2011-12 Coaching Staff
Katie White - Director of Seacoast United Field Hockey Club
Seacoast United is proud to announce the full-time Director of Field Hockey Operations, Katie White. Over the past twelve years, we have continued to grow as a club and felt that we needed to bring someone into the Seacoast family who not only understands the game, but has already had a significant impact in the sport. Having playing experience, college coaching experience and a passion for youth development lead us to Katie. Her challenge over the next few years will be to implement new and innovative programs to teach and develop the sport of field hockey in the Seacoast region of New England.
Katie came to Seacoast United after spending five years coaching at the Division I level. She spent a year as an assistant at Colgate University, where she helped develop the Patriot League’s goalkeeper of the year and rookie of the year (Seacoast United Alumni- Katelyn Nerbonne). Katie acted as the recruitment coordinator for the field hockey program, while also organizing and directing three tournaments. Following her stint at Colgate she accepted an assistant position at the University at Albany where she spent three years. During her three years on the staff at Albany, Katie helped lead the Great Danes to an overall record of 40-20, with the team winning two America East Conference regular season titles (2008 and 2009), while claiming the 2008 America East Tournament championship and advancing to the 2008 NCAA Tournament. Katie had numerous responsibilities at Albany, which included executing strength and conditioning, overseeing program-wide compliance of NCAA and America East bylaws, administering academic counseling and handling all recruitment of prospective student-athletes. Prior to accepting the position at Seacoast United, Katie spent one season at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester MA. She assisted the head coach in all aspects of running the Division I program including but not limited to, daily practice planning, recruitment of all prospective student athletes, game day management and protocol, and assisting the strength coaches in the team’s speed, fitness and strength training.
A four-year letter winner at New Hampshire, Katie was a two-time first team All-Region selection and team captain. In 2003 and 2005 she earned first team All-Conference honors, while in 2002 she was named America East Conference Rookie of the Year. In 2005 she was led the America East Conference in goals, goals per game, points and points per game, while ranking 10th in the nation in points per game. Katie finished her career at New Hampshire ranked 4th in career goals scored, 5th in career points scored and 4th in single season goals scored. Following her graduation, she continued play as a USFHA member of one of our six regional USFH programs nationwide; the New England Elite Performance Training Center for three years and competed at the National Championship tournament in Virginia Beach, VA.
She has also served as the director and head coach in the USFHA Futures Program in New York, was an assistant coach for the Futures Program in New Hampshire and is currently working as a futures coach in Massachusetts while also gaining experience as a strength and conditioning coach at Mike Boyle Strength and Conditioning in North Andover, Mass. Katie earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of New Hampshire in 2006.
U19 Staff
Megan Shea - Megan is going into her 6th season coaching for Seacoast United. She is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire. Upon graduation, she became assistant coach at UMass Dartmouth where she helped lead the team to a conference championship. She spent this past fall as a volunteer assistant at the University of New Hampshire and advanced to the 1st round of the NCAA tournament. She will continue her collegiate coaching career there this spring as an assistant. At UNH, Shea earned third team All-American honors, served as a team captain, and was named America East Offensive Player of the Year. Megan also coaches for the National Futures Association level one site in New Hampshire. She actively coaches field hockey camps throughout the summer, coaching at the White Mountain Sports Camps. She serves as a head coach at both the UNH field hockey camp and Elite Camps ran by Northeastern University. Megan also primary coaches our skill classes and our new and upcoming grassroots turf stars. She is highly involved in the high school and middle school skill classes here at Seacoast as well as runs our high performance training skill classes.
Kyle Lyons - Bio coming soon!
Lauren Hefferan - Lauren is in her fifth year coaching for Seacoast United at both the U19 and U16 level. She graduated from UNH where she was a 4 year player from 1978-1982. The Wildcats placed 7th in the nation her junior season. She began coaching field hockey at the high school level coaching the Haverhill High School Varsity field hockey team from 1997-98 and continues to coach at that level at Newburyport High School where she coaches the Varsity team. Under her lead, the team has made it to the Quarter and Semifinals of the North State Tournament the past four years. Lauren is a two-time winner of the Cape Ann League Coach of the Year Award for 2008 and 2010. She has been involved in field hockey in a number of ways such as working with the Hockeymates Program from 2008-09 as well as coaching in various camps such as the Elite Field Hockey Camp, St Michaels and Top Notch Field Hockey Camp.
Sarah Richards - Sarah is in her third year of coaching for Seacoast United. She is a 2009 graduate of Rider University where she played defense for the Broncs for all four years. While at Rider, she was the Vice President of a group called Student Athlete Mentor and coached several camps both at Rider and where she attended high school at Oyster River. She was a 4-year starter and captain her senior year earning 1st Team All-State honors as well as being named to the Foster’s Dream Team. Sarah played field hockey for the club from 2001-2005. Currently, Sarah is a teacher at the Birchtree Center in NH, which is a private school for children with autism.
Liz Lahey - Liz is in her third year of coaching at Seacoast United. She is a 2007 graduate of Kent State where she played forward and was a 3-year starter. Named to the All-MAC Tournament team in 2004 and All-MAC 2nd team in 2005. Named to the NFHCA Academic Squad and All-MAC Academic Team all four years. Graduated from Laconia High School, served as a Futures coach during her 4 years at Kent State. Liz has coached numerous camps, including College Connection and the University of Connecticut. A recent graduate of the University of New Hampshire School of Law, Liz is currently an associate at McLane, Graf, Raulerson & Middleton in Manchester, NH.
