Every new season brings a new roster with both familiar and new faces at the helm.
Penn men’s lacrosse, under the leadership of new head coach Taylor Wray, added Mike Rastivo as an assistant coach and retained Casey Ikeda as defensive coordinator for the upcoming 2026 season. Rastivo previously coached under Wray for five seasons at Saint Joseph’s, while Ikeda has been an assistant coach and defensive coordinator for Penn men’s lacrosse since 2017.
Rastivo, who joined the Quakers shortly after the appointment of Wray as head coach, also left a lasting mark at Hawk Hill. Rastivo previously coached under Wray for five seasons at St. Joe’s, where they notched the Hawks’ first two NCAA Championship appearances in 2022 and 2024.
In 2022, Rastivo and Wray brought the Hawks to No. 1 nationally in win percentage and No. 10 overall ranking the following season. Rastivo also coached many accomplished players, including All-American Zach Cole. As a player, Rastivo also represented the Hawks, leading the team to four Northeast Conference postseason appearances as a three-year team captain.
“It is incredibly exciting and humbling to have an opportunity to coach at one of the most prestigious institutions in the world. I am excited to help our student-athletes achieve their goals on and off the field,” Rastivo said.
On the defensive side of the ball, Penn men’s lacrosse will have a familiar face at the helm.
“I’m incredibly happy to retain Casey Ikeda as the Charles B. Leitner III Defensive Coordinator,” Wray said in a Penn Athletics release. “I’ve watched the job Casey has done with Penn’s defense over the years and have always been impressed by the organization, discipline, and toughness his units consistently display.”
Having served as a defensive coordinator since 2017, Ikeda helped bring the team to Ivy League Tournament Championships in 2019 and 2022, with an 11-5 overall finish in the latter year. Across his eight seasons, Ikeda coached 16 All-Ivy players and nine All-Americans, including 2023 College graduate short-stick defensive midfielder Piper Bond and Premier Lacrosse League draft fifth-pick 2025 College graduate Brendan Lavelle.
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“He’s universally respected by the players, has a deep connection to the program, and is already making his presence felt on many different levels as I get acclimated. We’re fortunate to have him back to lead our defense,” Wray said.
Penn men’s lacrosse, which placed No. 12 in the nation at the beginning of last season, compiled a 4-10 overall record — their worst finish since 2012. They also recorded a 1-5 finish in the Ivy League, coming in seventh in the Ancient Eight. But as the team rounds out its coaching staff to start off the season, the Red and Blue plan to notch an NCAA tournament spot and have a strong tournament run.
