Florida State University Athletics
Forrest, Dickson and Brown Join Florida State Lacrosse Staff
9/10/2026 3:59:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
TALLAHASSEE – Florida State lacrosse has hired two-time national champion Sam Forrest and Lauren Dickson as assistant coaches, and Parker Brown as the Director of Player Development and Team Operations, head coach Sara Tisdale announced Thursday. Forrest and Dickson join Tisdale, associate head coach MacKenzie Plaskey and assistant coach Rachel Clark as the Seminoles prepare for the program's second season.
We're excited to welcome Sam, Lauren, and Parker to the Florida State lacrosse program, said Tisdale. Sam brings an exceptional level of experience from her collegiate, professional, and Team USA careers. Her defensive expertise, paired with Rachel Clark's outstanding offensive background, will provide our players with valuable opportunities to grow and develop across the field. Lauren's energy, passion, and enthusiasm for lacrosse will make an immediate impact as she works with our draw unit and supports player leadership and development. Parker's years of coaching experience will be an important addition to our staff, particularly in team leadership and player development. We're proud of the staff we've assembled and grateful for the experience, perspective, and commitment each coach brings to our program.
Forrest joins the Florida State coaching staff following a decorated playing career at North Carolina. A two-time Tewaaraton Award Top 25 nominee, Forrest earned first-team All-American honors in 2025 and 2026, was named the 2026 ACC Defender of the Year and 2025 IWLCA Defender of the Year and was a two-time first-team All-ACC selection.
Forrest was also a two-time NCAA All-Tournament Team honoree and two-time IWLCA First-Team All-South Region selection. In 2025, she helped Team USA capture gold at the Pan-American Women's Lacrosse Championships.
A standout defender throughout her career, Forrest finished her graduate season with 30 ground balls and 13 caused turnovers while regularly matching up against opponents' top offensive threats. She was selected sixth overall by the Maryland Charm in the inaugural WLL College Draft.
A native of Glastonbury, Connecticut, Forrest was a two-time high school All-American and Under Armour All-American Senior Game selection before beginning her collegiate career at UNC. She graduated with a degree in communications and a minor in Spanish and is bilingual in English and Spanish.
Dickson joins the Seminoles after serving as an assistant coach at Palm Beach Atlantic University during the 2025-26 season. Dickson brings a diverse background in collegiate athletics, leadership and athlete development. Dickson competed at Lynn University from 2020-23 as a standout midfielder and three-time Sunshine State Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll honoree. She served as team captain in 2023, leading through her work ethic, academic excellence, and commitment to her teammates.
Following her undergraduate career, Dickson continued playing lacrosse as a Scholar-Athlete at the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom while earning her Master of Science in Applied Sport and Exercise Medicine.
Dickson has also worked extensively in athlete development, serving as a location manager with Athletes United Lacrosse, where she led recruiting and mentoring efforts while implementing strategies focused on accountability and success. She has also worked with Lifetime Fitness and as a certified personal trainer at Equinox, developing science-based training programs tailored to athletes' individual needs.
Brown joins Florida State as the Director of Player Development and Team Operations for the Seminole women's lacrosse program. Brown brings extensive coaching and administrative experience to Tallahassee, with a background spanning collegiate lacrosse, youth development and program operations.
Prior to joining Florida State, Brown served as an assistant coach at Manhattan University from 2024-26, where she helped support the Jaspers' women's lacrosse program. She previously served as the program director of Harlem Lacrosse and head coach of HHH Philly Girls Lacrosse Club.
Brown began her collegiate career at Iona University, where she appeared in 32 games for the Gaels and was a member of the 2015 team that earned a berth in the MAAC playoffs. During her time at Iona, she also coached and mentored at Iona Lacrosse summer camps and volunteered at New Rochelle youth lacrosse clinics.
A native of Silver Spring, Maryland, Brown graduated from Northwood High School before continuing her playing and coaching career at Iona. She brings a wealth of leadership, organizational and player development experience to the Seminole program as Florida State enters its second season.
Florida State will enter its second season in the spring, with fall ball set to begin in October as the Seminoles prepare for the 2027 campaign.
For more information on the Florida State lacrosse program, visit Seminoles.com and follow the team on Instagram and X at @FSU_WLax and on Facebook at Florida State Women's Lacrosse.
