Who Are The Directors/Coaches of NorCal RIZE?

The owners/directors of RIZE are Juliet Mittlemann and Julia Southard. The two have teamed back up after coaching the Northern California National Lacrosse Team for 3 consecutive years and their days as student-athletes at Brown University, back in the early 2000’s.

Coach Southard (Coach Jules) served as an assistant coach at three Division I programs, including LaSalle University, Cal and the University of Connecticut. She was the director of recruiting operations at Cal and UConn, working directly with student-athletes, parents and coaches during the recruiting process. Southard was responsible for bringing in some of the top recruits in the country, which had a huge impact on the programs for years to come.

Southard has spent time working with many 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 serves as the Head Coach at St. Francis High School in Sacramento. Southard has worked with over sixty individual goalies in Northern California, helping with the production of two All-Americans. She works directly with student-athletes and families throughout the college recruiting process. She has worked with almost fifty athletes on an individual basis, seeing them off to schools at the Division I, II and II I levels.

“Coaching is amazing because you get to see total transformations. You see good athletes become great lacrosse players. You see good people become great teammates. You see timid girls become confident young women, and you have a hand in that. Hard work isn’t always popular, but once you commit to it wholeheartedly you realize that you are capable of anything. You can RIZE above anything if you have people who believe in you.”

Coach Mittlemann (Coach J) has been coaching lacrosse for twenty years and started her coaching career while attending Brown University. Her life's work and enthusiasm has always involved coaching and instructing lacrosse. Juliet has a prolific background in girls’ and women’s lacrosse. Juliet founded, directed and coached the girls’ lacrosse program at Palisades Charter High School in Pacific Palisades, CA for nine years, was the Girls Lacrosse Director and Head Coach of the Youth Girl’s Lacrosse Program for the Los Angeles Lacrosse League, launched her own private lacrosse company in May of 2009 (Los Angeles Women’s Lacrosse) and coached at the collegiate level at Pepperdine University. Juliet 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 different teams from the cities of Osaka, Nagoya and Kyoto. After the 2007 season as the assistant women’s lacrosse coach at Pepperdine University, Juliet became the co-head coach. That following summer she returned to coach the 2008 Team USA California. The team traveled to compete in China for the 2008 Beijing Games and Japan for the 2008 International Friendship Games, competing in Tokyo and Sapporo.

In May of 2013, Juliet was elected to serve as the head coach for the Women's Developmental National Team (WDNT), Los Angeles/Orange County Team. The team traveled to Pennsylvania that May to compete in the US Lacrosse Women's National Tournament. That same summer, Juliet was elected amongst coaching nominees nationwide to be the head coach of 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, FL. Both in May of 2015 and 2016 , Juliet was elected to serve as the head coach for the WDNT NorCal Team 1 alongside Coach Julia Southard. As of 2017, for 4 consecutive years, Juliet served as the Sub Regional Chair for the US Lacrosse Northern California National Teams that takes the team to compete in the annual US Lacrosse Women's National Lacrosse Tournament.

Juliet was with the Menlo-Atherton Youth Lacrosse club as their Girls Lacrosse Director for 5 years and coached for 7 seasons as the Girls Lacrosse Director and Head Varsity Lacrosse Coach for Menlo-Atherton High School. 

"The greatness of a team not only comes from the individuality of the athletes, but from their collective ability to be the best possible teammates to and for each other. I will continue to give my devotion, time and enthusiasm to coaching and to ameliorating the lives of the students and athletes around me.”

Jackie Pelletier (Coach Jackie)

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)

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

Michaela Guerrera 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. 

Kaitlin Chiu (Coach Kaitlin)

Nicolette Landucci (Coach Nicolette)

Sarah Westover (Coach Westie)

Coach Westover, 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)

Jessica Seggman (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.

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

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 

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!

Kelsey Myers (Coach Kelsey)

Former Stanford player
Three-time all-state (2016, 2017, 2018)
Team MVP as a senior
Won three conference championships (2016, 2017, 2018) and two regional titles (2016, 2017)
Three-time all-conference and two-time all-state in field hockey
2018 District Field Hockey Player of the Year
Served as team captain of the field hockey and lacrosse teams as a senior

Daniella McMahon (Coach Dani)

Coach Dani is a former member and captain of the Stanford Women's Lacrosse team. A junior midfielder, Dani has started 32 of her 38 games during her Stanford career. Coach Dani earned MPSF Rookie of the Week during her freshman season. In 2018 she earned a spot on the 2018  Pac-12 All-Tournament team, 2018 All-Pac-12 First Team, IWLCA All-Region Second Team as well as Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention. She was a member of  the inaugural Pac-12 Tournament championship team in 2018 and won the first draw control in the first-ever Pac-12 Conference game. 

Nicole Pugh (Coach Nicole)

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)

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.