Eli Skovron - Eli graduated from Holy Cross in 2008 where she was a 3-year starter for the Crusaders. She was named to the Patriot League Second Team in 2006 and was the captain of her team in 2007. Throughout her four years in college, Eli spent her summers coaching at field hockey camps in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Upon graduation, Eli worked as the assistant coach for the Merrimack College Field Hockey team. After spending one year assisting at Merrimack, Eli joined the coaching team at Seacoast United and has been here for 3 years. She has worked with the U-19 teams the past 2 years and will be working with the U-19 girls again this winter. Eli has also helped with the field hockey program at Exeter High School for the past two years. Along with coaching, Eli received her masters in Elementary Education (1-6) from Lesley University in 2010. For the first three years after college, Eli worked as a classroom assistant at Newmarket Elementary School. She is currently a math teacher at Learning Skills Academy in Rye, NH.
Kara Connolly - Kara is in her 1st year coaching at Seacoast United. She was a four year letter winner at the University of New Hampshire during the 2007-2010 seasons. She also coaches with the US Field Hockey Futures program. Kara is currently enrolled as a graduate student at UNH getting her Masters in Occupational Therapy.
U16 Staff
Katie White - Bio listed above!
Mike Wellington - Mike returns for his 5th year coaching with Seacoast United. A graduate of the University of New Hampshire in 1989, Mike still owns the America East Conference record in the decathlon. Mike has been coaching field hockey for 21 years at the Brookwood School in Manchester, MA. In his time there he has recorded a 189-26 record. A certified level one coach, Mike has been involved in coaching in the US Futures program for the past two years.
Kendall Deck - Kendall was a four-year starting defender for the University of New Hampshire. She was a three time America East Second Team selection, as well as a NFHCA Regional All-American in 2009. As a senior, she helped lead the team to a America East conference championship in the regular season and post-season giving UNH a berth into the NCAA tournament. Graduating in May with a Bachelors of Science in Mathematics Education, Kendall hopes to use her coaching experience from the Futures program, summer camps, and other programs to coach and teach at the high school level.
Stephanie Walker - Stephanie is returning for her 4th year with Seacoast United. A 2008 graduate of Rider University in New Jersey where she played Division I field hockey and was a 4 year starter. Named to All-NEC Conference Team all 4 years. Competed in the NEC Tournament all 4 years (Champions ’04; Runners-up ’05 and ’07; All-Tournament Team in ‘07). The 2004 team was recently inducted into the Rider Hall of Fame for Outstanding Team Achievement. Stephanie played for Seacoast United’s U16 and U19’s and participated in the USFHA Futures program; National Futures Tournament, and the National Hockey Festival for several years. Stephanie has coached numerous camps, and is currently the assistant coach at Bentley University in Waltham, MA.
U14 Staff
Meg Shea - Bio listed above
Whitney Frates - Whitney Frates is currently still enrolled at the University of New Hampshire. She is going into her second year coaching for Seacoast United. Whitney just finished her senior year as a Wildcat. At UNH, Frates earned first team All-American honors, served as a captain and was named America East Offensive Player of the Year as well as the Northeast region Offensive Player of the Year. She also participates in our New England Region High Performance training centers. Frates is currently studying Early Childhood Education in hopes to open her own day-care and work closely with younger children.
Crystal Frates - Bio coming soon!
Caitlin Smith - Caitlin was a member of the first Seacoast United Field Hockey team in 1993 and continued to play through 2003. As a member of the club, she attended the National Indoor Tourmanent each winter as well as the Festival Tournament from 2002-2003. She competed at the varsity level at Portsmouth High School for all four years and was named Captain her senior year. Caitlin played two years at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Ct and in 2009 played one season at the University of New Hampshire. After completing college, she coached two seasons at Greenland Central School and is currently coaching her third U14 team for Seacoast United.
U10/12 Staff
Lynne Walker - Bio coming soon!
Diana Walker - Diana is returning for her 8th year as a Seacoast United field hockey coach. She has coached field hockey at the high school level for the past 31 years. Her first 4 years were spent coaching at Woodsville High School in Woodsville, NH. For the last 27 years she has served as the varsity coach at Sanford High School in Sanford, ME and has lead the team to the playoffs in 26 of those 27 years. She coached two state championship teams in 1999 and 2000. Along with coaching, Diana serves as the National Chair and Northeast Regional Chair for the High School All-American Committee.
Goalkeeper Staff
Katherine Nagengast - Katherine attended the University of New Hampshire as a field hockey goalie for four years. She was the starting goalie for three of her four years and won an America East Championship her senior year. She was awarded America East All-Second Team as well as America East Championship team. She is tied in the record books for most season wins as a goalie. Katherine has been a Futures coach in Massachusetts for the past four years. She will be graduating in May with her bachelors in Kinesiology: Physical education and completing her Master’s Degree at UNH as well.
Anyone interested in coaching for Seacoast United, please contact: Katie White at kwhite@seacoastunited.org or by phone at 603-758-7127.
