American University

In 2026, Kristin Matula will be coaching her ninth season with the Eagles overall, and third as an associate head coach with the American University field hockey team after joining Steve Jennings' staff as an assistant coach in the summer of 2018.
 
Since her arrival, the Eagles have amassed an overall record of 72-42, including an impressive 36-5 run in the Patriot League, and claimed the PL regular season and tournament titles during the 2019, 2021, and 2023 seasons to advance into the NCAA Tournament. In both the 2024 and 2025 seasons, the Eagles earned the regular season title by going an undefeated 6-0 in league. The Eagles haven't suffered a PL regular season loss since 2022.
 
Throughout the last eight seasons, AU has also earned six NFHCA All-American awards, 20 All-Region honors, and collected a staggering 13 Patriot League Player of the Year awards, including four for Offensive Player of the Year, one Midfielder, and two Rookies of the Year. The Eagles have also earned 31 All-Patriot League selections.
 
Matula has also been vital in the Eagles' success in the classroom, as the team has earned four Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year selections, 25 NFHCA Scholar of Distinction honors, and 15 Academic All-Patriot League awards alongside the 123 players named to the National Academic Squad. As a team, American has also been awarded seven NFHCA National Academic Team Awards.
 
Matula arrived in D.C. after spending a year at the University of Massachusetts, where she worked as a volunteer assistant coach while earning her M.S. in sport management. During her time with the Minutewomen, who went 13-8 in 2017, she assisted with practices as well as the team's operations, and game coding and filming. During her time in Amherst, she also worked for USA Field Hockey as a site administrator in the north region.
 
Matula, a former midfielder at Michigan State University, graduated from MSU in 2017 with a degree in kinesiology. An Academic All-Big Ten honoree for the Spartans, she served as a team captain during her senior season and closed her career with 54 points (21 goals, 12 assists). She helped the team to the 2013 Big Ten Championship and scored the game-winning goal in the subsequent NCAA First Round game against No. 2 Syracuse.