Valor Christian went 10-6 last season, and made the playoffs for the first time in program history. The Eagles will have a new coach in 2016. (Tim Visser/TimVisserPhotography.com)
Kara Cannizzaro, a former MVP of the NCAA tournament, was announced as the next head coach of Valor Christian’s girls lacrosse program on Friday.
Cannizzaro had been a volunteer assistant for the University of Denver’s women’s lacrosse team, and has also been the head coach at North Broward Prep in Florida.
“I am extremely blessed for the opportunity to coach at an up-and-coming program such as Valor,” Cannizzaro said in a statement. “I am honored to be able to share my passion and love for the game with a group of determined, focused and well-rounded athletes. My goal is to help the young women have growth and success athletically, spiritually and academically.”
Cannizzaro, who grew up in New York, was a collegiate lacrosse star at North Carolina. She led the Tar Heels to the 2013 NCAA championship, and was named the MVP of the tournament. That same season, she won the Honda Award for women’s lacrosse.
She also has experience playing with the U.S. women’s national team.
At Valor, Cannizaro takes over a team that is coming off the best season in program history. The Eagles went 10-6-0 — the most wins since the program started in 2009 — and made the postseason for the first time ever, losing to Chatfield in the first round.
It’ll be an experienced team coming back, as five of Valor’s leading point scorers return.
“It is with great excitement that we announce Kara Cannizzaro as our next girls lacrosse head coach,” Valor Christian athletic director Jamie Heiner said in a statement. “She brings a tremendous amount of talent in lacrosse and overall leadership, which will be a blessing to not only our student-athletes, but also our entire Valor community. While we remain very thankful for the past, and the foundation of the girls lacrosse program, we have much to celebrate and much to look forward to with this great group of wonderful young ladies working with coach Cannizzaro.”