Harvard University

Harvard University Dept of Athletics
Murr Center - 65 North Harvard Street Cambridge, MA 02138

Division 1 Massachusetts Northeast

Private Medium National competitor

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Devon Wills

One of the sport's all-time greatest players and former Ivy League standout Devon Wills was named The Carole Kleinfelder Head Coach for Harvard Women's Lacrosse, Bob Scalise, The John D. Nichols '53 Family Director of Athletics, announced in August 2018.

"We are thrilled to welcome Devon as our new head women's lacrosse coach," Scalise said. "Devon is widely known as an outstanding coach and mentor, and she returns to the Ivy League after making a tremendous impact at USC. One of the greats in the history of women's lacrosse, Devon brings a winning pedigree to Cambridge and we look forward to her continued success here at Harvard."

"It is a privilege to be named The Carole Kleinfelder Head Coach for Harvard Women's Lacrosse, and I am very grateful for this opportunity," Wills said. "Harvard provides its student-athletes with an unparalleled college experience, combining rigorous academics with nationally competitive athletic opportunities. I am excited to return to Ivy League competition and am committed to building a strong program that will contribute to the championship history of Harvard women's lacrosse. I am confident that we can create an energetic, positive, and successful experience for our student-athletes."

Wills arrives in Cambridge after a six-year coaching stint at USC, serving as associate head coach over the past three seasons, where she worked specifically with the Trojan defense and goaltenders. She was a three-time All-American goalie at Dartmouth, leading the NCAA in goals-against average and helped the Big Green advance to the NCAA championship game in 2006.

"I would like to thank Harvard Athletic Director, Bob Scalise, and Assistant Athletic Director, Caitlyn Prandato, for providing me with this opportunity," Wills said. "I would like to thank the USC Head Coach Lindsey Munday and Assistant Athletic Director Brendan Loftus for supporting me in this decision. Lastly, I would specifically like to thank the current and former Trojan Women's Lacrosse players for making me a better coach and person throughout the last seven seasons."

Wills previously served three seasons (2013-15) as an assistant coach, defensive coordinator, and recruiting coordinator for USC. Before her arrival, Wills was an assistant at Denver for two years (2010-11), a volunteer assistant in 2010 and a full-time assistant in 2011. Wills also served as an assistant for two years (2007-08) at her alma mater Dartmouth.

In Wills' first season as associate head coach, the Trojans set new Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) records with 20 wins and an incredible 20-game winning streak. USC won both the MPSF's regular-season and tournament titles and then became the first-ever West Coast team to host an NCAA tournament game. USC's appearance in the NCAA quarterfinal and finish at No. 5 in the final IWLCA poll were also MPSF records. Wills' direction helped the program post the NCAA's top defense (5.80 GAA), which showcased the national leader in goals-against average: Gussie Johns (6.04 GAA).

Widely regarded as one of the world's elite goalies, Wills was a goalie for the U.S. national team from 2007-17. She helped the U.S. win the 2009 FIL World Cup and was named the Player of the Match in the team's 8-7 victory over Australia in the championship game. Wills returned as a member of the U.S. squad in 2013 and 2017 that claimed record seventh and eighth world championship titles.

On April 13, 2016, Wills was a part of history as the second overall pick in the first-ever United Women's Lacrosse League draft. She was chosen by the Long Island Sound franchise and led her team to the inaugural UWLX Championship. In her first season, she went 6-1, posted an 8.29 goals-against average, and was named a UWLX All-Star. She had eight saves in the championship game to help the Sound defeat the Boston Storm, 13-8, and was named the title game's Most Valuable Player.

While she was at Denver, the Pioneers went 13-5 overall in 2010 with a 6-0 record in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. Denver advanced to the MPSF Tournament final and finished with the No. 20 national ranking. In 2011, the Pioneers were one of the top teams in the MPSF and advanced to the tournament semifinal.

As a player, Wills was a four-time (2003-06) All-Ivy League performer with three selections to the first team. She was also a three-time IWLCA All-America second-team honoree (2004-06). As a team captain in 2006, she led the NCAA in goals-against average and helped the Big Green advance to the NCAA championship game. In 2003, she was named the Ivy League Rookie of the Year and earned All-Ivy League second-team notice. She finished her career in second on Dartmouth's all-time saves list (538) and had a 7.14 career goals-against average. With Wills in the net, Dartmouth made appearances in the NCAA quarterfinals in 2003 and 2004, and advanced to the national semifinals in 2005.

