Laura Hurff, who won a national championship as a player at Syracuse in 2015 and was a conference Coach of the Year last season, was named interim head coach of the Saint Louis University field hockey program on Aug. 1.
After her stellar playing career at Syracuse, Hurff served assistant coaching stints at Cornell (2019) and Stanford (2021). In 2024, she was the interim head coach at Rhodes College, a Division III institution in Memphis.
“It is a great opportunity for our program to welcome Laura Hurff as the interim head coach of the Billiken field hockey program,” SLU Director of Athletics Chris May said. “Laura played the game at the highest level in college, winning a national championship and competing on the international stage with the U.S. Women’s National Team. Laura’s coaching experience in college further exemplifies her exceptional preparation to lead the Billiken program.”
“Stepping into this role at SLU is more than just a coaching opportunity – it’s a chance to help build something real, something lasting,” Hurff said. “I’m incredibly grateful to be here, and I’m showing up ready to lead with purpose, connect deeply, and raise the standard every single day. I believe in building a culture where athletes are challenged to grow, trusted to lead, and reminded that who they are off the field matters just as much as what they do on it. Coaching, to me, is about creating something that lasts far beyond the scoreboard – it’s about impact, belief, and building people. That’s what drives me – and that’s what I’m here to build.”
Last season at Rhodes, Hurff guided the Lynx to a 14-6 overall record and 5-0 in conference play, advancing to the championship match in the Collegiate Field Hockey Conference Tournament. She earned Coach of the Year honors in the CFHC and mentored the league’s Defensive Player of the Year and Goalie of the Year.
An accomplished player, Hurff was a four-year starter at Syracuse from 2014-17. The three-time All-American helped the Orange win the 2015 NCAA Field Hockey Championship. Hurff accumulated 55 points (20G, 15A) during her Syracuse career.
Hurff also competed with the United States National Team, representing the U.S. in 32 international matches. She was a member of the U-21 USWNT that earned the silver medal in the Junior Pan-American Games.
Hurff earned a B.S. in Health & Exercise Science from Syracuse in 2018 and an MBA from DeVry University in 2022.
