Head Coach Jackie Kane begins her 30th season with the Fairfield University field hockey program, serving as the team's head coach since the 1995 campaign after playing four seasons with the Stags from 1983-86. Kane played in or coached in more than 200 victories at Fairfield, including an undefeated season in Northeast Conference (NEC) play during the 2019, 2021, and 2023 campaigns.
Under her guidance, the Stags captured the 2019, 2021, and 2023 regular-season titles and NEC tournament titles in 2019 and 2021, advancing to the NCAA Tournament those seasons. Fairfield won its first-ever NCAA Tournament game with a decision over nationally-ranked American before falling to second-seeded UConn in overtime in the 2019 edition.
Kane and her coaching staff were honored as the Coaching Staff of the Year by the Northeast Conference as selected by vote of the NEC coaches in 2019 and 2021 as well as earning the NFHCA Regional Coach of the Year in 2019.
The Stags won their first-ever NCAA Tournament game in 2019 when they defeated nationally-ranked American University in the opening round before falling to second-seeded UConn in overtime later in the tournament. In 2021, Fairfield fell to nationally-ranked University of Delaware in the first round of the NCAA tournament after sweeping the Northeast Conference Tournament with wins over Rider and LIU to gain the conference's automatic bid.
She also led the Stags to the 2001 Patriot League Championship title which sent the Stags to their first-ever NCAA tournament appearance. And in 2015, the Stags transitioned to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, winning the league tournament and making their second appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
Kane has won more games than any other Fairfield field hockey coach, checking into the 2022 season with 226 victories. She led the team to a post-season conference tournament 10 times, including a 2012 America East Tournament appearance, four-straight Patriot League appearances from 1998 to 2001, and back-to-back MAAC Championship Game appearances in 2015 and 2016. She capped the 1998 season by earning Patriot League Coach of the Year honors. She graduated from the NCAA Women's Coaches Academy in 2006. She received a Level 2 Coaching Certification from USA Hockey.Â
Under her guidance, Kane supervised the transition between four conferences, going from the Patriot League to the Northeast Conference in 2004. She also helped the program move into the America East conference in 2007 and to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference in 2015. The Stags returned to the Northeast Conference before the 2019 campaign.
In 2004, Kane guided the Stags to the Northeast Conference championship game in their first season of competition, successfully making the transition from the Patriot League. Under her tutelage, Fairfield captured a regular-season (1998) title and a tournament championship (2001) in the Patriot League. Fairfield made its first NCAA appearance in program history in 2001, taking on the University of Maryland in first-round play.
The team's winning ways are even more impressive considering Kane's desire for a national-caliber schedule, which has included ranked teams such as William & Mary, Boston University, Iowa, Northeastern, UConn, and Virginia. In addition to the team's athletic accomplishments, Kane's players have excelled in the classroom.
More than 40 Stags have earned National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) National Academic Team honors, and more than 50 have garnered Conference All-Academic accolades. In 2006-07, the field hockey team had the highest team GPA at Fairfield University. Ten players have been selected to the Mideast Regional All-America team, and nine players have participated in the NFHCA All-Star Game.
She owns a 251-303 overall record over her 29 years at Fairfield, posting winning seasons 11 times which includes six straight winning campaigns (2018 to 2023).
Her coaching career began at her high school alma mater - Mount St Joseph Academy in Flourtown, Pa. In her first three years, Kane led the Chiefs to two championship games and posted a 38-7-5 overall record. She earned a master's degree in education from St. Joseph's University.
Kane has three children - Jack, Mimi, and Tommy.
