Our Team

Dani Ellis

Director of Operations

  • Dani Ellis brings to Tenacity Project a deep passion for lacrosse, leadership, and athlete development. A proud alumna of Winthrop University (’16), Dani holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology (cum laude) and earned her Master’s degree in Education in Sport Leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University.

    Her coaching career has spanned multiple levels and institutions: from serving as Graduate Assistant and then Director of Women’s Lacrosse Player Development at VCU, to an Assistant Coach at Washington & Lee University, and then two seasons at Middlebury College—where she helped lead the Panthers to back-to-back NCAA Division III National Championships. She finished her collegiate coaching career at UMass Amherst in 2024.

    As Director of Operations, Dani oversees program implementation, logistics, and daily organizational growth, drawing on her strong record in relationship-building, high performance coaching, and strategic leadership.

Naomi Radio

Director of Programming

  • Naomi Radio serves as Director of Programming at Tenacity Project, where she leads the design and execution of all programming—from showcases and national teams to camps, tournaments, and leadership workshops. She joined Tenacity Project bringing a track record of coaching, scholarship, and academic excellence.

    Naomi is a Penn State University coach and former Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach at Juniata College. She was the first-ever head coach of Juniata’s women’s lacrosse program, and in her tenure there led the team to strong seasons, including an 11-6 finish in 2022.

    As a player, Naomi attended Mount St. Mary’s University in Maryland, where she earned multiple academic honors: two-time Academic All-America First Team, NEC Student-Athlete of the Year (2004), multiple IWLCA Academic Honor Roll recognitions, and All-Northeast Conference distinctions including NEC Player of the Year. 

Theresa Sherry

Founder/CEO

  • Theresa Sherry is a visionary leader in women’s lacrosse, renowned for her dual legacy as a three-time All-American at Princeton University and a trailblazing coach who has empowered thousands of young athletes. A 2004 Princeton graduate, Theresa’s playing career laid the foundation for her commitment to the sport, where she earned accolades as a standout midfielder and captain. Transitioning seamlessly to coaching, she served as Head Coach at the University of California, Berkeley from 2007 to 2012, where she built a competitive program while mentoring the next generation of players. Her influence extended further as Assistant Coach at Amherst and Smith Colleges, and as a manager for the U.S. U19 National Team, which captured silver at the 2015 World Championships in Scotland—highlighting the first-ever Team USA player from California.

    In 2005, Theresa founded Sherry Sports LLC, evolving it into the BearLax Club and, in 2016, rebranding it as The Tenacity Project, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering, educating, and inspiring girls through lacrosse.  Headquartered in the Bay Area and now expanding across the West—including Utah and beyond—The Tenacity Project creates inclusive, competitive environments that foster technical skills, leadership, and lifelong resilience. Programs like the Game Changer initiative provide financial aid and sponsorships, ensuring access for girls from all backgrounds, with over 90 participants supported in its inaugural year alone.  Theresa’s holistic approach emphasizes not just athletic excellence but also personal growth, helping participants craft identities that endure beyond the field.

    A 2016 inductee into the Northern California Chapter of US Lacrosse Hall of Fame, Theresa was appointed Vice President of Girls Lacrosse at Trilogy Lacrosse in 2021, amplifying her national impact on youth sports.  She is also the founder of LIT4Women, a platform celebrating female leadership in sports. Relocating to Park City, Utah in 2020, Theresa continues to hike, mountain bike, and build community partnerships that advance female empowerment and health equity in athletics.

    As Founder and CEO of The Tenacity Project, Theresa embodies the organization’s ethos: building strong women who lead with grit, grace, and unyielding determination. Her story is one of relentless pursuit—proving that tenacity isn’t just a word; it’s a movement.