SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts – American International College has named Justin Dionne its Head Women's Lacrosse Coach, Director of Athletics Rob Kearney announced on Thursday, August 28.
"Justin impressed everyone with his outlook on recruiting, his proven track record of growth and development of lacrosse players and his excitement in wanting to come to AIC and build a successful Women's Lacrosse Program. His vision, experience and growth mindset make him the perfect addition to our staff, and we are excited to support him in building a competitive team here at AIC!" Kearney said.
Dionne stated, "I first want to thank AIC and Rob for this amazing opportunity. I want to thank my wife for all her support. I am excited to get the ball rolling here at AIC; this is an amazing opportunity to come in and build a great program while competing against some of the best lacrosse teams in the country! I can't wait to work with the great staff here at AIC and cannot wait to get involved in this awesome community! Go Yellow Jackets!"
Dionne comes to AIC from Dean College, where he was the head coach for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. He led the Bulldogs to their second-ever playoff appearance in 2025 and the highest seeding in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Tournament that the program had ever had. He had three All-Conference selections, and coached the College's NCAA Woman of the Year and GNAC Athlete of the Year nominee Mackenzie Fillion in 2024 as well as the College's Woman Athlete of the Year and Senior Athlete of the Year winners in Natalie Peterson and Haley Gaunt.
In both seasons, the Bulldogs earned IWLCA Academic Honor Squad; in 2025, his team finished with a team cumulative GPA of 3.70.
In addition to his coaching duties, Dionne was Dean's Athletic Facilities Coordinator. He managed and coordinated practice, game, and class schedules for the athletics facilities, and sent a weekly schedule to athletics staff.
Prior to his time at Dean, Dionne coached from the 2020-2023 seasons as the offensive coordinator at Wabash College with the men's lacrosse program. He managed travel logistics, monitored academic progress, analyzed film, and led in the recruiting efforts in addition to running the offense, with multiple All-North Coast Athletic Conference selections, including Ethan Stonis, who scored 54 goals in 2023.
Dionne also has significant club coaching experience at Penguins Select Lacrosse Club, where he began coaching in June 2023; with the Penguins he led weekday team practices and held smaller sessions focused on teaching attackers. Prior to that, he was the varsity assistant and junior varsity head coach at CFL Vikings Lacrosse Club and Timber Creek High School in the summer and fall of 2019.
A four-year member of the lacrosse team at Hiram College, Dionne earned a bachelor's degree in communications in 2019. He started all but one of the team's 56 games from 2016-2019, scoring 39 goals and 69 assists for 108 points, and in 2019 was the team's assists leader with a program-record 26; he also snared 110 ground balls, including 52 as a senior. That campaign earned him an All-NCAC selection.
