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University of Michigan

University of Michigan Athletic Department
 1000 South State Street Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Division 1 Michigan Midwest
Public Very Large National competitor
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Hannah Nielsen

One of the most decorated athletes to play the game of lacrosse, Hannah Nielsen will enter her seventh season in the 2024 campaign as the head coach of Michigan women's lacrosse after being announced as the second head coach in University of Michigan women's lacrosse history on June 26, 2017.


A four-time national champion and two-time Tewaaraton Award winner, Nielsen boasts 13 years of coaching experience at the Division I level.


Nielsen led the Wolverines back to the NCAA Tournament for the third time in program history in the 2023 campaign after going 12-8 overall on the season with four wins over ranked opponents and making an appearance in the Big Ten Tournament semifinal game. Michigan outscored its opponents 232-187 and tallied a .403 shots on goal percentage. U-M's 232 goals ranked second in program history, while its 102 assists set a program record. Sophomore Jill Smith broke both the single season points (77) and goals (65) in the 2023 season and became just the fourth Wolverine to be named a Tewaaraton Nominee.


In her fifth season at the helm, Nielsen took Michigan back to the NCAA Tournament after starting the season 7-0, including a win over then-No. 5 Notre Dame. The Wolverines drew Notre Dame in the first round of the NCAA Tournament and earned its second win in the postseason in program history. Nielsen's squad scored 219 goals, ranking third in Michigan women's lacrosse history, while its 86 assists also rank second in program history


Under Nielsen's tutelage, Caitlin Muir left the program as the all-time points (203) and assists leader (90), while Arielle Weissman became the first-ever IWLCA All-America honoree earning third team honors.


Coming off a shortened 2020 season, Nielsen led Michigan to three conference victories in the 2021 season including a sweep of No. 14 Rutgers. Following the season, Molly Garrett was named a USA Lacrosse Magazine All-America third team and IWLCA West/Midwest All-Region first team, while four Wolverines earned Big Ten Conference honors.Nielsen saw her third season as the head coach of the Wolverines cut short by the global COVID-19 pandemic. U-M played six games, including winning all three of its games at U-M Lacrosse Stadium in 2020.


In her first two seasons at Michigan, she propelled the Wolverines to the best campaigns in program history. U-M went 16-4 in just Nielsen's second season at the helm, earning is first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament in which it hosted the first and second rounds. Furthermore, the Wolverines went 9-0 at U-M Lacrosse Stadium in the regular season and defeated six ranked opponents.


Under Nielsen's tutelage, Michigan earned its first-ever ranking in the IWLCA Coaches Poll and remained in the top-10 in the nation from week five to the end of the 2019 season. U-M also held the nation's longest winning streak in the 2019 campaign, going 13-0 to start the season to extend its win streak to 15 games. As a team, the Wolverines broke the school single-season goal record (257) tallied the most ground balls in a single game (30), ranked second in fewest turnovers in a single game (nine) and recorded the third-highest total of goals ina single game (20).


For the first time in the history of the program, Nielsen guided three players to 40-or-more points in the same seasons, while three Wolverines broke single season records. On the defensive end of the field, Michigan gave up the fewest goals (182) in program history in the 2019 campaign.


Nielsen has led four Wolverines to Big Ten honors in her first two seasons, while Mira Shane became the first Michigan player to be a nominee for the Tewaaraton Award and Molly Garrett earned a spot on the watch list in 2019. Moreover, four U-M student-athletes earned IWLCA West/Midwest All-Region Second Team honors for the first time in program history in the 2019 season.


Off the field, 19 women's lacrosse players have been named Academic All-Big Ten in Nielsen's two seasons, while four have been named Big Ten Distinguished Scholars.


An Adelaide, Australia, native, Nielsen continues to compete at the highest level as a member of the Australia women's national team. She has competed in four World Cups, most recently leading Australia to the 2017 FIL Rathbones Women’s Lacrosse World Cup semifinals. After recording seven goals and nine assists in the tournament, she was one of 12 players named to the All-World Team. At previous World Cup events, she helped lead Australia to a gold medal in 2005, and was named an All-Star in 2009 and 2013.


Prior to coming to Michigan, Nielsen spent the 2017 season as an assistant at her alma mater, Northwestern University. She helped lead the Wildcats to a spot in the Big Ten Tournament championship game and advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.


