Kent State Field Hockey Camps
Coaching Staff
Under the guidance of Head Coach Heather Hefner, we are committed to growth, accountability, and relentless pursuit of excellence. Heather instills in every player the importance of being selfless, relentless, grateful, and trustworthy, all while encouraging every athlete to strive for continual growth.
Our incredible assistant coach Lizzie brings her invaluable experience as a former student-athlete to the camp, with a passion for empowering athletes to grow into strong, courageous women. She uses her journey to inspire athletes to embrace confidence, resilience, and leadership.
Kieran Minton, our other amazing assistant coach, brings unmatched technical knowledge and a commitment to authenticity. Kieran values building trust and believes in creating an environment where every athlete can be their true self, both on and off the field.
Head Coach Heather Hefner
Heather Hefner was named the eighth head coach in Kent State Field Hockey program history in May 2024.
Hefner comes to Kent State from Liberty University where she served as an assistant coach since spring of 2018. During her time with the Flames, Liberty made the 2021 NCAA title game, won three Big East regular season titles and two tournament championships. Working primarily with defenders, Liberty finished no lower than 11th in the NCAA in goals against average in each of the last four seasons. She also coached two BIG EAST Defenders of the Year, one Co-Defender of the Year and one Goaltender of the Year.
She got her coaching start as a volunteer assistant at the University of Delaware for the 2017 season. In her lone season with the Blue Hens, Delaware won the CAA and advanced to the NCAA tournament. With Hefner on staff, Delaware ranked in the top-10 in goals against average, save percentage and defensive saves.
"I am absolutely thrilled to take the helm and shepherd this team into Kent State field hockey's next chapter, motivating and empowering these young women to excel not only as champions but as individuals of character. I firmly believe the best is yet to come and I cannot wait to embark on this journey alongside these student-athletes," Hefner added.
Hefner was a four-year defender at Wake Forest, making 76 appearances and 48 starts in her career. She was a three-time NFHCA All-Academic team honoree. The Demon Deacons won the 2014 ACC Championship, and she was named co-captain for the 2016 season. She was also the recipient of Wake Forest's Maria Whitehead Award, given by the team and coaches to the player who shows the most resiliency, passion, leadership, and sacrifice.
Assistant Coach Kieran Minton
Minton was hired as an assistant coach early in the 2022 season. He is going into his third spring at Kent State. He served as a volunteer assistant at Ohio State during the 2021 season.
MAC field hockey is not new to Minton, as he was a graduate assistant at Ohio for two years while he completed his master's degree in coaching education.
He has been playing field hockey since age 11 and most recently played at the University of Chester in England. There he also pursued a master's degree in biomedical science and coached the first women's team at the university.
Minton initially graduated from Aberystwyth University in Wales with honors and a degree in biology. He played field hockey there as well, winning back-to-back championships in 2013 and 2014 and playing in the first team for four years total.
Assistant Coach Lizzie Hamlett
Lizzie Hamlett enters her first season as assistant coach for the Kent State field hockey program in 2024.
Hamlett was Director of Analytics as a part of the staff alongside head coach Heather Hefner at Liberty last year. She assisted in a variety of areas in this role, including leadership development and mental conditioning. The Lady Flames posted a 17-3 record and earned the program's first-ever at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament. In addition to capturing the BIG EAST regular season championship with an unbeaten 7-0 record, Liberty went on the road and knocked off No. 1 North Carolina, the eventual national champion.
Prior to beginning her coaching career, Hamlett was a five-year student-athlete for the Lady Flames from 2018-22 and is tied for second in career games played with 96. She helped Liberty win BIG EAST regular season and tournament titles in her final two seasons. The Fredericksburg, Virginia native led the Lady Flames to a NCAA runner-up finish during the fall 2021 campaign, as the team became the first in school history to advance to a national championship game at the NCAA Division I level.
Individually, Hamlett was a two-time NFHCA All-South Region honoree, earning first team recognition in 2022 and second team honors in 2021, and a two-time All-BIG EAST selection, receiving first team honors in 2022 and second team recognition in 2021. She sits just outside of the top-10 in program history in goals (26), assists (20) and points (72).
Hamlett earned a bachelor's degree in strategic communication: social media management from Liberty in December 2021. She also earned a master's degree in sport management from Liberty in May 2023.