LEWISTON, Maine – Bates College men's lacrosse assistant coach Andrew Smistad has accepted a position with Marquette University, where he will serve as offensive coordinator and assistant coach for the Golden Eagles — returning to the program he helped establish as a player and captain.
Smistad spent the past three seasons on the sidelines in Lewiston, helping guide the Bobcats through a period of growth and competitive success. He played a key role in developing Bates' offensive unit, culminating in a 9-7 record in 2025 and a return to the NESCAC postseason.
"I would like to thank Coach (Dan) Annino for all he has done for me during my time at Bates," said Smistad. "He has been building something special up in Lewiston and I'm blessed to have been a small part of it. I will cherish the great relationships I built there and am excited to see what that exceptional group of guys does next."
A native of Calgary, Alberta, Smistad returns to Marquette, where he was a member of the inaugural men's lacrosse teams and served as captain during the Golden Eagles' first two intercollegiate seasons (2013–14). Following his playing career, he built a strong coaching résumé, including a successful stint as head coach of the Calgary Shamrocks, which captured the 2019 Founders Cup national championship under his leadership.
Smistad holds a degree in mathematics from Marquette and is a former BIG EAST All-Academic honoree. He was selected in the 2014 NLL Draft by the Calgary Roughnecks and is married to former Marquette volleyball student-athlete Courtney Mrotek. The couple has a son, Theo.
"Congratulations to Coach Smistad on an incredible opportunity," said Annino. "Returning to his alma mater — a program he helped build as a player and captain — to continue his coaching journey, I couldn't be happier for he and his family. Congrats to Marquette Lacrosse on a fantastic hire — they're getting an exceptional coach."
"He leaves our program better than he found it, helping lay a strong foundation for the future, " Annino added. "Andrew is a shining example of the kind of coach we hope to launch from Bates."
