Who Are The Directors/Coaches of NorCal RIZE?

Juliet Mittlemann and Julia Southard, the owners and directors of RIZE, have reunited after coaching the Northern California National Lacrosse Team for three consecutive years. Their paths crossed again during their student-athlete days at Brown University in the early 2000s.
 

Coach Southard, known as Coach Jules, served as an assistant coach at three Division I programs, including LaSalle University, Cal, and the University of Connecticut. She held the position of director of recruiting operations at Cal and UConn, where she worked directly with student-athletes, parents, and coaches throughout the recruiting process. Coach Southard’s expertise in recruiting played a pivotal role in bringing in some of the top recruits in the country, significantly impacting the programs for years to come.

Beyond her coaching career, Coach Southard has dedicated herself to working with local youth clubs, club teams, and high school teams. She served as the head coach at Bishop O’Dowd High School for three years and currently holds the same position at St. Francis High School in Sacramento. Coach Southard’s extensive experience includes working with over sixty individual goalies in Northern California, contributing to the production of two All-Americans. Throughout the college recruiting process, she actively works with student-athletes and families, providing guidance and support. Coach Southard has personally assisted almost fifty athletes, helping them secure spots at Division I, II, and IIIA level schools.

Coaching is an incredible experience because you witness remarkable transformations. You see talented athletes blossom into exceptional lacrosse players, and you witness the growth of good people into great teammates. You witness timid girls become confident young women, and you have a direct impact on their journey. While hard work may not always be popular, once you commit to it wholeheartedly, you realize your own potential. With the support of people who believe in you, you can rise above any obstacle and achieve greatness.

Coach Mittlemann, also known as Coach J, has been coaching lacrosse for two decades. Her passion for the sport began during her time at Brown University. Juliet has a rich background in girls’ and women’s lacrosse. She founded, directed, and coached the girls’ lacrosse program at Palisades Charter High School in Pacific Palisades, California, for nine years. Additionally, she served as the Girls Lacrosse Director and Head Coach of the Youth Girl’s Lacrosse Program for the Los Angeles Lacrosse League. In May 2009, she launched her own private lacrosse company, Los Angeles Women’s Lacrosse. Juliet’s coaching experience extends to the collegiate level, where she coached at Pepperdine University. She also served as the assistant coach for the 2007 women’s elite lacrosse travel team, Team USA California. The team traveled to Japan to compete in the 2007 International Friendship Games, playing against teams from Osaka, Nagoya, and Kyoto. After the 2007 season as the assistant women’s lacrosse coach at Pepperdine University, Juliet became the co-head coach. The following summer, she returned to coach the 2008 Team USA California, which traveled to China for the 2008 Beijing Games and Japan for the 2008 International Friendship Games, competing in Tokyo and Sapporo.

In May 2013, Juliet was elected as the head coach for the Women’s Developmental National Team (WDNT) in Los Angeles/Orange County. That same summer, Juliet was selected among coaching nominees nationwide to lead one of four girls lacrosse teams representing the top sixty lacrosse players across the country at the US Lacrosse All-American Showcase Tournament in Orlando, Florida.

In May 2015 and 2016, Juliet was again elected to lead the WDNT NorCal Team 1 alongside Coach Julia Southard. As of 2017, for four consecutive years, Juliet served as the Sub Regional Chair for the US Lacrosse Northern California National Teams, which takes the teams to compete in the annual US Lacrosse Women’s National Lacrosse Tournament.

Juliet had a long history with the Menlo-Atherton Youth Lacrosse club. For five years, she served as the Girls Lacrosse Director, and for seven seasons, she coached as both the Girls Lacrosse Director and Head Varsity Lacrosse Coach for Menlo-Atherton High School.

Juliet believes that the greatness of a team lies not only in the individuality of its athletes but also in their collective ability to be the best possible teammates for each other. With dedication, time, and enthusiasm, Juliet continues to coach and improve the lives of the students and athletes around her.

