COACHING STAFF
MICHELE UHLFELDER, DIRECTOR & HEAD COACH
Coach Uhlfelder is currently the Head Coach at Occidental College; the team completed its inaugural campaign in 2010.
Coach Uhlfelder brings 14 years of Division I coaching experience and over 15 years of playing experience for the U.S.A. National Team and at the University of Maryland. As a four-year starter for the Terps (1987-91) she helped Maryland to National Runner-up finishes at the NCAA Championships in 1990 and 1991, and she was selected to the NCAA All-Tournament Team twice. She was chosen as the 1991 National Offensive Player of the Year and First Team All-America, while served as a team captain her senior year.
As a junior in college, Uhlfelder made the U.S. Squad in 1990 and was a two-time member of the US World Cup Team. In the 2001 World Cup, she was the third-highest scorer on the gold medal winning American team, ranking sixth among all scorers at the World Cup. Her first World Cup appearance came in 1997 (Tokyo, Japan) when the U.S. won the gold and she earned Player-of-the-match honors versus Canada.
From the field to the sidelines, Uhlfelder easily shifted from player to coach. She spent six years as an assistant coach at Duke University (1998-2000) and Old Dominion University (1994-1998) before joining the Cardinal as the head coach beginning in 2000. She instantly transformed Stanford into a national force, as they became the first program west of the Mississippi to crack the top 20. More successes were to follow as in 2006, Stanford then became the first West Coast program to earn a bid to the NCAA tournament. In league play, Stanford won six league titles (championships in 2005 and 2006) and Uhlfelder was twice named Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) Coach of the Year (2004 and 2005).
Beyond the collegiate ranks, Uhlfelder has been responsible for promoting the growth of women's lacrosse nationally. She has run successful camps and developed club programs, which teach lacrosse skills, strategy and technique, as well as raise athleticism and level of player in the country.
JEN LEE, COACH & DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Coach Lee is currently head coach at Menlo School in Atherton, CA, and will enter her 13th season in 2013. She is a senior WAVE staff coach who works with all levels. Additionally, she handles daily operations, all travel and administrative responsibilities for WAVE. She is known for her dedication to lacrosse, multitasking, and establishing Menlo as one of the premier programs in Northern California.
At Menlo, Coach Lee has led the team to 8 consecutive league finals (Peninsula Athletic League and West Bay Athletic League), earning 7 championships (2004-2011). The varsity squad has achieved undefeated league records five times (2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2004) and has only lost 6 contests in the last 8 years (100-6 in league). Her 185 career victories (through 2011) ranks among the highest for girls’ high school coaches in Northern California. Lee is the US Lacrosse Pacific regional representative and has chaired the Nor Cal (formerly Pacific) Teams tryout and selection process for WDNT since 2002; she returned a coach in 2011. For all her efforts in developing lacrosse in Northern California, Lee was inducted into the Northern California Lacrosse Foundation Hall of Fame in 2010 as a member of the HOF Class of 2008.
Lee was a four-year letter winner in lacrosse and field hockey at Skidmore College (Saratoga Springs, NY). She earned the lacrosse high-scorer award in 1990 and was elected captain 1991-1992. She ranks in the top twenty all-time highest goals and total points.
JACQUELINE MCDEVITT, COACH & DIRECTOR OF MARKETING
Coach McDevitt relocated to Ohio in the fall of 2011. She debuts as the new Head Coach at Oberlin College, beginning in the spring of 2012.
Coach McDevitt is the former Assistant at Occidental College in Los Angeles, CA. She is a 2006 graduate of Long Island University-Brooklyn Campus where she was a three year letter winner for the Blackbirds defense.
Previous coaching stints include Assistant Coach at DI Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY and DIII Union College in Schenectady, NY.
McDevitt's previous position to Occidental was deBeer Lacrosse Brand Manager where she handled Team USA and Team deBeer Collegiate programs.
Annie Leibovitz, Dartmouth College Graduate 06'
Annie's playing experience includes three years as a U.S. National Team Member, as well as four years as a midfielder for Dartmouth, claiming two Ivy League titles, two trips to the NCAA Final Four, and one National Championship appearance in 2006. As a Colorado native, Annie has a vested interest in improving and expanding lacrosse west of the Mississippi!
Annie is an active coach with several bay area lacrosse organizations, and is freqently found to be wearing stripes...of the Umpires variety!
KATIE MAZER, TRAVEL TEAMS COACH, University of Pennsylvania '09
Mazer was a standout defender on the UPenn team with 3 NCAA final four appearances during her playing career (2 semis, 1 final). She is a 3-time Ivy League Champ. Originally from Baltimore, MD (Bryn Mawr School alum), she headed west for Teach for America, and now travels to coach with WAVE whenever possible.
