Lisa McNamara has been appointed as an assistant coach for the Boston University field hockey program, according to a March 17 announcement by head coach Sarah Shute.
The addition of McNamara brings experience from both collegiate and club coaching levels. Her background is expected to contribute to the development of student-athletes at Boston University.
McNamara joins the team after serving as an assistant coach at Middlebury, where she helped guide the Panthers to the NCAA regional finals and several weeks as the top-ranked Division III team in the country. She also coached U16 and U19 teams with Green Mountain Girls Field Hockey Club and previously worked with Patriot Field Hockey Club, coaching four different age groups in tournaments along the East Coast and designing practice plans focused on foundational skills and teamwork.
“I’m really excited to welcome Lisa McNamara to our staff at Boston University,” said Shute. “Lisa brings a combination of high-level playing experience, analytical insight and a genuine passion for developing student-athletes. She has already shown a tremendous ability to connect with players and think strategically about performance and development, and I’m confident our players will benefit from her energy, perspective and dedication every single day.”
During her time at Middlebury, McNamara coached three All-NESCAC players, two of whom earned National Field Hockey Coaches Association All-America honors. As a player at Providence College, she was a two-year captain who appeared in 77 games, recording 36 points on 10 goals and 16 assists. She participated in the 2022 Senior Nexus Championship as part of the Olympic Development Pathway program before graduating in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in global studies and later earning a master’s in business administration.
McNamara was recognized as a four-time NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad member and Big East All-Academic Team honoree. She received Providence’s Jane Thompson Award for exemplifying selflessness, dedication, loyalty, courage, and perseverance among student-athletes. Additionally, she served as vice president of communications for Providence’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and attended the NCAA Emerging Leaders Seminar in February 2024.
A native of Barre, Vermont, McNamara also spent time coaching lacrosse at Rice Memorial High School—her alma mater—and provided private field hockey lessons.
