Director of Club Sports
Ruthann Cantile, Director of Club Sports, grew up in Cheboygan, MI.ย Ms. Cantile played hockey in Cheboygan and the Ice Arena is named after her father, Ralph G. Cantile, who coached and managed the arena for many years. Along with hockey, she played boys soccer, volleyball, and softball at Cheboygan Area High School.ย Ruthann continued playing and coaching club hockey in college at Western Michigan University, where they won a National title in 1998 in Lake Placid, NY. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education.ย Ms. Cantile coached/managed at many levels and has been in on the ground floor of most of these programs.
Historically, she was the youngest NCAA DI Head Womenโs Hockey Coach in the country at Bemidji State University. After coaching at BSU she went on to coach at Minnesota State University, where their staff earned Western Collegiate Hockey Association WCHA Coach of Year honors in 2004.ย Ms. Cantile coached both of her kids, Mariah (25) and JD (18) in their various youth sports. She earned a Master’s Degree in Sports Administration in 2006, and in 2010 she began her own financial consulting business. Ruthann is a passionate, self-driven, competitive spirit that aspires to bring students with the same qualities to Lake Superior State University and provide them with the opportunity to play the sport they love.
As Director of Club Sports, her goal is to bring exposure to the University and comb the region looking for the most qualified coaches and student-athletes that fit the culture of LSSU. By cultivating strong relationships and creating a bond with these folks awareness, participation, pride, and funding become present and strengthen the community. For the 2020-2021 season, the first two sports we are offering are Menโs and Womenโs Hockey, and plan to add two new teams every year for the next 5 years.ย Soon we will announce the sports teams LSSU will endorse in 2021-2022.