Stanford University

Stanford University Dept of Athletics
Arrillaga Family Sports Ctr 641 E Campus Dr Stanford, CA 94305

Division 1 California Southwest

Private Large National competitor

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Coaches

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Danielle Spencer

Danielle Spencer completed her sixth season as Stanford's Paul A. Violich Women's Lacrosse Head Coach in 2025. Spencer was appointed the seventh head coach in program history on June 12, 2019.

Under Spencer's guidance, Stanford swept the Pac-12 regular-season and tournament titles in 2021, 2022 and 2024 while making four NCAA Tournament appearances including Stanford's first NCAA Tournament win since 2016 in the 2025 First Round. In six seasons on The Farm, Spencer has compiled a 64-31 overall record.

Spencer has produced eight All-Americans during her tenure on The Farm: Ali Baiocco (2021 IWLCA Second Team), Ashley Humphrey (2022 IWLCA Third Team), Annabel Frist (2024 USA Lacrosse Third Team), Aliya Polisky (2024 USA Lacrosse Honorable Mention, 2025 IWLCA Second Team, 2025 USA Lacrosse Third Team, 2025 ILWomen Third Team), Madison McPherson (2024 ILWomen Honorable Mention) Lucy Pearson (2024 ILWomen Honorable Mention), Sophia Brindisi (2025 ILWomen Honorable Mention, 2025 USA Lacrosse Honorable Mention) and Ava Arceri (2025 ILWomen Honorable Mention, 2025 USA Lacrosse Honorable Mention).

Since Spencer's arrival, multiple players have earned the following major conference awards: Pac-12 Attacker of the Year (2), Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year (1), Pac-12 Draw Specialist of the Year (2), Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Year (3) and Pac-12 Freshman of the Year (2).

A three-time conference coach of the year recipient, Spencer owns a 93-50 career overall record in nine seasons as a head coach, which includes a three-year stint at Dartmouth (29-19 overall).

In 2025, Stanford (15-6, 7-2 ACC) finished third in the regular season in its debut in the Atlantic Coast Conferece, making it to the ACC Tournament semifinal and an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament - marking its second-straight appearance. Spencer led the Cardinal to its most wins in a single-season since 2015 and second-most all-time while earning the first NCAA Tournament win since 2016 and the first during her tenure. Aliya Polisky, Ava Arceri and Sophia Brindisi were honored as All-Americans while Stanford earned six members on All-ACC Teams. Stanford earned eight ranked wins in 2025 and was ranked for the entire season in the IWLCA and ILWomen Polls. The Cardinal placed inside the top-10 for 10 weeks during the campaign and earned its highest-ever ranking on March 24, slotting in at No. 4 in the IWLCA Poll. Stanford finished the season ranked at No. 8 in the IWLCA Poll and No. 7 in the ILWomen.com Poll.

2024 had a tough start for the Cardinal with consecutive one-goal losses to perennial NCAA tournament qualifiers Virginia and Yale. However, Stanford then went on a stretch of five-consecutive wins, culminating in a stretch of 10 wins in its next 11 games with wins over #19 Colorado and #19 USC. Stanford claimed the outright Pac-12 regular season title with a 7-0 conference record before securing the final Pac-12 tournament championship with an 11-8 win over Colorado at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum. Stanford wrapped up the season with a 13-5 record following a heartbreaking loss to Denver in the NCAA Tournament, securing another 10+ win season for the fourth consecutive year. Stanford produced multiple All-American honors with Aliya Polisky, Annabel Frist, Madison McPherson and Lucy Pearson earning ILWomen All-American nods while Polisky and Frist also took home USA Lacrosse All-Americans kudos.

In 2023, Spencer led the Cardinal to its third consecutive double-digit win season, amassing a 10-8 record and another trip to the Pac-12 postseason tournament. During the year, Stanford faced seven ranked teams on the docket and grabbed a tone-setting 15-12 win over #19 USC in one of the most intense rivalries on the west coast. Stanford also broke numerous records with Ashley Humphrey setting the NCAA record for total assists in a season while setting the fourth-most points in the Pac-12’s history. Under Spencer, the Cardinal produced seven All-Pac-12 honorees while Humphrey and Annabel Frist were named USA Lacrosse Magazine All-Americans.

