University of Wisconsin, River Falls Women's Lacrosse

Talia Hayes was hired as the UWRF's second women's lacrosse head coach in program history in November of 2021. Hayes is the offensive coordinator and the draw team coach for the Falcons.  Under Hayes, the Falcons have compiled a 51-19 overall record since the 2022 season, totaling 12 or more wins during all four seasons of her tenure. During the 2024 season, the Falcons went 5-1 during the inaugural WIAC schedule with their sole loss coming against the eventual WIAC Tournament Champions from Colorado College. Hayes and her staff were named the WIAC Coaching Staff of the Year. In 2023, UWRF went 12-5 and earned an 8-0 record at home and finished the season ranked seventh in NCAA Division III  Region VII. In her first season at the helm in 2022, Hayes led the Falcons to a 15-2 overall record, finishing the year ranked eighth in Region VII and leading NCAA Division III in shots per game (42.8) and shots on goal per game (32.4).  Hayes has experience as an assistant coach at the high school level, spending time as the Eastview High School (Apple Valley, Minn.) girls lacrosse varsity assistant coach since 2017. In addition, she coached club lacrosse in Minnesota for several years. A three-year team captain and Midwest Women's Lacrosse All-Conference honoree at the University of Northwestern in St. Paul, Minn., Hayes is the Northwestern women's lacrosse all-time leading scorer with 258 points off 179 goals and 79 assists. She was also the league's Rookie of the Year and was a three-time Team MVP. Also a member of the Northwestern women's basketball team, she helped lead the Eagles to an NCCAA National Championship appearance as a team captain. In 2020, she was named an NCAA Woman of the Year nominee and earned the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete Leadership Award.  She graduated with a bachelor's degree in Biology and master's degree in Organizational Leadership from Northwestern.   Year W-L-T Pct. WIAC W-L-T, Place 2025 12-5 .706 6-3, 5th 2024 12-7 .632 5-1, 2nd 2023 12-5 .706 NA 2022 15-2 .882 NA Totals 51-19 .729 11-4  

Jordan Ruggeri serves as the Falcon defensive coordinator. He helms the program’s defensive systems and mental performance training, while assisting with goalie development. Ruggeri joined UWRF after spending seven years as the Head Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse Coach and Youth Program Director for Austin High School Lacrosse and Austin Youth Lacrosse in Austin, Texas. During his tenure, he guided the program to district and state playoff appearances each season and mentored numerous student-athletes who continued their careers at the NCAA level. In the same year he arrived in Wisconsin, Ruggeri also served as the Head Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse Coach at Hudson High School, leading the program to a Wisconsin Final Four appearance. Prior to his time in Austin, the Connecticut native served as a men’s lacrosse coach across all three NCAA divisions, with stops at Bowdoin College (Division III), Bellarmine University (Division I), and Assumption College (Division II). Ruggeri has also held roles as a club director and high school coach with multiple lacrosse organizations in Texas and Massachusetts. As a collegiate athlete, Ruggeri was a defensive starter and team captain at NCAA Division II Assumption College in Worcester, Massachusetts. He concluded his playing career as the program’s all-time leader in caused turnovers per game. He holds a Bachelor’s in Psychology and a Master’s in School Counseling.

A native of St. Louis Park, Minnesota, McClinton is a 2024 graduate of University of Wisconsin - River Falls, earning a Bachelor of Science in Political Science with a minor in Criminology. McClinton joined the Falcon coaching staff following a standout athletic career at UWRF. A two-sport student-athlete, McClinton competed in both women’s soccer and women’s lacrosse for the Falcons. She earned All-WIAC First Team honors in lacrosse in 2024 and soccer in 2023, and was named WIAC Lacrosse Athlete of the Week in April of 2024.  McClinton brings a strong background in youth soccer coaching, with experience at Salvo Soccer Club in Eagan and Joy of the People in St. Paul. She serves as the Falcon social media coordinator and defensive assistant. McClinton currently works at Coodin Law Office, LLC in Woodbury, Minnesota, where she serves as a legal assistant in criminal defense and family law.

A native of Spring Lake Park, Minnesota, Grace Ross graduated from the University of Wisconsin–River Falls in 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences. A former Falcon lacrosse goalkeeper and defender, she returned to the program the following year as a member of the coaching staff, specializing in goalie development. Over her four years on staff, Ross’s role has steadily expanded to include supporting the program’s recruiting efforts, assisting with administrative operations, and contributing to both player and team development. Ross has had the opportunity to work with goalies through individual and group sessions.  Ross is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Occupational Therapy.