RON CURCIO, STRENGTH & CONDITIONING SPECIALIST
Coach Curcio is currently the Athletic Fitness Director at the Riekes Center for Human Enhancement in Menlo Park, CA. Additionally he serves as the Head Speed and Conditioning Coach for girls’ basketball and lacrosse at Menlo School. Coach Curcio joins the staff as the speed and conditioning specialist for all levels. Ron creates a fun environment while emphasizing the importance of proper technique and training.
Curcio holds certifications as a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (NSCA), USAW Level 1 Olympic Lifting Coach, SPARQ Certified Trainer, Certified Personal Trainer (NASM), First Aid, and CPR/AED. He has over 17 years experience training professional, Olympic, collegiate, and high school through middle school athletes. Curcio served as Associate Speed & Conditioning Coach for professional teams such as the Sacramento Kings (basketball), Sacramento Knights (indoor soccer), and Sacramento Capitals (tennis). He has trained 2 Olympic Champions in Racquetball and Water Skiing and a Paralympics Champion in Swimming. Expertise in a variety of sports. Impressive knowledge.
Recent COACHING STAFF
Lauren Schmidt, Stanford University Graduate '11, Assistant Coach, Fresno State
Coach Schmidt joined the coaching staff at Fresno State in the winter of 2011, following a long and industrious career at Stanford, as a player and a volunteer coach in the fall. She coached with Wave since the summer of 2010.
Schmidt, a starter for Stanford during all four years of her playing career, has played an integral role in the transformation of the Stanford team from a national competitor to a top 10 program. After earning conference player of the year 2 years in a row (2009, 2010 seasons), she lead the Stanford team to 4 MPSF conference titles, as well as a national ranking of 6 in the 2010 and 2011 seasons. She has played in the U.S. National team for the 2011 season and was a member of the U.S. National Developmental Team during the 2010 season, as well as being awarded the Aimee Willard Award as the top collegiate player at the U.S. Lacrosse Women's Division National Tournament in 2009. She was a IWLCA third team All-American and has also earned All American awards from womenslax.com and womenslacrosse.com. Schmidt was also a two time Tewaaraton Award nominee.
Danielle Spencer, Northwestern University Graduate '10, Assistant Coach, Stanford University
Danielle Spencer closes her career having made her mark on the Northwestern record books. She competed in 83 games with 65 starts and ranks second in program history with 203 draw controls. Her 238 career points ranks seventh in program history while her 193 goals is sixth in the Wildcat record books. Spencer was a two-time IWLCA All-American, nabbing second team honors in 2009 and first team honors in 2010. One of the most coveted awards in Women's Lacrosse, Spencer was a two-time Tewaaraton Award nominee as well.
Spencer not only left her mark on NU's records books but also the sport of Lacrosse; winning 110 draw controls on the year, the third-highest total in NCAA history and became just the fourth player to surpass 100 draws in a single season. Spencer was an IWLCA first team All-American and also garnished All-America honors from WomensLax.com and WomensLacrosse.com. Other awards: All-American Lacrosse Conference first team honoree and ALC all-tournament team selection and a Nike/Inside Lacrosse National Player of the Week.
Spencer coached and traveled with WAVE since the summer of 2010. She was named to the Stanford coaching staff in the summer of 2011.
Molly Lapolla, Coach, UC Davis Graduate '10
Lapolla relocated to Boston in the winter of 2011 following 2 seasons coaching the WAVE, and one season coaching at her alma mater Menlo School in the spring of 2011.
Lapolla was a four-year starter and letter winner at University of California, Davis. She was also a three-time member of the MPSF All-Academic Squad. As a senior, Lapolla led UC Davis with 60 points, coming from 37 goals and 23 assists. She finishes her career with 90 goals and 48 assists for a total of 138 points. She graduated in June 2010 with a degree in communications.
Lapolla attended Menlo School, graduating in 2006. She finished as the school’s all-time career scorer, tallying 152 goals and 43 assists. For her efforts, as a senior she earned first-team All-America, All-PAL, and PAL Offensive MVP. Lapolla led Menlo to three straight league titles, compiling a 39-3 record.
Erin Chisnell, Coach, University of Oregon Graduate '10
Erin Chisnell, better known as "Chiz" by her teammates, is from Owings Mills, Maryland. She played for ROME club lacrosse for 7 years before moving to the west coast to play at the University of Oregon. She served as a captain for 2 years and contributed for 4 years as a Duck. Chisnell is continued her education at San Francisco State and shared her love of lacrosse in the bay area. Chiz returned to the east coast in 2010, where she continues to coach at the high school and club level in Maryland and Virginia.
