After 15 seasons leading the MSU Field Hockey program, Head Coach Helen Knull has stepped down. She was the program’s longest-tenured coach, and her career included more than 100 victories, the 2014 Big Ten Tournament championship and the 2013 NFHCA West Region Coach of the Year honors.
Before being named head coach in 2011, Knull spent four seasons as a Spartan assistant coach under Rolf van de Kerkhof.
“It has been an honor and a privilege to coach at Michigan State,” said Knull. “The future of MSU Athletics is bright, and I’m excited to remain a fan and supporter of all our programs. Spartan Pride Never Dies.”
Under her guidance, Spartan student-athletes collected three NFHCA All-America honors, 15 All-Region picks, and 22 All-Big Ten selections. In the classroom, the Spartans boast 216 Academic All-Big Ten picks, 80 Big Ten Distinguished Scholars, and 216 NFHCA Scholars.
New coach steps in
Tamara Durante, 11-year veteran of the MSU Field Hockey coaching ranks, has been named head coach for the program. Durante arrived in East Lansing in 2015 as an assistant coach. She has served as associate head coach for the past eight seasons.
“It is an honor to be named the head field hockey coach at Michigan State,” said Durante. “I know firsthand how special this community is and what it means to be a Spartan. We are going to build a culture of grit and integrity that honors the Spartans who came before as we chase excellence in the Big Ten.”
Durante has made an impact at the national level, coaching within the USA Field Hockey system since 2002. Prior to her time in East Lansing, Durante spent 10 seasons coaching at Yale.
Spotlight on selflessness
MSU Field Hockey graduate Maddie Lawlor has been named the national female recipient of the 2026 Big Ten Jackie Robinson Community & Impact Award presented by Discover. Lawlor was chosen as the national recipient from a pool of 18 institutional winners throughout the Big Ten Conference.
Lawlor was selected due to her multi-year involvement with Be The Match, now known as the National Marrow Donor Program, and her selfless journey to becoming a bone marrow donor.
“Maddie Lawlor is truly a worthy recipient of the Jackie Robinson Community & Impact Award,” said MSU Vice President and Director of Athletics J Batt. “There’s no greater impact an individual can have than the lifesaving decision Maddie made to be a bone marrow donor herself. Her leadership and selfless actions have improved countless lives, while providing the ultimate example of what it means to be a role model.”