Women's Lacrosse | 9/5/2025 7:36:00 AM

Northborough, Mass.- Congratulations to Tori Vernau, Assistant Women's Lacrosse Coach for being selected to take part in the second annual Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Aspire Assistant Coach Program. Vernau is one of 30 coaches selected to participate in this professional development program, which launched in 2024, to offer an intensive, high-quality continuing education opportunity for current assistant coaches. The inaugural Aspire class of 17 spots has expanded to feature two cohorts of 15 coaches each for 2025-26.

The IWLCA has contracted e.t.c. coaching consultants to plan and execute the program's

Curriculum. Returning for a second year are Sarah McQuade and Julie Muller, who will 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.

In six years and four full seasons (2020 season was shortened due to COVID-19) since joining the team in September of 2019, Vernau has helped Denison to a North Coast Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament championship and subsequent NCAA Final Four appearance in 2021, followed by three-straight NCAA Sweet 16 appearances in 2022, 2023 and 2024. And in 2025 Denison beat No. 5 Franklin and Marshall to advance to the Elite Eight. In addition, the Big Red have gone a combined 84-38 overall and 37-2 in the NCAC action during Vernau's time on staff in Granville.

For the full list of participants, click here.