Alec Jernstedt recently completed his eighth season as Grove City College's head men's lacrosse coach in 2025. The only coach in program history, Jernstedt has compiled a 90-43 overall record, including a 43-0 record in Presidents' Athletic Conference play. He has been named the conference's Coach of the Year in 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025.
In 2023, Jernstedt guided Grove City to the third round of the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament, as well as the program's fourth straight Presidents' Athletic Conference title. Grove City defeated Swarthmore, 18-17, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, marking the Wolverines' first-ever NCAA Tournament win.
Grove City finished the season ranked No. 18 in the final USA Lacrosse Magazine top 25. Midfielder Brett Gladstone captured USILA All-America honors for the third straight season and defender Cody Adams earned his second straight All-America honor.
The 2024 Wolverines tied the single-season program record with 15 victories while also sewing up the program's fifth straight conference title and a spot in the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament's second round.Â
Attack Matt Blythe, midfielder Zach Hougan, defender Sam Stevenson, goalie Danny Stone and midfielder Trey Zabroski earned USILA Honorable Mention All-America in 2024. Blythe also earned the conference's Offensive Player of the Year award and Zabroski netted PAC Specialist of the Year.Â
The 2025 Wolverines earned the program's second NCAA Tournament victory by defeating Albion, 18-3, in the first round of the tournament at Robert E. Thorn Field. That marked the first-ever home NCAA Tournament game for the Wolverines, who concluded the season with 14 wins.
Grove City won a program-record 15 games in 2022, earning the program's third trip to the NCAA Championship Tournament. Gladstone, defender Cody Adams and faceoff specialist Grant Evans all earned All-America distinction. In 2022, the team captured wins over No. 14 Colorado College and No. 19 Denison.
Grove City also went 11-2 in 2021, winning the PAC and a berth in the national tournament.
In 2019, Jernstedt guided Grove City to the inaugural Presidents' Athletic Conference title and a 12-6 overall record. The Wolverines also made their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament in 2019.
In 2018, Grove City competed in the Ohio River Lacrosse Conference (ORLC) for its inaugural varsity season. The Wolverines finished with a 10-6 overall record and a 7-3 conference record, which qualified them for the conference tournament.Â
Jernstedt joined the Grove City staff after serving two years as volunteer assistant at Duke University. In 2017, he helped the Blue Devils advance to the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals and finish No. 7 nationally in the "Inside Lacrosse" top 25. Prior to Duke, Jernstedt worked for two seasons as volunteer assistant at the University of Delaware.
Jernstedt also serves as the head coach for Puerto Rico's national men's lacrosse team. Puerto Rico won a gold medal in summer of 2022 in the PALA World Championship qualifying tournament held in Medellin, Colombia. Most recently, Puerto Rico finished 10th overall in the 2023 World Lacrosse Championships held summer of 2023 in San Diego.
In 2025, Jernstedt joined the Boston Cannons of the Premier Lacrosse League, working as the team's offensive coordinator.
He earned three letters as a defensive and long stick midfielder at Division I Towson University from 2009 to 2012. Jernstedt helped Towson advance to the Colonial Athletic Association championship game in each of his first two seasons.
While a student at Towson, he earned Dean's List honors and was active in the Athletes In Action and P.A.W.S. (Proud Athletes Who Serve.) He graduated with a bachelor's degree in economics and geography.
A native of Wilsonville, Ore., Jernstedt started his coaching career as a head coach for the Rhino Lacrosse Club in Portland, Ore., from 2009 to 2012. He worked as a coach and marketing director for Next Level Lacrosse Club in Bethesda, Md. and also has volunteered as a coach for FCA Lacrosse at the US Lacrosse Under-15 World Championships in Orlando, Fla.
Jernstedt lives in Grove City with his wife, Kelly, and their two children.
