Army West Point Athletics
Women's Lacrosse
- Title:
- Associate Head Women's Lacrosse Coach
Sammy Cermack was named Associate Head Coach of the women's lacrosse program at Army in August 2023 and enters her second season on staff at West Point.
The 2025 season saw the program reach new heights, earning another at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament with an 8-1 record in Patriot League play and 13-2 mark in the regular season. Army defeated its first-ever opponent ranked in the top-five in the IWLCA poll with its 12-9 victory over No. 4 Stanford. The season also saw the program's first-ever First Team All-American with midfielder Brigid Duffy.
Cermack comes to West Point following a nine-year stint at Lehigh, having served as associate head coach over the past six seasons. A native of Ridgewood, New Jersey, Cermack also had a standout playing career at Johns Hopkins.
"I am thrilled to add such an awesome person and coach to our Army Lacrosse program. I have admired Sammy's success from afar for a long time, and I feel beyond fortunate to share a sideline with her. Sammy brings a wealth of experience and excitement to West Point and I can't wait for her to get started working with our cadet-athletes. I look forward to welcoming Sammy, her husband Kevin and son Rocky to our family!" - Noto Family Head Coach Michelle Tumolo
During her time in Bethlehem, Cermack played a significant role in recruiting as well as team travel, equipment and apparel. She also assisted in all areas of team preparation, including video breakdown, scouting and player development. Cermack was promoted to associate head coach prior to the 2018 season after spending three seasons as assistant coach, and has helped the Mountain Hawks to the Patriot League Tournament in every season during her tenure.
Cermack helped the Mountain Hawks to sustained success throughout her tenure, including a 12-6 overall record in 2023 with a trip to the Patriot League semifinals. This was coming off a 2021 season which saw Lehigh advance to the Patriot League Championship Game for the first time since 2010, finishing the season 9-4 overall (6-1 in the league). Offensively, Cermack oversaw an offense that consistently produced, which included scoring 20+ goals twice (for the first time since 2009). The Mountain Hawks ended the regular season winning seven of their last eight games (which extended to nine of 10 with a pair of postseason wins). Lehigh defeated a ranked Navy team in the regular season (12-7), then beat the Mids again in the Patriot League Quarterfinals (13-12 in overtime) to advance to the semifinals. Cermack coached Sondra Dickey who was named a third team IWLCA All-American selection, becoming Lehigh's first All-American in ten seasons. Dickey was also named to the Tewaaraton Award Watch List and tabbed Patriot League Midfielder of the Year honors .
In 2020, Lehigh started strong, recording a 6-2 record when the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the rest of the season. The Mountain Hawks were averaging 14.50 goals per game at the time. In 2018, Lehigh went 13-6, including a school-record seven Patriot League wins with just two losses. From 2016-18, the Mountain Hawks posted a 38-17 record, among the most wins in the nation in that stretch. Lehigh reached the Patriot League semifinals in three of the first five seasons with Cermack on staff.
Cermack also enjoyed a stellar playing career at Johns Hopkins, posting 149 career points behind 98 goals and 51 assists capped off by a 59-point campaign in 2014. Johns Hopkins finished 15-5 in her senior season which resulted in an NCAA Tournament appearance. Cermack was named an IWLCA All-American following her senior year.
While at Johns Hopkins, Cermack was named first team All-American Conference, while also tabbing first team Mid-Atlantic All-America honors. In addition, she received the Blue Jays Unlimited Award given to the Johns Hopkins varsity senior athlete who most exemplifies the spirit of Blue Jays Unlimited by demonstrating team spirit and leadership, promoting team unity and morale, and enhancing the athletic experience of her teammates.
Cermack received several other awards and honors over her career, including second team All-Conference as a junior and Johns Hopkins Midfielder of the Year as a sophomore. She went on to play for the Philadelphia Force in the United Women's Lacrosse League beginning in the professional league's inaugural season in the summer of 2016. While in Baltimore, she worked as a coach for the Blue Jay Elite Camp which included skill instruction and demonstrations for high level school aged participants. Cermack graduated from Johns Hopkins in May of 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology.
