WISE - - Former UVa-Wise standout Rachel "Rocky" Cole is returning home as she was announced as the school's assistant coach for the women's lacrosse program Monday.

Cole was one of the inaugural women's lacrosse players in school history as she lettered for the Cavaliers from 2015-2018. During that stretch, UVa-Wise claimed its first ever conference championship in 2018 as Cole earned First-Team All-MEC and All-Tournament honors as a senior.

"I am very excited to welcome Rocky back to the program in a coaching role," stated Head Coach Meghan Dennehy. "Her knowledge of our system will make this a smooth transition and her lax iq will help us take the necessary steps to make us competitive in the SAC from the start."

Cole earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education with a concentration in mathematics and spent the last year as a fourth grade teacher in Louisa County. While teaching, she also served as a coach on a youth travel team in Northern Virginia.

"I am extremely excited to come back to my Wise family, and to be a part of the program in a different role," stated Cole. "This team and Coach Dennehy gave me so much when I was a player, and hopefully I can give back to them and help this program grow moving into the South Atlantic Conference."

Cole is from Ithaca, New York and graduated high school in Flower Mound, Texas.