Jackie Pelletier (Coach Jackie)

Coach Jackie is a Massachusetts native who ventured West to play NCAA D1 lacrosse for UC Berkeley. After graduating, she stayed in the area and worked for many years in the Securities Compliance Consulting field. In addition to her career, she began coaching post-grad for Miramonte High School, where she just concluded ten seasons as Head Coach in 2024. She is passionate about growing the game, and has helped run the Girls Program at Lamorinda Lightning Youth Lacrosse Club for the last five years.

**LAX ALERT: Coach Jackie was recruited to play at UC Berkeley by RIZE Co-Owner Julia Southard, who was head of recruiting at the time.**

Jessica Mucci (Coach Jess)

Coach Jess comes to RIZE with 15 years of lacrosse experience. She picked up as stick as a freshman in high school and has been playing and coaching ever since! She is New York native that moved to the Bay Area in 2013 and has established herself as a coach in the lacrosse community. Most recently, Jess was the Head Varsity Coach at both Camplindo and San Ramon Valley High Schools in the East Bay and was able to lead both teams to the top of their league. Before joining RIZE, Jess gained 5 years of club lacrosse experience working for Tenacity where she was the head coach of their top HS teams, as well as a director of summer camps and leagues. 

Jess also spent her time coaching at the Division 1 lacrosse level. She was the Head Coach at Saint Mary's College of California from 2014 - 2017, being promoted from serving as the assistant in 2013. She also helped support youth lacrosse in the East Bay area by coaching for the NCJLA Lamorinda Club. In 2012 Jess began her Division 1 coaching as the assistant at Kennesaw State University in Georgia. 

Jess also worked for the English Lacrosse Association in Manchester, England. Jess was employed as a Schools Coaching Officer and was placed at Rendcomb College. She was the Head Coach: U14 Lacrosse, U15 Field Hockey, Assistant Coach: Varsity Lacrosse, U15 Lacrosse. She was also a course instructor for Psychology and the Youth Lacrosse Director. While in England, she continued her playing career and was selected for the West of England Squad to compete at the annual Territorial Championships.

Jess played Division 1 Lacrosse at the University of Connecticut, where she graduated with a degree in Psychology in 2011. During her time at UConn she competed in the Big East Conference where she was a four-year starter on the defensive end and served as team captain for the 2011 season. In 2011, Jess was selected to play in the North-South Senior All-Star game as well as advanced to the final round of U.S. Team trials. While at UConn, Jess traveled to Australia in 2009 where she played on the South Australia Burnside Club Team. She had the opportunity to learn and play the game from another perspective and her team advanced to the league championship for the first time in club history! Coach Jess is a head coach for RIZE Bay Area Black team.

Michaela Guerrera (Coach Michaela)

Coach & Previous Collegiate-athlete | 20+ Years of Experience

Coach Michaela has dedicated over two decades to the sport of lacrosse, both as a standout player and a passionate coach. A U.S. Lacrosse High School All-American, Michaela's talent on the field was evident from an early age, having captained the Coronado High School varsity team to a CIF Championship in 2011. Throughout her high school career, she was a consistent presence on the field, earning First-Team All-CIF honors and recognition as the City Conference Player of the Year in 2010.

As a college athlete, Michaela played for the University of California, Berkeley, where she made an immediate impact. During her sophomore year in 2013, she appeared in nine games, recording six points, three goals, and three assists. Michaela earned MPSF All-Academic honors while also contributing defensively with three ground balls, one draw, and two caused turnovers. In her freshman year, she appeared in 10 games, tallying four assists and three ground balls. Her diverse skill set, including her playmaking ability and leadership, made her an invaluable asset to the team.

Off the field, Michaela was also a force in the lacrosse community as a coach for over 15 years. Her commitment to the sport extends beyond personal achievements, as she has nurtured and developed young talent through coaching, sharing her deep knowledge and love for the game.

A player with a well-rounded skill set, Michaela is known for her lacrosse IQ, versatility, and leadership. Whether as a coach or player, she inspires those around her with her dedication, determination, and passion for the sport.