In 2022, Stanford (12-7, 8-2 Pac-12) swept the conference championships, winning both the Pac-12 regular season and Pac-12 Tournament titles. Ashley Humphrey burst onto the scene as a redshirt freshman, setting program, conference and NCAA records for assists in a season with 88. She was named an IWLCA All-American and Pac-12 Freshman of the Year while Baiocco repeated as Pac-12 Attacker of the Year and Kara Rahaim claimed the Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Year award. The Cardinal finished the season ranked No. 19 in the IWLCA Coaches Poll.

After the 2020 campaign was shortened due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, Spencer completed her first full season on The Farm in 2021. Spencer guided Stanford to its best win percentage in school history (.916) and the Cardinal won the Pac-12 regular season and tournament titles in the same year for the first time in program history. Stanford, which enjoyed the best start to a season (11-0) in program history, won its first Pac-12 regular season title since the league's inception in 2018 and finished the year ranked No. 16 in the IWLCA Coaches Poll. Senior Ali Baiocco was named to the IWLCA All-America second team - the first Cardinal All-American since 2018 and 11th in program history.

Spencer, who served as an assistant at Stanford in 2012, returned to The Farm after she turned around the Dartmouth program in just three years and earned Ivy League Coach of the Year honors in each of her final two seasons (2018-19). Spencer inherited a program coming off three consecutive losing campaigns, but the Big Green won 11 games in her second year and captured an Ivy League regular season title in her third season.

In 2019, Spencer guided Dartmouth to its first Ivy title since 2011, tying Princeton for the top spot in the conference standings. The Big Green earned an at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament, a first for the program since 2013.

Spencer's 2019 team established several program and Ivy League records. The 272 goals and 401 total points both represented new program standards, while the 312 draw controls set a new Ivy standard and eclipsed the old mark by more than 50.

Spencer's second season was a resurgence for the Big Green as the team returned to the postseason for the first time since 2013 and finished the year 11-5. For her part in guiding the team back to the Ivy League Tournament and maintaining a spot in the nation's top-20 most of the season, Spencer was named the Ivy League Co-Head Coach of the Year.

During Spencer's three seasons in Hanover, six Dartmouth players received First Team All-Ivy honors.

Prior to Dartmouth, Spencer spent four seasons as an assistant coach at her alma mater, Northwestern, and one year on the sidelines at Stanford.

During her coaching stint in Evanston, Spencer helped Northwestern to four NCAA appearances and a pair of berths in the Final Four (2013-14). The Wildcats also won a conference title in 2013 and finished in the top-10 of the IWLCA poll in all four seasons.

As the recruiting coordinator, Spencer was responsible for continuing to bring top players into the program, including the 2014 group ranked as the best recruiting class in the nation.

A four-year standout at Northwestern from 2006-10, Spencer was a member of three national championship teams (2007-09) and one national runner-up (2010) during her outstanding playing career.

Spencer finished her four seasons with the Wildcats having played in 83 games, making 65 starts. Her career totals ranked among the best in Northwestern's storied history as she departed with 193 goals (7th), 238 points (8th) and 203 draw controls (3rd). The 110 draw controls as a senior were the third-most by a collegiate player in NCAA history at the time.

A three-time all-conference player, Spencer earned first-team recognition as both a junior and senior, while being honored on the second team during her sophomore campaign. Spencer was a two-time All-American, nabbing first-team honors as a senior in 2010, a year after claiming second-team recognition. As a senior, Spencer also earned All-America honors from WomensLacrosse.com and WomensLax.com.

Spencer played with the Boston Storm of the United Women's Lacrosse League (UWLX) during the first season for both the team and league. Spencer and her teammates finished as the league runner-up, falling in the championship game. In 2018, she played for Upstate Pride of the Women's Professional Lacrosse League (WPLL). She was tied for third in the league, averaging 4.0 goals per game, while also leading the league with 8.0 draw controls per contest.

In October 2018, Spencer was named a member of the US Lacrosse Greater Rochester Hall of Fame Induction Class of 2018.

