Union, N.J. (3/4/24) – The Kean University athletic department has announced the hiring of Maura Johnston as the 13th head field hockey coach in program history.
Johnston most recently served as the head coach at local FDU-Florham where she spent the last five seasons. In her first season with the Devils in 2019 her team captured the MAC Freedom Conference Championship and a victory in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. In four competitive seasons (one season lost due to COVID shutdown) she has a .550 overall winning percentage and .586 conference mark.
"I am honored to be named head field hockey coach at Kean University," stated Johnston. "I would like to thank the Director of Athletics Kelly Williams, Associate AD Therese Doyle, and the search committee for giving me this opportunity and believing in the vision we collectively have for the field hockey program at Kean. I am eager to start working with this motivated group of student athletes in a conference that provides the opportunity to compete at the highest level. Kean felt like home the moment I stepped onto campus, and I am excited to work at an institution whose mission and values I profoundly share."
Prior to her time in Madison, she spent one season in Hoboken as an assistant coach and the Coordinator of Student-Athlete Development at Stevens Institute of Technology. She was also an advisor with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and an academic advisor for athletes.
While receiving her master's degree, she spent two seasons as the graduate assistant coach at Catholic University. In 2017 she was a part of the staff that was named the Landmark Conference Coaching Staff of the Year. In addition to her duties on the field, she helped organize community outreach programs including the Girls in Action program.
Johnston is no stranger to the New Jersey Athletic Conference as she was a four year student-athlete at rival Montclair State University. During her collegiate playing career the Red Hawks were 72-14 overall and advanced to the NCAA tournament two times, including a runner-up finish in 2012. She played in 85 games with 33 goals and 21 assists and served as captain for two seasons. She is currently in the top 10 in career history in points, goals and assists. Upon completion of her playing career she was named to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Senior All-Star game.
Johnston presently serves on the NCAA Division III field hockey regional advisory committee and is on the NFHCA All-American committee.
She received her Master of Science degree in Business Management (Leadership) from Catholic in 2018 and her Bachelor Science degree in Physical Education and Health from Montclair in 2016.