Currently coaches at Berkeley High School, Lamorinda Lacrosse, and RIZE. 

Sarah Westover (Coach Westie)

Coach Westie, better known as "Westie", attended USC in the fall of 2017.  She committed to play for the Trojans during her sophomore year. She was a member of the varsity team at Saint Francis HS of Sacramento for four years. She had an illustrious playing career at SFHS. Westie led the team in nearly every statistical category, set the program record for total goals, was named team MVP during her junior and senior years and was selected to First Team All Conference. Westie captained her team to an NCS birth during her senior season. "Westie is a rare breed. She works harder then any athlete I have ever met. Her goals and dreams are lofty, but with a work ethic and passion like hers, she is completely limitless. Her skill and athleticism are undeniable, but she is an even better person.  USC is gaining a gem of an athlete and person." Westie coaches our RIZE teams based out of the Sacramento area.

Jessica Seggman (Coach Jess)

Coach Jess comes to Rize with 13 years of lacrosse experience. Jess served as the head coach for the Menlo-Atherton High School Girls JV lacrosse team for 4 years and helped her teams land 1st place in the 2018 WBAL JV League with an overall record of 12-2. Seggman was also the head coach of the Menlo-Atherton Grizzlies 14 UB youth club team for two seasons. As one of the founding members of the first girls lacrosse team in the Los Angeles Unified School District at Palisades Charter High School, she simultaneously played for the LA Express girls club through the Adrenaline Starz program, contributing to their first Starz Cup Championship. All of her hard work paid off when she became the first female lacrosse player in LAUSD to be recruited to play college lacrosse. She began her college career playing Division III at North Central College in Illinois. The following year she was invited to play defense for the travel team--Team USA California, in the 2010 International Friendship Games, playing in both Nagoya and Tokyo, Japan. Upon her return to California to become captain and play club lacrosse for the University of Santa Barbara. During that time she coached various youth clinics and club teams for Santa Barbara Lacrosse Camp, Los Angeles Women's Lacrosse League and the Los Angeles Lacrosse League. Coach Jess is a head coach for the RIZE East Bay Area teams.

Olivia Turk (Coach Turk)

Coach Turk has been playing lacrosse for over a decade and is currently a student-athlete at Colorado Mesa University, where she competes as a defender for the NCAA Division II women’s lacrosse team. A rising senior, Turk was named team captain this past season and played a key role in leading the Mavericks’ defense to numerous wins with her leadership, intensity, and love for the game.

Before joining CMU, Turk played at Oak Ridge High School and competed for RIZE Lacrosse Club, where she now returns as a coach for her second summer. She is a certified coach with a passion for mentorship, empowerment, and helping young athletes grow both on and off the field.

In addition to her athletic pursuits, Turk is preparing for a future career in law and brings the same drive, discipline, and competitive spirit to her academics and coaching.

She is excited to continue sharing her knowledge, experience, and passion for the game with the next generation of lacrosse players!

Jimena Fajardo Sepulveda (Coach Jimé)

Coach Jime is a RIZE alumna. A four-year varsity player at Woodside Priory School, she was named captain and received Honorable Mention recognition during her senior season (2021-22). Now in her third year with Cal’s Women’s Club Lacrosse team, she serves as team captain and was named Offensive MVP for the 2023-24 season. She also spent a year coaching at Berkeley Lacrosse Club (2022-23) and has two years of experience as a coach and referee with Southern Marin Lacrosse. She was the Assistant Varsity Coach at Berkeley High School for the 2023-24 season and is now in her third year coaching with RIZE, where she continues to dedicate herself to developing players and advancing their skills in the sport.

