The 2011-12 season will be Carisa Zaban's seventh at the helm of the Forester program and her eight as a head coach. She has been the Foresters' all-time winningest coach since a 3-2 victory over visiting UW-Eau Claire on February 8, 2008.

Zaban led Lake Forest to a 14-9-3 overall record and 9-8-3 mark in Northern Collegiate Hockey Association play in 2010-11. The team tied for sixth in the 11-team league standings, senior Melissa Kravich was named Honorable Mention All-NCHA, and a pair of Foresters were included on the league's All-Academic Team.

Six team records were set during the 2010-11 season, raising the total established during Zaban's six year to 44. Senior Alyssa Wintermute finished her career as the program's career leader in victories, winning percentage, and shutouts and classmate Melissa Kravich ranks first in assists.

The Foresters have reached the semifinals of the NCHA O'Brien Cup Tournament in five of Zaban's first six seasons, including 2009-10, when the team hosted the event after claiming the first conference championship in program history. Lake Forest posted a 19-3-4 overall record and 11-1-4 mark in league play that season.

A goaltender, a defenseman, and two forwards have earned All-American honors under Zaban's direction. In addition, 14 different players have earned a combined 24 All-NCHA honors, including 10 first team distinctions.

Zaban spent the 2004-05 season as the head coach of Team Illinois Under-19 program and the previous year as an assistant coach at Glenbrook High School where she helped the team claim a league championship. Her coaching career actually started at the age of 13 when she began instructing and continued at numerous camps and clinics during her playing career.

Zaban grew up in Glenview, Illinois, and attended Glenbrook South High School. She played college hockey at the University of New Hampshire and was the team's leading scorer all four years. She completed her collegiate career as the school's all-time leader in points. She earned First Team All-American honors, was a finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award, and helped lead the Wildcats to a pair of Division I national championships. After graduating from New Hampshire, Zaban won a silver medal at the 2001 World Championships with the U.S. National Team. She then played professionally in Switzerland, where she was the league's leading scorer. Zaban later joined the USA Women's National Roller Hockey team and earned a gold medal at the 2003 World Championships.