Julie Munson was named the head field hockey coach at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) on August 23, 2013, tasked with rebuilding the program after a 30-year hiatus. SNHU's field hockey team originally competed from 1977-1981, and under Munson's leadership, the team returned to action in the fall of 2014.
Building a Winning Legacy
Despite early challenges, Munson transformed the Penmen into a competitive force. After just three wins in the program's first two seasons, SNHU accumulated 44 victories over the next four years (2016-2019). During this period, the Penmen never finished with fewer than eight wins in a season, earned two Northeast-10 (NE10) Championship appearances, and made their first-ever NCAA Championship appearance in 2019.
That historic 2019 season saw SNHU set program records for wins (17), conference wins (12), postseason victories (2), and consecutive wins (11). The Penmen achieved their highest-ever national ranking at No. 5, advanced to the NE10 Conference final for the first time, and secured the No. 4 seed in the NCAA Championship field. The team also shattered its single-season scoring record, netting 68 goals.
Developing Talent On and Off the Field
Munson has coached four All-Americans, an NE10 Player of the Year, two NE10 Rookies of the Year, and five NE10 All-Conference First Team honorees. Her teams have consistently excelled academically, achieving the highest GPA in Division II field hockey in 2016 and maintaining top-three finishes from 2017-2019. The program has also earned the NFHCA Division II National Academic Team Award for six consecutive years.
A standout player under Munson’s guidance, graduate student Laura van der Doorn, broke the program's single-season goals record in 2019, earning numerous accolades, including NFHCA All-America First Team and NE10 Player of the Year honors. Munson also coached other All-Americans, such as Hélène Servais and Lisa Hagel, the latter of whom was named NE10 Rookie of the Year.
A Proven Coaching Background
Prior to SNHU, Munson spent three seasons at Harvard University, where she managed recruiting and served as acting head coach during a coaching transition in 2012. Before that, she spent six seasons at James Madison University (JMU), where she guided the goalkeepers to lead the nation in goals against average and shutouts in multiple seasons. During her time at JMU, the team won three consecutive Colonial Athletic Association titles (2006-2008) and made NCAA Tournament appearances each year.
Munson is also highly involved in USA Field Hockey, serving as a coach and selector at both regional and national levels. She is a USA Field Hockey Level 1 Coach Educator and holds a Level II Certification. Additionally, she has been instrumental in designing goalkeeper training programs and has coached at numerous field hockey camps.
Collegiate and High School Playing Career
A standout goalkeeper at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) from 2000-2003, Munson was a team captain and three-time National Field Hockey Coaches Association National Academic Squad member. She earned the Susan Kilmister Memorial Award for dedication, accomplishment, and sportsmanship in 2002. Munson graduated from UNH in 2004 with a degree in psychology.
At Dover High School in New Hampshire, Munson was a three-time all-state field hockey player and lettered in basketball and softball.
Julie Munson’s relentless commitment to excellence has positioned SNHU’s field hockey program as a national contender. Her ability to build a culture of success both on the field and in the classroom is a testament to her leadership and passion for the game.
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