Hempstead, NY – Hofstra Head Field Hockey Coach Courtney Veinotte has announced the addition of Caitlin Bennett to her staff as the new assistant coach for the upcoming 2022 season of Hofstra field hockey.

"We are excited to welcome Caitlin to the Hofstra field hockey program," Veinotte said "Her addition to our staff will bring an immediate positive impact for us; Caitlin's experience in goal and teaching experience will change our practice dynamics, provide growth in, net and help support our defensive side of the game. I look forward to the opportunity to work with her while continuing to develop our program and pursue championships."

Bennett joins the Pride following a two-year stint as the assistant coach at Wagner. Joining the Seahawks in August 2020, Bennett helped coach the 2021 NEC Rookie of the Year, as well as seven All-NEC selections and two NFHCA All-Region honorees, as Wagner qualified as the two-seed in the 2021 NEC Tournament. In addition to her primary duties as the goalkeeper coach, Bennett was responsible for defensive-focused training sessions, film breakdown for scouting and team analysis, and assisting the head coach in recruiting potential student-athletes.

Prior to her time with Wagner, Bennett spent the 2019 season as the volunteer assistant coach for the University of Pennsylvania, with a focus on working with the goalkeepers as well as film and statistical breakdown of their opponents. She also worked for Sacred Heart in 2018 as the volunteer assistant coach.

"I'm so excited to be joining Coach Veinotte's staff and work towards implementing her strong vision for the continued growth of the Hofstra field hockey program," Bennett said. "Hofstra is an amazing environment to cultivate not only winning teams, but also well-rounded student-athletes, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Pride!"

Bennett played collegiately at Fairfield, where she was the starting goalkeeper for the Stags from 2013-16. She was named to the All-MAAC First Team in her senior season after posting 116 saves, a .703 save percentage, and a 2.34 goals-against average in 2016, and she helped the Stags to an MAAC title and an NCAA Tournament berth in 2015. Bennett is ranked in the top five in Fairfield field hockey history for wins (2nd, 32), games played (3rd, 71), winning percentage (3rd, .451), and saves (4th, 377) in a career.

A Fairfield, Connecticut-native, Bennett graduated from Fairfield in 2017 with her bachelor's degree in studio art with a minor in mathematics, and she is in the process of completing her master's degree in media management from Wagner.