As a player at Northwestern (2006-09), she achieved the ultimate success, winning four national championships and receiving the sport's highest honors as a two-time Tewaaraton Award and Honda Sports Award winner in 2008 and 2009. She finished her career in Purple and White as NU's all-time leader in points (398) and assists (224) and still owns those records to date. Her assist record also holds the top spot in the Division I record book. A winner at heart, Nielsen started all 88 games in her Wildcat career and registered an 85-3 record in her four seasons. She was recognized by the Big Ten Conference for her success on the field and in the classroom, being named a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, and was also the recipient of the conference’s 2008 Suzy Favor Award, presented to the league's Female Athlete of the Year.


Nielsen earned her bachelor's degree in human development and psychological services from Northwestern in 2009. She was later inducted to the Northwestern Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014.


Before joining the staff at Northwestern, Nielsen was an assistant coach at Colorado University for two seasons (2014-15) under former NU teammate Ann Elliott. In its inaugural season, CU posted an 11-8 record overall and 6-3 mark in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation to earn the No. 3 seed in its first MPSF tournament. The Buffs went 11-7 in Nielsen's second year as an assistant, compiling a 22-15 record overall during her two years in Boulder.


Prior to transitioning to Colorado, Nielsen was a member of Towson University's staff and helped the Tigers to a 27-11 record in two seasons. During her stint at Towson, the Tigers captured two Colonial Athletic Association regular season championships, as well as the 2011 CAA Championship title. Towson was 11-7 in her first season in 2010 and improved to 16-4 in her second, setting a program record for wins in a season.


Following the conclusion of her playing career at Northwestern, Nielsen spent a season at Penn State University, helping the Nittany Lions to a 10-7 mark.

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Ana Heneberry

Ana Heneberry will enter her seventh season as a member of the University of Michigan women's lacrosse staff in the 2024 season and her second as the associate head coach after being elevated in June 2022.


Heneberry works primarily with the Maize and Blue defense. In her six full seasons at Michigan, she has helped the Wolverines to the best campaigns in program history. She led the defensive cohort to a No. 9 national ranking in scoring defense in the 2022 season as Michigan allowed just 9.28 goals per game. Under Heneberry, the 2022 Michigan defense allowed opponents the fewest goals in program history (167), breaking the previous record (187) set in the 2019 campaign.


Heneberry helped raise the bar for Michigan women's lacrosse as the team has made three NCAA Tournament appearances with its first coming in 2019 as the Wolverines hosted the first and second rounds.


Following up the stellar 2022 season, Heneberry's defense ranked 17th nationally, giving up just 9.35 goals per game. Heneberry helped Maddie Burns to a Tewaaraton Watch List accolade after she led the Wolverines with 23 caused turnovers and 34 ground balls. She was also instrumental in Maya Santa-Maria becoming just the fourth Wolverine to eclipse 100 saves in a season as she ended 2023 with 136 and led the Big Ten Conference with a .489 save percentage.


Heneberry also was instrumental in goalie Arielle Weissman becoming the first Wolverine to earn IWLCA Third Team All-America honors and Maddie Burns notching IWLCA All-Region honors, while Mira Shane became Michigan's all-time career leader in saves (370), save percentage (.453) and wins (24) under Heneberry's tutelage.


The 2024 season will mark Heneberry's 13th year as an assistant coach at the Division I level, while as a player, she was an All-America defender at Loyola University Maryland.


Prior to Michigan, Heneberry served as an assistant coach at Boston University for three seasons (2015-17), working primarily with the Terriers' defense. Heneberry helped BU reach the Patriot League semifinals in each of her three seasons. On an individual level, she coached the Patriot League Defender of the Year in 2017.


In addition to her assistant coach responsibilities at BU, she also participated in the Jansen Leadership Academy and served as a member of the IWLCA Convention Planning Committee.


Heneberry transitioned to Boston University after spending two seasons as an assistant coach at High Point University (2013-14), where she was the defensive coordinator and also worked one-on-one with the goaltenders. Heneberry helped guide the Panthers to back-to-back Big South championships and consecutive NCAA tournament appearances. In both seasons at HPU, she helped coach the Big South Defensive Player of the Year.


A native of Timonium, Maryland, Heneberry was a four-year standout defender at Loyola University Maryland from 2009-12. During her senior season in 2012, she helped lead the Greyhounds to their second straight Big East Conference title and second consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals. That same season, Heneberry represented Loyola as a team captain, was recognized individually as the Big East Preseason Defender of the Year, and was a member of the Tewaaraton Watch List. She became the second player in school history to record 100 caused turnovers and 100 ground balls. She was also named a Third Team All-American following her junior season in 2011.


