Brad Emons

Amanda Asher, who took Northville High’s girls lacrosse program to new heights in just two varsity seasons, is moving on to coach at the collegiate ranks.

Asher, who posted a 31-5 overall record while leading the Mustangs to back-to-back Kensington Conference titles and the KLAA Association crown this past spring, has taken the head coaching position at Concordia University.

Concordia, which will launch its inaugural women’s varsity lacrosse season in 2017, hired Asher following the resignation of Sammi Reiter, who stepped down in mid-July after being taking the Cardinals’ newly created position in October of 2015.

“I always wanted to come back, especially as a head coach, so I’m going to have this opportunity,” said Asher, who previously served as an assistant coach at Albion College prior to moving to Northville. “They (Concordia) just started their program. They did have another coach that was there nine, 10 months that did recruit six players on their team, so I’m just picking up from what she did.”

At Northville, Asher inherited a team that finished 1-13 in 2014 before quickly turning around the Mustangs’ fortunes going 15-2 in her first season and 16-3 last spring.

Northville athletic director Bryan Masi has not yet posted the vacant varsity girls lacrosse position on the district’s website, but Asher’s assistant, Kayley Dahring, could be in line as a possible successor.

“I’m definitely going to miss the community and I’m going to miss seeing the girls develop and grow as players,” said Asher, who also resigned from her position as an event coordinator with the Northville Parks and Recreation. “They’re just a great team and they’re going to be awesome next year. They’re only losing three seniors, so I’m expecting great things in the 2017 season.”

Asher played high school lacrosse at Hartland before going to Albion where she was a member of the state’s first collegiate varsity lacrosse program in 2008. She transferred to Central Michigan University where she played club lacrosse serving as team captain her junior and senior seasons.

As a defender, Asher made first-team All-Women’s Collegiate League (2011) her senior year at CMU. She received her B.A. in Event Management and Hospitality Administration from Central.

Asher, who also coaches Big Cat Lax, an high school-age elite club team during the summer, is looking forward to making her mark at the collegiate level.

“I’m excited that they saw the potential in me,” Asher said. “I can’t wait to see what the future holds. This is kind of a tough season to recruit for this upcoming year because a lot of girls already committed or already down payments for their first semester, but that 2018 season I’ll be recruiting hard, along with 2017.

“There hasn’t been a season yet, so I can kind of make this program my own, which I’m excited to do.”

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