Less than one year after suspending its women's lacrosse program, Whittier College is rescinding that decision.
Whittier is reinstating the program for the 2026-27 academic year, the college announced earlier this week. In a release announcing the decision, Whittier said it is "dedicated to seeing it thrive."
"We are putting it back with more support behind it, and we are starting today," Whittier athletic director Rock Carter said.
A search has been opened for the program's next head coach. Within 30 days of that hire, a search for an assistant will begin.
Most notably, Whittier has increased the team's recruiting budget and is committed to fielding a team this spring.
It had been a struggle for the Division III program after an 8-8 showing in 2023. The Poets went 0-28 from 2024-25.
Whittier, which competes in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC), rostered 16 players in 2025. It had 14 players in 2024. During its 8-8 season, there were 17 players on the team.
In 2022, Whittier announced it was sunsetting several athletics programs, including men's lacrosse, after a three-year review process. It was met with public outcry, and a group of alumni rallied to raise funds to try and save the program.
The Poets were eventually reinstated, but at the club level in the MCLA.
