STANFORD, Calif. - Danielle Spencer has solidified her staff for the 2023-24 season, announcing two promotions and two assistant coach hirings this summer.
Former volunteer assistant coach Grace Gavin Kennedy has been promoted to Assistant Coach, while Emily Cummings has been promoted to Director of Lacrosse Operations. The Paul A. Violich Women's Lacrosse Head Coach also welcomes Kelsey Howard and Zach Tamburello to the coaching staff.
"I am excited about the staff we have returning and the new coaches joining us," said Spencer. "Kelsey and Zach have each had significant leadership experience in their previous roles and are ready to take the next step in their careers."
Since 2021, Howard has served as the Assistant Head Lacrosse Coach at Colby College. Prior to that role, she was an assistant coach at Colby for three years, from 2018 through 2021. A 2015 and 2017 graduate of Bentley University with her bachelor's and master's degrees, Howard has also spent time working with the IWLCA, and coaching the Maineiax Lacrosse Club.
Tamburello most recently served as the First Assistant at Bryant University, working with the Bulldogs since 2022. Prior to his time in Rhode Island, Tamburello was the Head Coach of Women's Lacrosse at Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia.
While at Roanoke, Tamburello guided the team to its first NCAA tournament berth since 2009 and a No. 24 national ranking. Eight of Tamburello's players were named all-conference selections, including four IWLCA all-region honorees and one IWLCA All-American. A graduate of Radford University, Tamburello has also spent time as an assistant coach with Pomona Pitzer College in Claremont, California.
"Having Grace and Emily return in their newly promoted roles is also exciting and well deserved for each of them," added Spencer. "As a group, we have a great mix of experience, perspectives, coaching, and culture strategies being brought to the table."
Kennedy will enter her second season on The Farm and her first in the role of assistant coach. Last season, she helped lead Stanford to three conference player of the year awards, including Draw Specialist of the Year, Co-Goalkeeper of the Year, and Pac-12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Cummings is beginning her fifth season at Stanford and first in the role of Director of Lacrosse Operations. Prior to 2023-24, Cummings has worked as the Director of Operations for both Lacrosse and Women's Gymnastics.
"Our goal as a staff is to draw out the best from each other and lead the program together," said Spencer. "I'm grateful to our administration for helping me retain and recruit this staff."
Stanford will look to reclaim the Pac-12 crown in 2024 after taking back-to-back conference titles in 2021 and 2022. The team will begin training in September once the fall term begins.