Samuel named a member of inaugural Aspire Program

NORTHBOROUGH, Mass. – The Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) announced today the launch of the Aspire Program, a new professional development program designed to align with the IWLCA’s vision and offer an intensive, high-quality continuing education opportunity for current assistant coaches.

            Among the 18 coaches selected to be a part of the inaugural Aspire Program was Kenyon College assistant Tatiana Samuel. 

“I’m super excited to welcome the inaugural cohort of coaches to the Aspire coach development program,” stated Executive Director Liz Robertshaw. “One of the IWLCA’s goals is to support the next generation of leaders in our game, and through the Aspire program, we have committed to furthering their development as they pursue their career goals. We can’t wait to see how this impacts our coaches and moves them forward in their respective careers.”

The IWLCA Aspire program will aim to enhance coaches’ professional knowledge, skills, and capabilities through a dynamic blended learning approach. The program will run from early September 2024 through the spring of 2025 and will feature virtual learning through asynchronous online course content, interactive webinars, in-person workshops at the IWLCA Convention, and individual mentoring sessions.

Samuel, who is in between her second and third lacrosse season at Kenyon, has helped direct the Owls to an overall record of 26-10 over the last two seasons. In 2023, the Owls won the North Coast Athletic Conference regular-season title and earned an at-large berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament. At the end of that 2023 season, Samuel, as well as then Head Coach Jess Good, were named the IWLCA Great Lakes Region Coaching Staff of the Year.

“I am so excited to be part of the inaugural class for the IWLCA Aspire program. It means a lot to be able to learn and grow as an assistant coach through this program alongside other coaches with goals such as my own,” Samuel said. “Professionally, this program is exactly what I am looking for to get a step closer toward reaching my ultimate goal of being one of the best assistant coaches out there. I can’t wait to get started!”