Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Named IWLCA National Coaching Staff of the Year
6/17/2026 1:39:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
NORTHBOROUGH, MASS. — After capturing the program's ninth NCAA Championship in late May, the Northwestern staff earned IWLCA National Coaching Staff of the Year honors, the IWLCA announced on Wednesday.
This marks the Wildcat staff's second time taking home the award since it was expanded from individual coaches to collective staffs ahead of the 2023 season. NU also garnered West/Midwest Regional Coaching Staff of the Year plaudits.
Led by Combe Family Head Lacrosse Coach Kelly Amonte Hiller, Northwestern won its final 14 games en route to its fourth consecutive Big Ten Tournament and regular-season championship sweep and the national title. The Wildcats became the first squad to win a national championship on home soil since Maryland did so in 1986.
Joined on the sideline by assistant coaches Scott Hiller, Alexis Venechanos and Nicole Beardsley Montag, Amonte Hiller guided NU to three victories over IWLCA No. 1-ranked squads throughout the course of the season — the most in a campaign in NCAA history.
With Northwestern's national championship win over UNC, Amonte Hiller became the first Division I lacrosse coach (men's or women's) to win nine national championships. She boasts a perfect 40-0 record in home NCAA tournament games.
This season, Amonte Hiller became the sixth Division I coach to join the 400-win club. She holds a career record of 408-97 (.808 winning percentage).
Under the staff's guidance, Madison Taylor became the fifth player in program history to capture the Tewaaraton Award. The two-time Big Ten Attacker of the Year led the conference in points for the third consecutive season, becoming the first player in Big Ten history to do so.
All winners will be honored at the IWLCA Convention, which is set to take place this November at the Tradewinds Resort in St. Pete Beach, FL.
