Lauren Smith is in her second year as the Penn State Field Hockey Director of Operations. Smith brings over a decade of playing and coaching experience at the Division I and with the USA Field Hockey programs with her to Happy Valley.
Smith’s collegiate coaching experience is extensive. She began her coaching career at Robert Morris as a graduate assistant in 2011 and moved on to become the first assistant coach at Sacred Heart a year later. During her time at Sacred Heart, the team earned the NCAA Division I field hockey highest GPA in 2012.
After two years at Sacred Heart, Smith joined the Big Ten as the first assistant coach at Rutgers, where she was part of a program that qualified for the Big Ten Tournament four times (2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018). The 2016 Rutgers squad earned the NCAA Division I field hockey highest GPA in 2014 and the 2016 squad produced Rutgers’ best season since the early 1980s. The Scarlet Knights broke into the NFHCA top 20 in both 2017 and 2018 as well.
Smith is also heavily involved in USA Field Hockey’s many programs. She has served as high performance coach, futures head coach, futures assistant coach and regional selector.
Smith is a 2009 graduate of the University of Vermont, earning a B.S. in Physical Education & Exercise and Movement Sciences. She played from 2005 through 2008. During her time with the Catamounts, she helped lead the team to four-year record-breaking seasons for wins and tournament appearances. Smith served four years on Vermont’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and served as a board member from 2007 through 2009. Smith went on to earn her M.A. in Business Sport Management and Instructional Leadership from Robert Morris in 2012.
“I am absolutely thrilled to have Lauren Smith on board as our new Director of Operations,” said head coach Char Morett-Curtiss. “With Lauren’s experience as a player, coach and recruiting coordinator she brings a variety of useful skills and contacts to our program. More importantly she has had numerous links to our field hockey community, including alumni and is enthusiastic to develop our relationships with more alumnae events and communications. She has an outgoing personality, as well as a passion for field hockey and Penn State.”
Smith’s collegiate coaching experience is extensive. She began her coaching career at Robert Morris as a graduate assistant in 2011 and moved on to become the first assistant coach at Sacred Heart a year later. During her time at Sacred Heart, the team earned the NCAA Division I field hockey highest GPA in 2012.
After two years at Sacred Heart, Smith joined the Big Ten as the first assistant coach at Rutgers, where she was part of a program that qualified for the Big Ten Tournament four times (2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018). The 2016 Rutgers squad earned the NCAA Division I field hockey highest GPA in 2014 and the 2016 squad produced Rutgers’ best season since the early 1980s. The Scarlet Knights broke into the NFHCA top 20 in both 2017 and 2018 as well.
Smith is also heavily involved in USA Field Hockey’s many programs. She has served as high performance coach, futures head coach, futures assistant coach and regional selector.
Smith is a 2009 graduate of the University of Vermont, earning a B.S. in Physical Education & Exercise and Movement Sciences. She played from 2005 through 2008. During her time with the Catamounts, she helped lead the team to four-year record-breaking seasons for wins and tournament appearances. Smith served four years on Vermont’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and served as a board member from 2007 through 2009. Smith went on to earn her M.A. in Business Sport Management and Instructional Leadership from Robert Morris in 2012.
“I am absolutely thrilled to have Lauren Smith on board as our new Director of Operations,” said head coach Char Morett-Curtiss. “With Lauren’s experience as a player, coach and recruiting coordinator she brings a variety of useful skills and contacts to our program. More importantly she has had numerous links to our field hockey community, including alumni and is enthusiastic to develop our relationships with more alumnae events and communications. She has an outgoing personality, as well as a passion for field hockey and Penn State.”