POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – Vassar College Director of Athletics & Physical Education Michelle Walsh has announced that Anne Kietzman has been selected as the Head Field Hockey Coach. Kietzman joins Vassar after serving as the Head Field Hockey Coach at Washington College (Md.) for the past six years.
 
"I am very excited that Annie will be coming home to the Liberty League and joining the Vassar Athletics family!" stated Walsh. "Throughout the entire interview process, Annie demonstrated a clear understanding of and commitment to providing an outstanding student-athlete experience where students can learn and grow while also aspiring to the highest levels of success both on and off the field.  I am confident that she will build on our recent successes in the Liberty League and continue to elevate the program to national prominence."

Kietzman joins the Vassar College athletics department after spending six years at Washington College where she was also the Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for Athletics. During her time with the Shorewoman, Kietzman led the team to two Centennial Conference postseason appearances while setting program records for goals scored. Kietzman recruited and developed the 2017 and 2021 conference Rookie of the Year while also coaching four All-Region selections and 12 All-Centennial Conference Performers.

"I want to thank Director of Athletics and Physical Education Michelle Walsh and the search committee for the opportunity to lead the Vassar field hockey team! " said Kietzman. "Vassar embodies the best of what Division III athletics has to offer. From the moment I stepped on campus, Vassar felt like home, and my conversations with the athletic department and current student-athletes confirmed that feeling. I am eager to start working with such a driven and dynamic group of young people at an institution whose mission and values I profoundly believe in."

In Kietzman's role as the Athletics Diversity and Inclusion Designee, she was responsible for serving as the conduit for information for all levels of issues regarding diversity and inclusion around campus as well as local and the national level. Kietzman was also tasked with planning and implementing DEI programming for student-athletes, coaches and administrators along with collaborating with the conference office on writing the Inclusion Policy and the Diverse Hiring Guide.
 
Prior to Kietzman's work at Washington College, she was the head coach at Newberry in 2016-17 and led the Wolves to its first ever conference victory. She also served as an assistant coach for Dickinson in 2015-16 and served as the interim head coach during the spring non-traditional season. Kietzman began her coaching career as an assistant coach at Bates College for two seasons, beginning in 2013.
 
Kietzman has coached with the Empower Field Hockey Club organization since 2020 and has mentored and developed youth athletes from the ages of 8 to 18. She has helped provide guidance to families and youth athletes to overcome challenges and identifying opportunities during the college recruiting process.
 
Kietzman had an impressive playing career at William Smith College as she was named to the 2012 National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) All-America first team and was tabbed as an All-American by WomensFieldHockey.com in both 2011 and 2012. She was a four-time All-Liberty League selection while being named the conference's Rookie of the Year in 2009 and finished her career as the Offensive Player of the Year in 2012. She was also named to the Liberty League All-Tournament Team in both 2011 and 2012, garnering Most Valuable Player honors in 2012 as the Herons won the Liberty League Conference Championship. She was a three-time NFHCA All-Region selection, a 2012 NFHCA Senior All-Star, a two-time ECAC Mid-Atlantic All-Star, and the 2012 ECAC Mid-Atlantic Offensive Player of the Year. Kietzman left William Smith as the Herons' all-time co-leader in career assists with 39, to go along with 43 career goals. The 19 assists she tallied as a senior set a new single-season school record.
 
A 2013 graduate of William Smith, Kietzman received a B.A. in Biology while minoring in Cognition, Logic and Language.