From early mornings to long nights, Hofstra field hockey head coach Courtney Veinotte works hard to achieve success on and off the turf.

“It’s a joke within our staff, but I have a coffee every morning with the janitors because I’m here with them,” Veinotte said. “They’re the first people I see in the morning, so they get my first energy or I get their first energy.”

Veinotte wants everyone to know that she appreciates the opinions and feedback of her players and staff.

“I like just making sure [that] you are kind and treating every single person with respect,” Veinotte said. “I think if you show one person respect and you’re kind to them one time, the next time they see you they will gift you a smile.”

The Skowhegan, Maine, native has seen success at nearly level, from being a four-time state champion and Northeast Regional All-American in high school to playing and coaching at the National Futures Championship and the University of Maine (UMaine). She said she is quick to first mention those who’ve helped her reach where she is now.

Growing up, her mother introduced her to field hockey. She was the defensive coach for her high school team, guiding Veinotte every step of the way early in her career.

“I grew up in a wagon with some crackers on the turf and I have always been surrounded by the game,” Veinotte said. “My mom is a very strong woman and she’s taught me a lot about leadership. She’s also a middle school teacher, so she’s very good at connecting with people and kids. I’ve always admired her teaching ability and getting people to step out of their comfort zone.”

After high school, Veinotte remained in-state to play at UMaine under head coach Josette Babineau. Babineau was the catalyst that kickstarted Veinotte’s coaching career.

“When I was a senior, I was uncertain of what path to go in and I thought I wanted to be in counseling,” Veinotte said. “Babineau asked if I had thought about coaching, and I liked the idea.”

Field hockey is such a large part of Veinotte’s life that she cannot imagine a world without it.

“I actually started my master’s in counseling thinking I was going to go into the counseling direction,” Veinotte said. “I just love the age of 16-22. They still love you, but they still need you. I love that age development.”

Veinotte was an assistant coach at UMaine for six seasons, where she fell in love with coaching and strategizing against opponents. She even started Blackbear Elite, a club field hockey program that teaches children ranging from 10- to 18-years-old to play and learn the sport.

“I wanted to make sure I was giving back to my state,” Veinotte said. “I want to build relationships and get players to trust me. It was also a way I fueled my development.”

But it wasn’t only her coaches that played a role in Veinotte’s journey to becoming Hofstra’s newest head coach.

“I have one younger brother and he is four years younger than me,” Veinotte said. “We loved rollerblading, building forts and climbing trees. We’re competitive, but he’s also a great person. If he knows I had a loss, he still texts me.”

Veinotte was initially scared by the transition from UMaine to Hofstra, but she feels ready for the challenge.

“I was excited [that] they were in a strong conference,” Veinotte said. “I wanted to make sure whatever move I was making was to another strong conference. I thought I could bring a little zip here.”

After two seasons as an associate head coach, Veinotte was named Hofstra’s new head coach following former head coach Kathy De Angelis’ resignation last season.

The first-time head coach went winless in her first four games in the new position, but has since lead the Pride to a 4-1 record in their last five games. The quick turnaround speaks directly to Veinotte’s forward-thinking mentality.

“As a young player I was very hard on myself, and I had a hard time with if I made a mistake,” Veinotte said. “If my first touch on the ball was a mistake, how would I handle that? I was very intrinsically motivated, but also very tough on myself at times.”

This attitude developed from her playing days has transitioned to her coaching mindset.

“I think sports can teach you a lot on outlook, adversity and how you respond to situations,” Veinotte said. “My job is to help my players bounce back.”

Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics