NORTHBOROUGH, Mass. – The IWLCA has announced the 2026 National and Regional Coaching Staffs of the Year, with the Florida Southern College women's lacrosse coaching staff receiving the honor for Division II. The IWLCA Coaching Staff of the Year Award honors one National and multiple Regional Coaching Staffs of the Year from each division and a National Coaching Staff of the Year from the NAIA. Florida Southern was also named the IWLCA South Region Coaching Staff of the Year.
Florida Southern Women's Lacrosse Coaching Staff
Head Coach: Kara Reber
Assistant Coaches: Madison Mills, Katy Richardson, Tim Pease, Madi Tare, Abby McFerren, Maria Reeves, Emily Lortz, and Liz Harrison
After 10 years since their program's first National Championship, Kara Reber and her staff led Florida Southern to its second National Championship in program history to cap off an impressive team resume for the 2026 season.
The Mocs began their season on a four-game win streak, most notably knocking off then #1 UIndy 9-8, who had just defeated defending National Champions Tampa, in a neutral site game. Soon after, the Mocs suffered their only loss of the 2026 season to Flagler, who would hold the top spot in the IWLCA rankings for the remainder of the season. The Mocs then won 17-straight, including winning the SSC Regular Season title outright (7-0 in SSC Play), earning the top seed and winning the SSC Tournament, and then earning the top seed in both the NCAA South Regional, as well as the Final Four en route to the program's second Championship. The Mocs by no means had an easy schedule, with only three of their 22 games against unranked opponents. Florida Southern went through a gauntlet to earn their second ring. This included defeating defending National Champions, Tampa, three times in 2026. With a record of 21-1, it was the first time since 2018 that the Mocs had a 20+ win season (and the last time Florida Southern was in the championship game).
Kara Reber was named Sunshine State Conference Coach of the Year, and garnered nine players to All-SSC teams, including Kolby Cohen, who was named Draw Specialist of the Year. Six were tabbed IWLCA All-South Region selections, five IWLCA All-American Selections, and three USA Lacrosse Magazine All-American selections. Graduate defender Charlie Laye also received the NCAA's Elite Scholar Athlete Award. In the NCAA Tournament, Jenna Vetter, Audrey Cannelli, Riley Rivera, Brayden Cannelli, and Kolby Cohen were all named to the All-Tournament Team, while Cohen was named the Most Outstanding Player.
All four National Coaching Staff of the Year honorees earned a National Title this past season. 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, Fla.
