UC Davis Athletics

Chrissy Kilroe, a NCAA Regional Coach of the Year who led teams to seven conference championships and a Division I Final Four appearance, was named head coach of the UC Davis field hockey team on Jan. 29, 2016.

“I am grateful to Interim Director of Athletics Teresa Gould and Sports Supervisor Sandy Simpson for this incredible opportunity,” said Kilroe. “UC Davis provides an ideal environment for success on the field, in the classroom and within the community, I am excited to join the Aggie family. 

“I cannot thank my mentors enough for their continued support, and for equipping me with the tools to build upon a strong foundation here in Davis.” 

Including her last two years as Field Hockey Alberta’s Director of High Performance and a member of Team Canada’s staff, Kilroe’s involvement with the sport at the international, NCAA, high school and club levels spans more than 15 years. 

“We’re very fortunate to find a coach with the breadth and depth of Chrissy’s experience to lead our field hockey program,” Gould said. “She has a proven track record of success at every level of the sport and will provide tremendous leadership for our growing program. 

“Chrissy is also someone who believes passionately in the total development of student-athletes – on the playing field, in the classroom, and in the community.  She is a great fit for our University, our student-athletes will benefit greatly from her mentorship.”

During her tenure with Field Hockey Alberta, Kilroe designed and developed programs to help elite athletes prepare for national and NCAA competition. In addition to coaching teams at international, national and provincial competitions, she also recruited, hired and mentored coaches and staff members.

Kilroe also worked alongside the best field hockey athletes and coaches in the world as a National Team Performance Analyst for Field Hockey Canada in 2014. Not only did she accelerate Team Canada’s player development by employing the sport’s latest and most innovative tactics, Kilroe also assisted her coaching colleagues with team and opponent scouting.

Prior to her positions with the Canadian National Team and Field Hockey Alberta, Kilroe served as an assistant coach at Ohio State, her alma mater. As the team’s recruiting coordinator, she shaped the Buckeyes’ 2010 Big Ten Conference championship roster, which enjoyed the most successful season in program history and advanced to the NCAA Final Four. Ohio State also advanced to the NCAA Tournament the following year.

Throughout her four-year tenure, OSU’s student-athletes earned four All-America honors, received 19 all-region awards and another 35 from the Big Ten Conference. Kilroe’s recruits excelled both on the turf and in the classroom, with 46 Buckeyes collecting Academic All-District, Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and/or Academic All-Big Ten recognition while she was on staff.

Prior to joining the Buckeyes’ staff, Kilroe’s first head coaching position took place at Kenyon College — one of the top liberal arts institutions in the country also known for its rigorous academic environment, and successful athletics programs.

Hired in 2005, Kenyon’s field hockey program instantly earned national acclaim by posting the third-highest GPA among all Division III programs. In the following years, Kenyon’s on-field accomplishments mirrored its academic success. It captured North Coast Athletic Conference championships in consecutive seasons, earning NCAA Tournament berths in both 2006 and 2007.

Kilroe was named NCAC and Great Lakes Region Coach of the year in 2006 after leading her team to a program-best 18-6 record and a second-round NCAA appearance. Her .609 winning percentage is the second-highest in the program’s 12-coach, 42-year history.

From 1997-2000, Kilroe enjoyed a successful career as a field hockey student-athlete before earning her inaugural coaching position in 2001 as Ohio State’s undergraduate assistant. The Buckeyes collected Big Ten regular-season and tournament championships that season.

During her playing career, Kilroe gained international experience as a member of the Alberta U-22, U-18 and Senior Women's Provincial teams. Following her time at Ohio State, she competed in the Gold Coast Hockey Association as a member of the Labrador Hockey Club.