Sierra Cardenas was named the 11th head coach of the Nichols women's lacrosse program on September 2nd, 2026.
Cardenas brings four years of coaching experience at the high school, collegiate, and club levels to Nichols, including her current roles as the head girls’ lacrosse coach at Seekonk High School and assistant women’s lacrosse coach at Johnson & Wales University. She also serves as the girls’ program coordinator for the Rhode Island Bulldogs.
Cardenas has served as the head girls’ lacrosse coach at Seekonk High School since January 2026, overseeing all aspects of the program, including the development of offensive and defensive strategies, varsity and junior varsity skill development, team budgeting and fundraising. Cardenas also works closely with her student-athletes to support their growth both on and off the field. In her first season leading the program, she helped guide Seekonk to a 118-percent increase in wins.
Since August 2024, Cardenas has also served as an assistant coach with the Johnson & Wales University women’s lacrosse program. In that role, she assists with individual and team strategy, recruiting, in-season and offseason training programs, and day-to-day team operations. She also plays an active role in supporting the development of student-athletes beyond their collegiate careers.
Cardenas joined the Rhode Island Bulldogs in January 2024 as the club's girls’ program coordinator. She oversees a wide range of program operations, including tournaments, practices, field space, coaching staff and practice planning, while also working with local youth organizations to create coaching opportunities and support the continued growth of the program.
Prior to joining Johnson & Wales, Cardenas spent the 2023-24 academic year as an assistant women's lacrosse coach at Dean College. Her responsibilities included developing and implementing defensive practice plans, conducting individual skill sessions, assisting with offensive player development, managing team logistics and supporting the program's recruiting efforts.
Cardenas earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science from Dean College in 2023 after earning an Associate of Science degree in Athletic Training from Dean in 2021. She is also certified in American Red Cross CPR, AED and First Aid.
