Whittier College is rescinding its decision to eliminate the varsity intercollegiate women's lacrosse team and will continue the program going forward. The team is reinstated beginning with the 2026-27 academic year, and the College is dedicated to seeing it thrive.
“This program has people behind it who never stopped believing it belonged here,” said Rock Carter, Director of Athletics. “We are not putting it back the way it was. We are putting it back with more support behind it, and we are starting today.”
The College has opened a search for a head coach that is open to every qualified candidate, including anyone who has previously coached the program. A search for an assistant coach will follow within thirty days of that hire. The College has also increased the program's recruiting budget and committed to offering student-athletes the opportunity to play women's lacrosse at Whittier beginning with the current academic year, with the goal of building a strong, sustainable program for the future.
Whittier will also engage an individual or group agreed to by the College and by the students who raised these concerns through counsel to conduct a gender equity review of whether the College is providing women with equal opportunities to participate in varsity athletics. That review will produce a Gender Equity Plan, which the College will adopt by the end of the 2026-27 academic year. If any compliance issues are identified in the review, the Plan will be designed to bring Whittier's intercollegiate athletic program into compliance with any one prong of the Three-Part Test under Title IX no later than the 2028-29 academic year.
Student-athletes and alumni will be invited to take part in the review. The Plan will be published on the athletics department website when it is adopted, along with updated versions and status reports on its implementation.
“We listened to our students. We are acting not just to bring back women’s lacrosse but to bring it back better because that is what is needed,” said Kristine Dillon ‘73, President of Whittier College.
Rebuilding the roster begins immediately. Students with lacrosse experience, students who have never played and want to try, and student-athletes already competing in a sport that does not conflict with the spring season are encouraged to contact Jessica Purcell in the Department of Athletics at jpurcell@whittier.edu or to stop by 200H in the Graham Athletic Center. No varsity experience is required.
The conference schedule for 2026-27 was set months ago, so this spring will look different from a full season while the roster is rebuilt. The College is working with the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and with non-conference opponents on competition for the spring.
Media contactGillian Frew, Whittier College, gillian.frew@whittier.edu
