IWLCA Announces 2025-26 IWLCA Aspire Classes

The IWLCA is excited to announce the 30 coaches selected to take part in this year’s IWLCA Aspire Assistant Coach Program. This professional development program which launched in 2024, was designed to align with the IWLCA's vision to offer an intensive, high-quality continuing education opportunity for current assistant coaches. The inaugural Aspire class of 17 spots has been expanded to feature two cohorts of 15 coaches each for 2025-26.

“We’re so pleased the Board approved funding for the expansion of the Aspire program for this year, allowing us to serve a greater number of total coaches in the two cohorts,” said IWLCA Director of Internal Operations and Programming, Danie Caro. “Last year’s program was very successful, and our hope is that strategically scaling the program to impact more coaches will result in improved professional development and increased retention rates.”

The IWLCA has contracted e.t.c. coaching consultants to plan and execute the program’s curriculum, and Sarah McQuade and Julie Muller will again serve as the lead facilitators. The parallel cohorts will partake in virtual and in-person programming throughout the fall semester, wrapping up in January 2026 to allow the participants time to focus on their teams and put their coursework to use during their competitive season.

Stanford Assistant Coach and member of last year’s inaugural Aspire Cohort, Kelsey Howard, reflects on how the program impacted her growth as a coach and leader among her peers, sharing: “Hearing other people’s stories, learning from each other’s triumphs and challenges, and watching others have breakthrough coaching moments really allowed me to dig deeper into my own personal and professional development.”

The class of 2025-26 consists of the following individuals in two cohorts: