Anckaitis Named Head Coach
Swarthmore College has selected Todd Anckaitis, current head coach at Lewis and Clark College, as the head women's soccer coach. Anckaitis takes over the program from Amy Brunner, who resigned after seven seasons at Swarthmore.
"The search committee was thoroughly impressed by Todd's character and experience," said Swarthmore Athletics Director Adam Hertz said. "He brings an understanding of the game of soccer and the educational mission that will aid him in elevating our soccer program to the next level."
While at Lewis and Clark, Anckaitis re-established the women's soccer program, dormant since 1990. In 2004 he led a youthful Pioneer squad to an early season No.8 ranking in the West Region.
Prior to his tenure at Lewis and Clark, Anckaitis earned a master of science in exercise and sports studies at Smith College in Northampton, MA. While in Northampton, Anckaitis served as an assistant coach at Amherst College, helping the Jeffs to a No. 2 national ranking and an appearance in the 2001 NCAA Division III National Championship match.
Anckaitis worked for the Dean of Student Residence at Amherst, managing resident counselors responsible for aiding students in resolving conflicts, developing dorm activities, and undertaking community outreach projects.
Anckaitis has coached at various levels, starting out as a volunteer assistant at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ, during the 1999-2000 season. He served as head coach at the Crossroads School for Arts and Sciences in Santa Monica, CA, posting a 12-5-2 record to earn a spot in the California Interscholastic Federation - Southern Section playoffs in 2003. He coached in the Region I Olympic Development Camps (ODP) in Kingston, RI, in 2002 and 2003, and also coached at the Pepperdine and Southern Cal soccer camps.
"I am eager to continue developing my extended soccer family at Swarthmore, where the commitment to excellence extends past the playing field," Anckaitis said. "I look forward to contributing my soccer and real-world knowledge to the Swarthmore women's soccer program, in an effort to obtain the same level of distinction the college has attained."
Anckaitis graduated from Lafayette College in 1995 with a Bachelor of Arts degree concentrating in management and society. Anckaitis attended Lafayette on a four-year Army ROTC scholarship, going on to graduate from the Officer Basic Course at the United States Army Medical Center & School in San Antonio, TX. He served eight years in the Army Reserves/National Guard, achieving the rank of First Lieutenant.