A native of Brighton, New York, Spencer graduated from Northwestern in 2010 with a degree in social policy.

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Grace Gavin Kennedy

Grace Kennedy was promoted to Assistant Coach of Stanford Lacrosse in July, 2023 after serving as Volunteer Assistant Coach during the 2022-23 season. A 2011 graduate of Loyola University of Maryland, Kennedy helped lead the Greyhounds to a 17-3 overall record, a Big East Conference Championship, an NCAA Tournament appearance, and a no. 5 national ranking by her graduation in 2011.

Kennedy played a pivotal role in the progress of Loyola University of Maryland's lacrosse program, helping the team improve dramatically from a 2-14 record in 2006 to a top-five nationally ranked squad by her senior year.

Kennedy earned significant individual accolades during her playing career as well. She was named a Tewaaraton finalist, a Honda Sports Award finalist, and a two-time IWLCA All-American during her four years as a Greyhound. Kennedy consistently earned recognition at the regional and conference level as well, being named a four-time Regional IWLCA All-American, a two-time Big East Attacker of the Year, a four-time All-Big East selection, and a two-time Big East All-Tournament selection.

Kennedy hold's Loyola's career record for goals (229), season records in points (98) and goals (71), and scored at least one point in 70 of her 71 career games, including a goal in 68 career contests. During her career with the Greyhounds, Kennedy led the team in goals and points in each of her four years.

Kennedy is originally from Baltimore, Maryland, where she attended high school at St. Paul’s School for Girls (’07). She lives with her husband, Kyle, a Navy Veteran attending the Stanford Graduate School of Business, and their two dogs, Zoe and Cooley.

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Kelsey Howard

Kelsey Howard completed her second season on The Farm in 2024-25.

Prior to Stanford, Howard worked with Colby College Women's Lacrosse, serving as Assistant Head Coach since 2021 and previously as an assistant coach since 2018. While at Colby, Howard led the offensive unit, taking control of play calling duties and developing scouting reports while also assisting in recruiting.

Howard also spent time at Bentley University as a Volunteer Assistant Coach and with Maineiax Lacrosse Club where she led 20 players to collegiate rosters. Howard has worked closely with the IWLCA, serving as the organization's treasurer and Division III Coaches Poll Master.

Howard is a two-time graduate of Bentley University, where she earned her Master's Degree in 2017 and her Bachelor's Degree in 2015. Howard played lacrosse and field hockey at Bentley, an NCAA Division II athletics program.

Howard earned Intercollegiate Lacrosse Coaches Association All-Region honors, was a Northeast-10 Conference all-league selection, and earned conference all-academic honors during her time at Bentley. She was Bentley's NCAA Woman of the Year nominee and a captain for both teams.

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Nicole Beardsley

Nicole Beardsley was hired as Stanford’s assistant lacrosse coach in July 2024.

“We are thrilled to welcome Nicole to our Stanford Lacrosse family,” said Spencer. “Having known her since our days at Northwestern, I can attest to her commitment, integrity, and exceptional coaching skills. Nicole has gained invaluable experience from some of the best in the field, making her an outstanding addition as we transition into the ACC.”

Beardsley, who most recently served as Assistant Coach at Colorado, helped lead the Buffs to the Pac-12 Tournament Championship game in 2023 and 2024. Also the director of recruiting, draw controls, and offensive coordinator in Colorado, Beardsley helped generate the second-best scoring offense in the Pac-12 over the last two seasons and coached three USA Lacrosse Magazine All-Americans.

Prior to her time in Boulder, Beardsley was an assistant coach, working with offense and goalkeepers at the University of Massachusetts. She has also spent time as the director of operations with Northwestern University Women’s Lacrosse.

A starting attack player in her collegiate career at Northwestern, Beardsley led the Wildcats to two NCAA final four appearances and was named a Big Ten All-Tournament Team selection in 2017.

Beardsley graduated from Northwestern with her bachelor of science in Education and Social Policy with a focus on Human Development and Psychological Services and a Minor in Psychology in 2018. She also earned her master of science in Sport and Performance Psychology from the University of Western States in 2021.