LEXINGTON, Va. — Taylor Mendoza, assistant head coach for men's lacrosse at Washington and Lee University, has been selected as the recipient of the Intercollegiate Men's Lacrosse Coaching Association (IMLCA) Outstanding Assistant Coach Award for Division III sponsored by Axia Time. Mendoza will be honored at the annual Elevate IMLCA Coaches Summit in Orlando, Florida, on December 13 and receive a custom Axia timepiece award.
Mendoza serves as the Generals' defensive and recruiting coordinator and was instrumental in guiding W&L to one of the most successful seasons in program history last spring. The Generals posted a 16-6 overall record, tying for the second-most wins in program history, and secured their first NCAA semifinal appearance since 2002 after upsetting top-seeded Salisbury in the quarterfinals.
Mendoza's leadership was part of a collective effort that earned the Generals' coaching staff the IMLCA Region 4 Staff of the Year award for the second consecutive season. The 2024 season also saw W&L garner impressive accolades with seven All-Region honorees, highlighted by standout performances from senior attacker Alex Brown and sophomore short-stick defensive midfielder Elliot Cohen, both of whom earned Second Team All-America honors from the IMLCA.
"Taylor's recognition as the IMLCA Outstanding Assistant Coach of the Year in Division III is a testament to his unwavering professionalism, tireless work ethic, and exceptional talent as both a coach and recruiter," stated Head Coach Gene McCabe. "Over the past three seasons, his contributions have been instrumental in the success of our men's lacrosse program. I'm deeply grateful for everything he does for our players, our program, and our university."
Since joining W&L, Mendoza has helped lead the Generals to a 46-18 (.719) record over three seasons, with three NCAA Tournament appearances, one ODAC championship, and 18 All-America selections in addition to the program's first NCAA semifinals appearance since 2002.
Prior to his arrival in Lexington, Mendoza served as the director of lacrosse operations at Penn State (2018-2021) and held assistant coaching roles at Amherst College (2016-2017) and Skidmore College (2014-2015). He earned a Bachelor of Science in business economics from SUNY Cortland.
Mendoza's contributions and the success of W&L lacrosse underscore his impact, making his selection for this honor a well-deserved recognition of his dedication to the Blue and White and growing the game of lacrosse.
Nestled in the mountains of Virginia, Washington and Lee University is a proud member of NCAA Division III and the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. Founded in 1749, W&L is the ninth-oldest college in the United States and a top-ranked liberal arts university. With over 500 student-athletes in 24 varsity sports, the Generals have celebrated over 265 conference championships. Learn more about the Blue and White by visiting www.generalssports.com or on social media at @WLUGenerals.