During her playing career, she also served as the head coach of Diamonds Lacrosse Club in Baltimore, Maryland, and provided one-on-one instruction sessions to youth players.


Heneberry graduated from Loyola in 2012 with a bachelor's degree in communications with a specialization in public relations and advertising.

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Casey Pearsall

Casey Pearsall will enter her second season as an assistant coach for the University of Michigan women's lacrosse team in 2024 after being hired July 12, 2022. She works primarily with the Michigan offense and draw-control team.


In her first season with the Wolverines, Pearsall helped the draw control team to 251 wins with five players winning 20-or-more draw controls. The Michigan offense also scored the second-most goals in program history, while dishing out a program-best 102 asssits.


Pearsall came to Ann Arbor after spending four seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Vermont, where she worked on implementing offensive strategy and concept development as well as managing the draw unit and gameday performance.


During her time with Vermont, Pearsall helped the team to its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 2022 after the team went 14-4 in the regular season and won its first America East championship. In her first season, the Catamounts saw their first America East playoff berth since 2016 and Pearsall coached Vermont's first America East first team All-Conference nominee since 2015.


Along with her collegiate coaching experience, Pearsall was the head coach of 802 Lacrosse Club, leading both middle school and high school athletes. She also has spent time coaching at the high school level and various club lacrosse programs, while coaching Team Tennessee at the national tournament.


Prior to her coaching days, Pearsall was a three-time All-America honoree at Notre Dame, where she also was named to the Tewaaraton Watch List in her senior season and collected All-ACC first-team honors. Following her collegiate playing career, Pearsall played professional with the Long Island Sound in the Unites Women's Lacrosse League and with the Upstate Pride and Command in the Women's Professional Lacrosse League.

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Nora Boerger

University of Michigan women's lacrosse head coach Hannah Nielsen announced Tuesday (Sept. 19) the hiring of assistant coach Nora Boerger.


Boerger comes to Ann Arbor from Grand Valley State University where she was the associate head coach for the last five seasons. Her main responsibilities will include working with associate head coach Ana Heneberry on the defensive end of the ball and playing a role in player development.


"I am thrilled to welcome Nora into the Michigan program," said Nielsen. "Nora has seen tremendous success in Division II and on the international stage in her coaching career. Most recently at Grand Valley State, she was a part of a historic season and was an integral part of taking the team to the national semifinal. I am excited to have her knowledge and experience on our sideline this season!"


Boerger served as coordinator for a GVSU defense that ranked 15th nationally in scoring defense last season, allowing fewer than 10 goals in a game. The Lakers ended the year ranked fifth nationally after winning their first Midwest Regional Championship and making their first-ever NCAA semifinal. In her first season with the Lakers, Boerger's backline ranked second in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Aathletic Conference in goals against average and reached the GLAIC Tournament Championship. Additionally, she coached 44 All-GLIAC honorees, 24 IWLCA All-Region honorees and two IWLCA Defensive All-Americans in her five seasons with the program.


Prior to her time at Grand Valley State, Boerger spent two seasons at Lenoir-Rhyne, where she helped lead the team to its first-ever South Atlantic Conference regular-season championship.


Boerger's other collegiate coaching experience include stints at Findlay and Ohio State. At Findlay, she helped the Oilers to the most wins in school history as her defense had the fewest shots on goal allowed in program history and the fewest goals allowed. During her time at Ohio State, the Buckeyes made an NCAA Tournament appearance after making it to the Big Ten Tournament finals.


In 2020, Boerger was hired as the head coach of the Swiss Women's National Team, after serving as the associate head coach in 2018, and is prepping the team for the 2022 World Championships. At the club level, Boerger has coached for REV Lacrosse, AC Lacrosse Club, Major Force Lacrosse and MLXA.


Boerger is a 2013 graduate of Urbana University where she played both lacrosse and basketball. She was a USACollegeLacrosse.com Honorable Mention All-America honoree in 2011 and ranked fifth nationally in ground balls in her senior season. Boerger earned her bachelor of science in exercise science from Urbana and went on to earn a Master of Arts in University Leadership from Lenoir-Rhyne in 2018 and a Master of Science in Communication from Grand Valley in 2023.

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