Carlos Diaz (Coach Carlos)

Coach Carlos has been coaching lacrosse for the past three years at various levels, from middle school to high school, and most recently served as the JV Lacrosse coach at Palo Alto High School in 2025. 
My goal has always been to create a safe and enjoyable learning environment where players can develop their skills and build a true appreciation for the game. I believe that when practices and games are fun and engaging, players can perform without stress, allowing them to fully express themselves on the field and reach their highest potential as lacrosse players. "I'm incredibly excited to continue my coaching journey with RIZE and to share my passion for this amazing game with a great community of people. "
 

Karlin York (Coach Karlin)

Coach Karlin's lacrosse journey began in her sophomore year at Bella Vista High School, where she quickly developed a passion for the game. After high school, she continued her athletic and academic career at Oklahoma Baptist University before transferring to Missouri Western State University following COVID-19. During her time at Missouri Western, Karlin earned recognition as a two-time Academic All-GLVC Honoree and an All-GLVC Honorable Mention. She finished her collegiate career as the team’s leading scorer and leader in caused turnovers, while earning a Bachelor's degree in Social Work with a minor in Childhood Studies.

Now, Karlin has come full circle, returning to Bella Vista High School as the head JV coach. She also shares her passion for the sport through coaching with RIZE!

Aly De Caro (Coach Aly)

Coach Aly played collegiate lacrosse at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), where she spent five years as a midfielder, taking advantage of an extra year of eligibility due to COVID-19. Before her time at SCAD, she played for Coach Nate Hendel at Oak Ridge High School as a four-year varsity starter, and for Tenacity lacrosse club.  

While at SCAD, Aly recorded 152 goals and 54 assists for 206 points, along with 169 draw controls, 43 caused turnovers, and 111 ground balls. Her collegiate honors include an NAIA National Championship title in 2019, a Sun Conference Championship in 2023, AAC All-Conference First-Team in 2021, SUN All-Conference Second-Team in 2023, and selection to the NAIA National All-Tournament Team. In 2023, she broke the NAIA National Tournament points record with 21 points and helped lead her team to a national runner-up finish. She also served as team captain for her 5th and final year. 

She currently serves as the head coach at Oakmont High School and also coaches with Sacramento RIZE.

Nicole Pugh (Coach Nicole)

Coach Nicole is a former attacker on the High Point University women’s lacrosse team. During her time there she has helped the team earn two Big South Championship titles and two NCAA tournament appearances. She is a Davis high school alumni where she was a four-year letterwinner on the varsity lacrosse team. She was awarded all conference recognition all four years as well as offensive MVP her junior and senior year, she also served as a captain her senior year and was named a US Lacrosse All-American. Nicole also played on the varsity field hockey team at Davis high school in which she was awarded First Team All Conference her junior and senior year. Nicole is a head coach for RIZE Sacramento.
 

Mikie Schlosser (Coach Mikie)

Coach Mikie has an impressive lacrosse background, starting right here in Northern CA. Born and raised in Davis, California, Mikie attended Davis Senior HS where he was a 2x All-American, 3x first team all-conference, 2x league MVP, 3x Team Captain, and 2x league champion! He attended the University of Michigan and served as a team captain for two years. Mikie currently plays professionally for the Denver Outlaws of Major League Lacrosse (MLL). He was instrumental in helping the Outlaws take home 2018 MLL championship. In 2019, Mikie was an MLL All-Star, while also serving as a team captain for his Outlaw squad. Currently, he is training with team USA in an effort to make the 2022 roster. Mikie is a guest coach for our RIZE Sacramento teams.

Nicolette Landucci (Coach Nicolette)

Coach Nicolette began coaching lacrosse in 2019 as a Varsity Assistant with Hillsdale High School. Since stepping into the role of Varsity Head Coach in 2022, Hillsdale has achieved an undefeated season, won a division championship, moved up a division, and grown to include a JV team. A longtime soccer player, Nicolette first started playing lacrosse her sophomore year of high school and fell in love with the sport. In addition to coaching, Nicolette works as the District Athletic Coordinator for the San Mateo Union High School District. Nicolette is passionate about working with athletes at all skill levels and growing girls lacrosse on the west coast. Her dedication to coaching stems from her gratitude to her youth & high school coaches, who provided her with experiences that shaped a lifelong love of sports. She hopes to instill a similar love for athletics in the next generations to come. 

