary develop her program's culture and brand," Mraz said. "W&M is such a special opportunity and I am excited to be working with an outstanding group of young women. I'd like to thank Hillary, Peel Hawthorne and Athletics Director Samantha K. Huge for their faith in me and what I can bring to the program."
 
In addition to his collegiate coaching duties, Mraz currently serves as head coach of the Czech Republic women's national team and recently led the squad to the country's best ever finish at the Women's Lacrosse World Cup. The squad's 10th-place finish was the highest among all World Cup teams without U.S. players on their rosters.
 
His international coaching experience also includes working as defensive coordinator of the Czech Republic men's national team from 2011-16. During his tenure, the squad finished 14th of 38 nations competing at the Federation of International Lacrosse World Championships in Denver.
 
Prior to his recent stint at the Maine Maritime Academy, Mraz gained a tremendous amount of collegiate coaching experience at both the Division I and II levels. In addition to serving as the women's assistant coach at the University of Bridgeport from 2014-16, he worked as an assistant coach on the Fairfield University men's staff from 1993-96. Additionally, he served as the head coach of Fairfield University women's club lacrosse team, which lost just three games in five seasons under his direction.
 
Mraz's impressive résumé also includes serving as vice president of the Connecticut Chapter of U.S. Lacrosse (2015-17) for the Women's and Girl's game. As such, he was responsible for growing women's and girl's participation at all levels in the state.
 
Additionally, he has founded and coached numerous youth, high school, and club programs in Connecticut, including Fairfield Youth Lacrosse, Wakeman's Boys and Girls Club and Fairfield College Preparatory School.
 
A 1973 graduate of Fairfield University, Mraz was a two-sport athlete and captain of the men's lacrosse team. In addition to being inducted into the Fairfield University Athletics Hall of Fame for his success in lacrosse (1999), he was also honored with the 2016 "Fairfield University Founders Award" for his "Outstanding Contribution and Dedicated Service to the Sport of Lacrosse."