A native of Denver, Wills is a two-time recipient of the Women's Lacrosse Award from the Sportswomen of Colorado (2006 and 2009).

Wills received a bachelor's degree in sociology from Dartmouth in 2006.

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Becca Block

Devon Wills, The Carole Kleinfelder Head Coach for Harvard Women’s Lacrosse, announced the addition of Becca Block to the Crimson coaching staff in 2018.

“Becca is a tremendous coach and I am so excited to welcome her to the Harvard Lacrosse Staff,” Wills said. “I have had the privilege of playing with and coaching against Becca for several years, and her passion for the game is contagious to the people around her. Becca is a smart and calculated coach who is eager to make those around her better. I am excited to learn from and to work alongside Becca as we look to compete for Ivy Championships.”

In her two years at Oregon, Block helped Oregon’s defense improve each year. Block was instrumental in constructing a defensive unit that allowed 11.83 goals per game in 2018, down from 12 goals per game in 2017, when Oregon’s defense was 32nd in the nation with 10.18 caused turnovers per game.

Block arrived in Eugene after spending 2016 as an assistant at Florida, where she helped guide a Gator defense that finished the season 12th in the nation in scoring defense at 7.45 goals per game. Block began her coaching career at Vermont in 2014, and spent 2015 as an assistant at Michigan before heading to Gainesville.

As a player, Block is one of the premier defenders in women’s lacrosse. She has played six years with the U.S. National Team after first making the team in 2012, and was the 2013 IWLCA Defender of the Year and an All-American as a senior at Syracuse. During her four-year college career, Block helped lead the Orange to the national title game in 2012 and a Final Four berth in 2010, while Big East All-Academic honors twice.

Block has played professionally for the Long Island Sound in the United Women’s Lacrosse League. Block also played with Wills on the U.S. national team, winning the 2017 U.S. Women’s World Cup and World Games.

In addition to Block’s collegiate playing and coaching experience, she was also a coach and counselor for the Syracuse University Elite Lacrosse Camps and helped organize and run the Laxfest Lacrosse Tournament in Syracuse, N.Y., from 2010-15.

Block graduated from Syracuse in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in health and exercise science.

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Kiley Anderson

Kiley Anderson, an accomplished player and coach with many ties to New England, joined the Harvard women's lacrosse coaching staff in 2022.

A native of Killingsworth, Conn., Anderson was a standout student-athlete at UMass-Amherst and Boston College and continued her success in lacrosse as a coach at Yale and UConn.

Over the last two seasons with UConn, Anderson helped the Huskies record two of their most successful seasons in program history, as the team made back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Tournament for the first time ever.

Coaching the UConn offense, Anderson oversaw a Huskies attack that finished 11th in the nation in scoring in 2022 (15.72 goals per game). That attack included senior Sydney Watson (58 goals, 23 assists), who was named an IWLCA All-American. Anderson also guided the Huskies to new team records in goals scored (283), points (397), shots (598) and draw controls (316). UConn finished the year at 13-5 overall with a 3-2 mark in Big East play. In 2021, UConn made its second-ever NCAA Tournament appearance after going 12-7 overall and 7-3 in conference play. Watson became the first player in program history to be named an IWLCA First Team All-American.

Anderson arrived at UConn after spending a year as a volunteer assistant coach at Yale University. She assisted in planning and conducting skill specific individual lessons with players and worked with drawers and circle players to improve their specific skills.

Prior to her time at Yale, she was a coach at the Nor’easter Premiere Lacrosse Club, Nor’easter Next, and UMass Amherst and Yale lacrosse camps. Anderson also helped as a coach at the Northwestern and Salve Regina Nor’easter lacrosse camps.

A former IWLCA First Team All-Northeast Region and Atlantic 10 First Team All-Conference selection, Anderson had a successful playing career at UMass-Amherst and Boston College. She served as captain for the Minutewomen during the 2019 season and holds the record for most goals in a single game (9) in program history. Anderson is also second all-time in career draw controls (208) and tied for most goals in a single season (67). She was also selected to the Atlantic 10 All Championship Team in 2017 and 2019. She finished seventh nationally in goals per game (3.94) while helping the Minutewomen rank No. 1 nationally in draw controls per game (19.11) and No. 2 nationally in scoring offense (17.47 goals per game).

Anderson graduated UMass-Amherst with a B.A. in sociology in May 2019. She attended Haddam-Killingworth High School and was an honorable mention US Lacrosse All-American and a US Lacrosse Academic All-American.