Cassidy Nguyen (Coach Cassidy)

Coach Cassidy started playing lacrosse in 8th grade with RIZE and quickly fell in love with the game. She is a current student-athlete at Willamette University and just finished her first year as a defender for the NCAA DIII lacrosse team. In addition to athletics, Nguyen is studying public health and biology on the pre-med route. She brings the same discipline and drive to her academics and coaching. She is excited to work with all the players and share her passion for the game!
 

Sadie Tschider (Coach Sadie)

Coach Sadie has a love for the game of lacrosse that speaks through her accomplishments as both a player and coach.  As an attacker on the Smith College Lacrosse Team, she accumulated 227 points with 140 goals and 87 assists. Sadie holds the Smith Lacrosse records for highest number of career and single season assists. In high school, she played for the Piedmont High School varsity team as well as LAXUHR and Tenacity Elite club teams. Sadie began coaching lacrosse as soon as she entered high school. She started by coaching Skyline Lacrosse then expanded to coach at Hat Trick Lacrosse, Piedmont High School and private/group lessons. She loves working with players of all skill levels on the detailed mechanics of stick skills and lacrosse IQ. While she loves all aspects of lacrosse, she has a particular passion for the offensive strategy of the game. At Smith College, Sadie completed a degree in Neuroscience and is pursuing a career in medicine.

Haley Richards (Coach Haley)

Coach Haley is currently playing lacrosse at the university of Louisville as a goalie. Her lacrosse career started in the Bay Area playing for lamorinda lightning from elementary through middle school. Coach Haley started with Tenacity in middle school, later playing for Steps California.  I attended Campolindo High school where I was a 4x US All American, second
team mention for the year of 2022, first team mention for 2023, and the DAL league MVP for 2024. I was awarded the cougar award all 4 years which represents sportsmanship, leadership, and a positive teammate. I’m excited to share my knowledge about the Goalie position and look forward to coaching in the Bay Area! 

Katie McMullen (Coach Katie)

Coach Katie is a lifelong lacrosse player who will continue her athletic career at the Division 1 level, playing for the University of California, Berkeley. A recent graduate of Davis High School, Katie served as a two-time team captain, earned team MVP honors twice, was a four-time First Team All-League selection, and was named League MVP during her senior
season. Katie played club lacrosse with the Tenacity Project throughout high school, after getting her start with Rize’s Rising Starz team. She is a certified lacrosse referee and has been coaching
local youth players for years. Katie brings a strong foundation of skill, leadership, and enthusiasm to every player she coaches, with a passion for developing young athletes and growing the game.

Abby Gillum (Coach Gilly)

Coach Gilly has 10 years of playing experience and is currently playing Division III lacrosse at DePauw University. Coach Gilly graduated from St. Francis High School (Sacramento) as a four-year varsity lacrosse player. Her involvement with RIZE began going into her freshman year of high school and continued through the summer after her senior year. Returning to coach at RIZE highlights her growth and development as a lacrosse player cultivated through the RIZE program. Coach Gilly is currently studying Communication at DePauw University. She is excited to share her lacrosse knowledge with the players and help them grow as a person and a lacrosse player!

Brynley Hodge (Coach Bryn)

Coach Bryn, comes to Rize with 7 yrs of playing experience, covering levels from a NCJLA club team, National club teams, four year High School Varsity, USA Lacrosse Nor Cal Team, and currently NCAA D1 (Xavier University).  Her return to Rize highlights the full circle development potential facilitated by the Rize program, having played for Rize starting as a Rizing Star, continuing thru the Comp-level Rize Black teams, and now returning as a Coach.  While at St. Francis High School (Sacramento), Brynley was a two-time All Delta League-First Team selection, All Delta League-Player of the Year her senior year, and a USA Lacrosse Nor Cal All Star selection.

Coach Bryn is studying Engineering Physics at Xavier University. She is excited to share her knowledge of lacrosse and her competitive drive with the next generation of players to help them make strides toward achieving their goals on and off the field!

Kaitlin Chiu (Coach Kaitlin)