Much to live up to: Holmes-Winn enters top field hocky program

Talented. Energetic. Passionate.

Time and again, everyone asked to describe field hockey head coach Kristen Holmes-Winn repeats the same words. Just four games into her tenure, the verdict is unanimous: she's the right woman to take the Tigers to the top.

First, glance at her resume. A 1997 graduate of Iowa, she was a three-time All-American who led the Hawkeyes to three final four appearances. She spent six years playing for the US national team, followed by two more coaching the US Under-16 team. And she's the founder, owner, and president of Champion's Edge, Inc., which strives to improve field hockey at the middle and high school level.

Not enough? Listen to athletic director Gary Walters '67.

"She's the complete package," he said. "She's articulate, engaging, and a clear leader. She reflects our educational values and understands the supporting role of athletics."

Still need more? Ask the players.

"She's completely committed to the sport and our team," senior co-captain Claire Miller said. "Her own interest in the game made me go back to the way I felt when I first started playing."

It's not as though Princeton was struggling before Holmes-Winn arrived. Under her predecessor, Beth Bozman, the Tigers won nine consecutive Ivy League titles and made four Final Four appearances. But the program stalled just short of the finish line. Hiring Holmes-Winn instantly energized and rejuvenated the field hockey program.

"I can't compare them [Bozman and Holmes-Winn] — they're so different I don't even know where to start," Miller said.

If winning Ivy League title number 10 — and 11, and 12 — remains priority number one, then claiming a thus far elusive national title is priority 1-A. Holmes-Winn points to lacrosse as evidence that national championships are indeed possible for teams that call Class of 1952 Stadium home.

"Being next to [men's lacrosse head coach] Bill Tierny and [women's lacrosse head coach] Chris Sailer is pretty inspiring," Holmes-Winn said. "The hunger they both have is what makes them so successful. I know I have it too."

Interestingly enough, Holmes-Winn's preferred offensive strategy — designed to deliberately break down the defense — follows in the footsteps of another legendary Tiger sage, basketball coach Pete Carrill.

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"We try to make teams run and shift, which opens up devastating passing lanes and spaces," Holmes-Winn said. "This way, when we're able to penetrate the defense, we have numbers in our attack."

That's not to say that she favors a slowdown game. On defense, she employs an aggressive pressing system — for the whole game — that would make Rick Pitino proud.

Don't think the hoops metaphors would be lost on Holmes-Winn. Coming out of high school, she was a highly recruited basketball player. While she initially chose to focus on field hockey, she played basketball her senior year for an Iowa team that reached the NCAA Sweet 16.

Holmes-Winn's athletic talent is one key component of her coaching success. Her youth — she's only seven years older than the team's seniors — allows her to frequently scrimmage with the team.

"Other coaches will describe a skill, but she can do it and model it," freshman goalie Julian Simon said. "And she plays with so much passion — it pushes you even more."

Her youth also enhances her ability to communicate with the players. As a result, the player-coach relationship is quite different this year.

"Beth treated us like her daughters, while Kristen treats us like equals," junior midfielder Natalie Martirosian said. "She can identify with us and her personality mixes very well with ours."

But sincere friendship with her players doesn't keep Holmes-Winn from demanding that her players live up to what she describes as "extremely high standards." She cites intense focus and attention to detail as fundamental expectations.

"I want practice to be harder than matches so that nothing is a surprise," she said. "To win a championship, you have to bring a sense of urgency to every single day, to every single moment."

In the end, the force that drives Holmes-Winn most appears to be her zeal for the game. After falling just short of an NCAA title as a player, she fully intends to capture one as a coach. And there's no doubt in her mind that Princeton is the right place to do it.

"Princeton is one of the best jobs in the country. Academically and athletically, it's the best of both worlds," she said. "[Taking the job was] a no-brainer. I love coaching — it's my passion — and its what I see myself doing for a long time."