The Michigan State Spartans field hockey team is the intercollegiate field hockey program representing Michigan State University. The school competes in the Big Ten Conference in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The Michigan State field hockey team plays its home games at the MSU Field Hockey Complex at Ralph Young Field on the university campus in East Lansing, Michigan. Since the field hockey program was established in 1972, the Spartans have won four Big Ten regular-season championships, four Big Ten tournament titles, and have appeared in the NCAA tournament nine times.
The team was coached by Helen Knull for 15 years before she stepped down after the 2025 season. Former associate head coach Tamara Durante was named the 10th head coach in program history on February 20, 2026.
History
Field hockey has been a varsity sport at Michigan State University since 1972. The Spartans have competed as a member of the Big Ten Conference from 1981 to 1988 and again since 1992. From 1989 to 1991, Michigan State played in the Midwestern Collegiate Field Hockey Conference (MCFHC). Although the Spartans had never won a Big Ten championship (either in the regular-season or the tournament) or appeared in the NCAA tournament before 2001, they have found considerable success in the 21st century under the guidance of head coaches Michele Madison (1993–2005), Rolf van de Kerkhof (2006–10), and Helen Knull (2011–present). In the new millennium, Michigan State has won four Big Ten regular-season championships (2001, 2003, 2004, and 2009), four Big Ten tournament titles (2002, 2003, 2009, and 2013), and has qualified for the NCAA tournament nine times (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2013). The Spartans have advanced to the NCAA semifinals twice, in 2002 and 2004.
Head coaching records
Head coach Years Seasons Overall Pct. Best Year NCAA Berths Mikki Baile 1972–74 3 14–4–8 1974 (8–2–1) – Diane Ulibarri 1975–76 2 18–4–1 1976 (10–3) – Samnoa Kajornsin 1977–79 3 39–15–8 1979 (17–8–2) – Nancy Reed 1980–81 2 24–17–2 1981 (12–7–2) – Rich Kimball 1982–88 7 43–79–9 1987 (9–8–5) 0 Martha Ludwig 1989–92 4 20–57–5 1989 (6–12–2) 0 Michele Madison 1993–2005 13 155–116–2 2002 (23–3) 4 Rolf van de Kerkhof 2006–10 5 74–34 2009 (18–4) 4 Helen Knull 2011–2025 15 109-170 .391 2013 (14–10) 1Tamara Durante2026– Head coaching records through the end of the 2014 season
Awards and accolades Conference championships Michigan State has won four regular-season conference titles, all in the Big Ten Conference. Year Coach Conference Record Conference NCAA Result 2001 Michele Madison 5–1 Big Ten NCAA 2nd Round 2003 5–1 Big Ten NCAA 2nd Round 2004 5–1 Big Ten NCAA Final Four 2009 Rolf van de Kerkhof 6–0 Big Ten NCAA 2nd Round 4 Conference Championships 4 Big Ten Championships
All-Americans Key First-team selection Second-team selection Third-team selection
SeasonPlayerRemarks 1991 Maggie Iezzi 1995 Rayna Hiscox 1995 Terry Pacheco 1996 Rayna Hiscox Second selection 1996 Jill Lusher 1997 Rayna Hiscox Third selection 1997 Jill Lusher Second selection 1998 Melissa Pryor 1999 Marleen Tuip 2001 Bridget Cooper
SeasonPlayerRemarks 2002 Annebet Beerman 2002 Sophie Rosmalen 2003 Alexandra Kyser 2003 Sophie Rosmalen Second selection 2004 Annebet Beerman Second selection 2004 Veerle Goudswaard 2005 Michelle Huynh-Ba 2005 Christina Kirkaldy 2007 Jeamie Deacon 2007 Floor Rijpma
SeasonPlayerRemarks 2008 Jeamie Deacon Second selection 2008 Floor Rijpma Second selection 2009 Jeamie Deacon Third selection 2009 Floor Rijpma Third selection; Second first-team selection 2012 Abby Barker 2013 Abby Barker Second selection 2014 Abby Barker Third selection
Awards and accolades through the end of the 2014 season
Stadium Michigan State has played its home games at the MSU Field Hockey Complex at Ralph Young Field since September 2002. Ralph Young Field, which the field hockey program shares with the Spartan track and field team, was originally dedicated in April 1937 during a dual meet featuring Michigan State and the University of Chicago. At the turn of the 21st century, the university renovated the venue to enable it to host the field hockey team as well as its track and field counterpart. Located adjacent to Spartan Stadium, Ralph Young Field has a seating capacity of 1,500 and features an AstroTurf 12 playing surface. Its press box has a roof-mounted camera platform as well as seating for members of the media. Ralph Young Field also has permanent lighting that enables the Spartan field hockey team to play night games.
See also List of NCAA Division I field hockey programs
References
External links