Mike Petrella starts his first season on the Oberlin College Women's Lacrosse staff for the 2023-2024 season as a Volunteer Assistant Coach.
Previously Petrella spent seven years with John Carroll University Women's Lacrosse program. In the midst of the 2022 season, Petrella assumed the role of interim head coach and promptly led the Blue Streaks on a winning streak. Under Petrella, John Carroll reached the OAC Tournament Championship Game. In the 2023 season John Carroll lost in overtime in the OAC Tournament Semi-Final Game under his direction.
Petrella previously served as JCU's Goalkeeper Coach for five seasons before being promoted to full-time assistant coach in Fall 2021.
Petrella has coached many successful goalkeepers during his time at John Carroll. Under his watch, Kaleigh Kotula won the 2021 OAC Goalkeeper of the Year award, adding 1st Team All-OAC and 2nd Team IWLCA All-Great Lakes Region honors.
He has made many stops along the way during this coaching journey, including:
• Defensive Coordinator for the Middle School A and B Solon Attack Youth Lacrosse Club, Solon, OH: 2010-mid 2016
• Solon Attack Youth Lacrosse Club Program Goalie Coach: 2010-2016
• Chagrin Falls Girls Lacrosse Goalie Coach: 2015-2019
• Chagrin Falls Girls Junior Varsity Lacrosse Head Coach: 2019
Petrella is the owner of BMAALGI (Big Mike's All-American Goalie Institute), which trains and develops over 130 lacrosse goalies ranging from 4th grade to college players. Petrella teaches drills and techniques to work on the physical aspect of the game but also works on the mental aspect of goalkeeping.
He is a 1984 graduate from Miami (OH) University with his Bachelor's degree in Mathematics and Statistics. In 1986 graduated from Case Western Reserve University with a Masters in Operations Research. Petrella played lacrosse while he was at Miami, starting at goalie from 1981-84, and played on the CWRU club team from 1984-86.
