Rich Sutton begins his second season as the top assistant on the Kent State coaching staff. From international competition to the Atlantic Coast Conference, Sutton brings an abundance of field hockey experience to KSU.

Now in his third year at an NCAA institution, Sutton served as an assistant coach at the University of Virginia during the 2005 season. The Cavaliers got off to an 8-5 start that year against some of the toughest competition in the country.

Prior to Virginia, Sutton was the associate head coach at the University of Birmingham (England) for four seasons. During his tenure at his alma mater, he guided the Birmingham ladies to two national semifinals and one national title game appearance. He also served as the head coach of the Midlands U21’s, leading them to a pair of National Tournament championships in three seasons.

“I am very excited about the new season ahead,” said Sutton. “I feel we have made great strides this past spring and expect Kent State Field Hockey to continue improving this fall.”

A 1998 graduate of Birmingham, Sutton was twice a national semifinalist as a player and in his final season was a player/coach of the second XI national championship team.

He continued his playing career in the Netherlands for two seasons before returning to play on Birmingham’s National League team as an alum for two years.

In 2006, Sutton was a member of the U.S. National Men’s Elite coaching staff during the Bloemendaal Series. Since then he has served as a head coach on the Futures circuit, coached at the Futures Development Invitational Clinic and High School Open and was selected to coach at the 2007 Junior Olympics.

“Rich brings a wealth of experience to KSU and I am ecstatic to have him as part of my staff,” Head Coach Kathleen Schanne said.

A Birmingham, England native, Sutton earned his bachelor’s degree in local government studies from the University of Birmingham.

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Graduate Assistant Katy Tran

Katy Tran, a former All-American goalkeeper, enters her second season as a graduate assistant at Kent State. After an outstanding career at North Carolina, Tran made the transition from player to coach in 2006.  Like assistant coach Rich Sutton, she brings experience from an Atlantic Coast Conference institution.

Tran was the starting goalkeeper for three seasons with the Tar Heels and earned First Team All-America honors in 2005. She was also a member of the All-Atlantic Coast Conference Team and ACC All-Tournament Teams in each of her last two seasons.

A Grantville, Pa. native, Tran was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America At-Large Team in 2006. A double major in biology and exercise and sport science at North Carolina, she graduated with a 3.51 grade point average.

Tran’s excellence in the classroom, earned her an NCAA postgraduate scholarship and the ACC Weaver-James-Corrigan postgraduate scholarship. While at UNC, Tran remained very involved in community services such as Carolina Outreach and the Carolina Leadership Academy and was a three-time recipient of the ACC Top Six for Service Award.

In four seasons with the Tar Heels, Tran played in 70 games and started every game in goal for three seasons. She posted 20 career shutouts and carried a goals against average of 1.06. During her career, UNC captured the 2004 ACC championship and made four NCAA Tournament appearances.

Tran is a graduate of Northern Lebanon High School in Fredericksburg, Pa., where she earned All-America honors as a senior. She has also played on several U.S. national teams.

Courtesy: Kent State Athletic Communications