Lily Countryman joined the Fighting Saints in July of 2021 as the head coach for the women’s competitive dance team before stepping down in the summer of 2023 to serve as an assistant. In July of 2024, Countryman returned to the head coaching role for the Saints. The 2024-25 season will mark Countryman’s combined fourth year on the Saints’ coaching staff, and third as head coach.
While as head coach at St. Francis, Countryman has helped develop three NAIA All-Americans. With her guidance, Countryman has overseen six invitational titles and five second place finishes. In 2022, she led the Saints in qualifying for the program’s first ever NAIA regional, where the team finished third overall.
As an assistant during the 2023-24 season, Countryman assisted the program in obtaining 10 NAIA All-Americans and two NAIA Scholar Athletes. The Saints secured two invitational titles that season, along with one second place finish. In 2024, the Saints qualified for their first ever NAIA National tournament appearance, placing eight overall. On February 25, 2024, Countryman helped lead the Saints in establishing a new program record score of 93.65.
Countryman received her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from University of St. Francis (Ill.) and was a four-year member of the competitive dance squad. During her time as a student, Countryman was a Duns Scotus Scholar and Sigma Theta Tau member. She is currently working on her Doctorate of Nursing Practice, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care with an expected graduation in 2028.
