University of Delaware Athletics
Women's Lacrosse
Kara Nakrasius
- Title:
- Associate Head Coach - Defensive Coordinator
- Email:
- knakras@udel.edu
Kara Nakrasius joined the Delaware women's lacrosse coaching staff in August 2022 as an assistant coach. She was promoted to associate head coach in June 2025. Nakrasius works primarily with the program's defensive and draw control units.
2026 was a year for the record books as the Blue Hens opened a new era as members of the ASUN. Delaware went 13-5 overall, winning the most games since 1999, and went 8-0 in ASUN play for the program’s fifth-ever undefeated conference season and first regular season championship since 1999. Nakrasius led the defense that led the ASUN and ranked 14th nationally in scoring defense (8.50). UD held opponents to single digits in 11 games, the most since 2017 and featured ASUN Defensive Player of the Year Kennedy Radziul. In the draw circle, Delaware ranked ninth in the country in draw control percentage (.604) and set a team record with 262 draw controls, while Ella Rishko broke the individual record with 99 draw controls. Molly Baumgratz earned All-ASUN Second Team honors as a draw specialist, ranking second in program history with 82 draw controls.
Delaware’s defense ranked eighth in the country in 2025 with 11.19 caused turnovers per game. Ella Rishko set the program’s single-game record with 15 draw controls against Towson.
Overseeing the defense in 2024, Nakrasius established one of the strongest defensive efforts in recent Blue Hens history. Delaware tied for 22nd in the country in scoring defense, only allowing 10 goals against per contest. UD finished with 167 caused turnovers, the seventh-most in program history, ranking ninth nationally in caused turnovers per game (10,44). Madison Hranicka was named CAA Defensive Player of the Year for a second year in a row as well as All-CAA First Team. In addition to her role as a defensive coach, Nakrasius also oversaw the draw group, and Danielle Livornese became the school’s all-time draw control leader, finishing with 223 for her college career. The Hens finished within the top 45 in the country in draw control percentage (.525).
In her first season with Delaware, Nakrasius helped Delaware to an 8-8 record and a CAA Tournament berth, while also leading the Blue Hens' draw control group that shattered the program record for draws in a single season (240), and led the CAA with 15.00 draw controls per game. Delaware set a new program record with 26 draw controls in a single-game against Old Dominion, and Livornese tied the individual single-game record and Delaware Stadium record with 12 draw controls. The Blue Hens had six games in 2023 with at least 20 draw controls, after having entered the season with only five games all-time with 20 draw controls.
Prior to her arrival at UD, Nakrasius was on staff at Quinnipiac as an assistant coach in 2022. During her season with the Bobcats, the defense allowed a league-low 197 goals and ranked second in the MAAC with 8.88 caused turnovers per game.
Nakrasius competed at Temple from 2016-21, where she was a four-year captain for the Owls. She broke the career draw control record with a total of 236 and ranked seventh in program history with 144 ground balls. A five-year starter at Temple, she played four years as a defender before transitioning to midfield/attack for her fifth year.
She was a two-time all-conference selection, earning All-AAC First Team honors in 2019 and second team recognition in 2021. Nakrasius was a four-time winner of the Devon Marie Lam "T" Means More Award which is given to the person who most exemplifies Temple Lacrosse through selflessness, dedication & desire for team success (2017-20). She was also a winner of the Enterprise Spirit & Sportsmanship Award (2017) & Parliament Award (2019) for the student-athlete who has demonstrated a devotion to the essence of sport through their acts of sportsmanship.
Nakrasius earned both her bachelor's (2020) and master's (2021) degrees from Temple University.
2026 was a year for the record books as the Blue Hens opened a new era as members of the ASUN. Delaware went 13-5 overall, winning the most games since 1999, and went 8-0 in ASUN play for the program’s fifth-ever undefeated conference season and first regular season championship since 1999. Nakrasius led the defense that led the ASUN and ranked 14th nationally in scoring defense (8.50). UD held opponents to single digits in 11 games, the most since 2017 and featured ASUN Defensive Player of the Year Kennedy Radziul. In the draw circle, Delaware ranked ninth in the country in draw control percentage (.604) and set a team record with 262 draw controls, while Ella Rishko broke the individual record with 99 draw controls. Molly Baumgratz earned All-ASUN Second Team honors as a draw specialist, ranking second in program history with 82 draw controls.
Delaware’s defense ranked eighth in the country in 2025 with 11.19 caused turnovers per game. Ella Rishko set the program’s single-game record with 15 draw controls against Towson.
Overseeing the defense in 2024, Nakrasius established one of the strongest defensive efforts in recent Blue Hens history. Delaware tied for 22nd in the country in scoring defense, only allowing 10 goals against per contest. UD finished with 167 caused turnovers, the seventh-most in program history, ranking ninth nationally in caused turnovers per game (10,44). Madison Hranicka was named CAA Defensive Player of the Year for a second year in a row as well as All-CAA First Team. In addition to her role as a defensive coach, Nakrasius also oversaw the draw group, and Danielle Livornese became the school’s all-time draw control leader, finishing with 223 for her college career. The Hens finished within the top 45 in the country in draw control percentage (.525).
In her first season with Delaware, Nakrasius helped Delaware to an 8-8 record and a CAA Tournament berth, while also leading the Blue Hens' draw control group that shattered the program record for draws in a single season (240), and led the CAA with 15.00 draw controls per game. Delaware set a new program record with 26 draw controls in a single-game against Old Dominion, and Livornese tied the individual single-game record and Delaware Stadium record with 12 draw controls. The Blue Hens had six games in 2023 with at least 20 draw controls, after having entered the season with only five games all-time with 20 draw controls.
Prior to her arrival at UD, Nakrasius was on staff at Quinnipiac as an assistant coach in 2022. During her season with the Bobcats, the defense allowed a league-low 197 goals and ranked second in the MAAC with 8.88 caused turnovers per game.
Nakrasius competed at Temple from 2016-21, where she was a four-year captain for the Owls. She broke the career draw control record with a total of 236 and ranked seventh in program history with 144 ground balls. A five-year starter at Temple, she played four years as a defender before transitioning to midfield/attack for her fifth year.
She was a two-time all-conference selection, earning All-AAC First Team honors in 2019 and second team recognition in 2021. Nakrasius was a four-time winner of the Devon Marie Lam "T" Means More Award which is given to the person who most exemplifies Temple Lacrosse through selflessness, dedication & desire for team success (2017-20). She was also a winner of the Enterprise Spirit & Sportsmanship Award (2017) & Parliament Award (2019) for the student-athlete who has demonstrated a devotion to the essence of sport through their acts of sportsmanship.
Nakrasius earned both her bachelor's (2020) and master's (2021) degrees from Temple University.
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