IWLCA Prioritise Assistant Coach Development in Women's Lacrosse
- Sarah McQuade
- 11 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Confidence and Connection Serve as Catalysts for Assistant Coach Development
Last night, the IWLCA ASPIRE Assistant Coach Development Programme marked its Graduation — and in doing so, offered a powerful reminder of what accelerates growth in assistant coaches: confidence built through connection.
Rather than centering content, credentials, or outcomes, the Graduation was designed to give space to the women themselves. Their voices, reflections, and stories of growth took centre stage, creating a celebration that was as meaningful as it was deserved.
A Program Built Around Who Coaches Are — Not Just What They Do
Now in its second year, the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) ASPIRE programme brought together 30 assistant coaches from across collegiate women’s lacrosse.
The cohort included both new and more experienced assistants and was intentionally divided into two parallel learning groups:
ASPIRE to Inspire (A2I)
Lauren Chong, Caroline Cumal, Ginnabeth Day, Emerson Foster, Kaitlin Frederick, Kaelin Hogan, Sara Kilian, Katie McAllister, Hilary McFadden, Lyndsey Muñoz, Kyra Schwartzman, Abby Tepper, Tori Vernau, Elizabeth Wilson, Taylor Woolard
ELEVATE
Grace Cobaugh, Grace Coon, Emily DiGaetano, Emilee Heffner, Ally Moir, Danielle O’Meara, Marlo Peck, Zoë Pekins, Rachel Robb, Josey Shaffer, Alyssa Suchan, Ally Washburn, Landyn White, Jacqueline Wolford
Across a six-month journey that began in August 2025, ASPIRE was designed with a clear and deliberate intention: to shift the focus away from the Xs and Os of Lacrosse and toward the deeper questions of coaching:
Who am I as a coach?
Why do I coach the way I do?
How do I show up for my athletes and my staff?
Who do I coach with — and how do those relationships shape my impact?
Learning That Blends Structure, Reflection, and Connection
The programme adopted a blended learning approach, combining online learning modules and live webinars with in-person workshops at the IWLCA Convention and mentoring conversations.
ASPIRE intentionally positioned community and connection as catalysts for growth — recognising that confidence, competence, and courage are rarely developed in isolation.
Coaches were encouraged to reflect deeply, experiment thoughtfully, and articulate their values and coaching philosophies with clarity and confidence, supported by peers navigating similar challenges.
The Impact — In The Coaches’ Own Words
The true measure of ASPIRE was evident in the reflections shared during graduation:
“Thank you both so much for such an incredible experience. I’m still riding the high from it. You truly made us all feel so welcome and special. What you do is really special, and the way you inspire others is truly meaningful.”
Another coach reflected on the shift in how she now sees herself within her role:
“As a result of ASPIRE, I feel a much stronger sense of confidence and legitimacy as an assistant coach — particularly in trusting my voice and expertise within our coaching staff. This program challenged me to stand firm in my ‘why.’ It helped me put words to my purpose and values and reinforced how important it is to truly know myself as a coach.
A final reflection acknowledged the power of community:
Being surrounded by other assistant coaches who share similar challenges normalised my experiences and reminded me that I belong in this space. I now feel more comfortable speaking up, advocating for my athletes, and taking ownership of my role. ASPIRE helped me see that I’m not just supporting the programme — I’m an integral part of shaping it.”
A Responsibility and a Privilege
The ASPIRE programme is designed and facilitated by e.t.c coaching consultants, with Sarah McQuade and Julie Müller serving as programme architects and guides.
Being trusted by the IWLCA to lead this work for a second year has been both a responsibility and a privilege — grounded in deep respect for the women who commit fully to the process.
Looking Beyond Lacrosse
While ASPIRE sits within women’s lacrosse, the mechanisms at work — confidence developed through trusted relationships and shared reflection — are not sport-specific.
As collegiate athletics continues to invest in the development of assistant coaches, ASPIRE offers a model that has relevance well beyond a single sport or season.
Last night was not a checkpoint. It was a milestone — and a reminder that when assistant coaches are supported through confidence and connection, they do far more than grow. They lead.
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