EVANSTON, Ill. — After leading Northwestern to its first national championship since 2012 and a sweep of the Big Ten's regular season and conference titles, coach Kelly Amonte Hiller and her staff have been named the 2023 IWLCA National Coaching Staff of the Year for Division-I, as announced by the organization Wednesday.

The award, which previously only recognized individual coaches, received a name change ahead of the 2023 season in order to acknowledge an entire coaching staff's contributions.

Joined on the sideline by Scott Hiller, Alexis Venechanos, Charlie Leonard and Jaclen Moxley, Amonte Hiller — a four-time IWLCA Coach of the Year honoree — and the Wildcats' staff helped engineer a dominant run in 2023. Following a season-opening loss, the 'Cats rattled off 21 straight victories, propelled by the nation's top scoring offense (16.95) and best scoring margin (8.05).

Fueled by the country's premier attacking unit and led by the nation's best player in Izzy Scane — the winner of the women's Tewaaraton Award and IWLCA Player of the Year — Northwestern outscored its NCAA Tournament opponents 57-26, including an 18-6 rout of Boston College in the national championship game.

Since taking over the program in 2002, Amonte Hiller boasts a 53-11 record (.828) in the NCAA Tournament, making her the winningest coach in tournament history. Her eight national titles ties Cindy Timchal for the most national championships won by a head coach all-time.

The Wildcats' coaching staff will be honored at the IWLCA Convention, which will take place in November at the Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront Hotel in Tampa, Florida.

Amonte Hiller will be back for her 23rd season at the helm of Northwestern lacrosse next season, looking to repeat as a national champion for the first time since 2012.

Northwestern Tabbed As 2023 IWLCA National Coaching Staff of the Year