Courtney (CJ) Puhl enters her first season as Head Women's Lacrosse Coach at UW-Eau Claire in the 2026 season. Although it will be her first season as head coach, it will mark her third year with the program. She previously served as an assistant coach and later interim head coach with the Blugolds.
Puhl served as an assistant coach with the Blugolds in 2024 and 2025, including a stint as interim head coach at the end of the 2025 campaign. She helped UW-Eau Claire finish as the runner-up at the WIAC Tournament in 2025. The Blugolds posted a 23-12 record over those two seasons with Puhl on the coaching staff.
Puhl has coached multiple high school lacrosse teams, including Hudson (Wis.) from 2018-2021 and Coronado (Nev.). She helped guide Coronado to their second league championship in Coronado's first undefeated season and as state runner-up finish in the Nevada state championship in 2022. She has also coached at the club level with Minnesota Lakers Select, Movin Up Lacrosse (NV), Wausau Lacrosse Club (UT) and Vegas Strong Lacrosse (NV). Puhl also coordinated specialized lacrosse clinics with Prime Lacrosse & AMB Athletics and worked clinics with Westward Lacrosse, and continues to work with Homegrown Lacrosse through Minnesota.
Puhl was a Goalkeeper and defender. Puhl played lacrosse for four years at O'Fallon Township High School in O'Fallon, Ill. She also played for Brave Lacrosse in St. Louis, where she earned accolades over the years like Most Valuable Player, all-conference and all-tournament recognition. She briefly played for Augustana College at the NCAA Division III level. Puhl also played and coached middle school basketball.
Puhl studied American Sign Language to English Interpretation and Deaf Studies. She has been a Sign Language Interpreter and Deaf Educator in Illinois and Missouri. Puhl is a high school teacher with multiple teaching licenses where she has taught Science, Alternative Education, and Special Education in Nevada and Wisconsin. She received a Master's in Science Education from the University of Wisconsin-Stout, and completed her Doctorate in Education through UW-Stout in the spring of 2024.
