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US National Team And European Coaching Veteran Pat Harris Named Field Hockey Assistant Coach
June 13, 2024 | Field Hockey
Pat Harris, who has spent more than two decades as a successful player, coach and administrator in the sport of field hockey, will be joining the Princeton staff for the 2024 season, head coach Carla Tagliente has announced.
Harris comes to Princeton having spent the last 25 years as a member of the U.S. men's national team, the last five as a coach with the men's national team program and 15 years as a coach and player in Europe.
"We're thrilled to have Pat with us," Tagliente says. "He brings a unique perspective to our program with his many years of experience in the sport, both in the United States and in Europe. Every player on our team will benefit from having Pat here, and we can't wait to get started."
Harris is a native of California (the state) and graduate of California (University of Pennsylvania), from which he holds a bachelor's and master's degree. He began his coaching career with three years at Louisville High School in Woodland Hills, California before making the transition to coaching and playing oversees, first with the Laren Mixed Hockey Club in the Netherlands, where he led the U-16 boys' team to the district championship.
From there he went to Germany, where he coached from 2012-20, winning a German championship in 2017 and a bronze medal in the Euro Hockey League in 2019. His next stop was Belgium, where he played in the men's first division and had three top eight finishes while also coaching a U-19 team to two top eight finishes as well. He then moved over to coach a women's team in the second division, where he came in as the runner-up and reached the league playoffs while also serving as the coach of the Belgian U-18 national team.
During that entire time, he represented the United States on the men's national team. In fact, he has made 172 international outdoor appearances and 62 international indoor appearances for the U.S., winning a bronze medal at the 2023 Pan Am Games for the team's first medal since 2000 and winning silver and bronze at the Pan Am Cup. He also helped the U.S. team to a fourth-place finish as the 2023 Indoor World Cup.
"I am elated at the opportunity to work with such a prestigious institution," Harris says. "The combination of my international experience as a player and coach and the ambitions of Princeton Field Hockey are in alignment. Carla and Dina [Rizzo] have established a very solid foundation, and I am excited to see how much we can all grow together."
Princeton opens the 2024 season Sept. 6 at Louisville.
Harris comes to Princeton having spent the last 25 years as a member of the U.S. men's national team, the last five as a coach with the men's national team program and 15 years as a coach and player in Europe.
"We're thrilled to have Pat with us," Tagliente says. "He brings a unique perspective to our program with his many years of experience in the sport, both in the United States and in Europe. Every player on our team will benefit from having Pat here, and we can't wait to get started."
Harris is a native of California (the state) and graduate of California (University of Pennsylvania), from which he holds a bachelor's and master's degree. He began his coaching career with three years at Louisville High School in Woodland Hills, California before making the transition to coaching and playing oversees, first with the Laren Mixed Hockey Club in the Netherlands, where he led the U-16 boys' team to the district championship.
From there he went to Germany, where he coached from 2012-20, winning a German championship in 2017 and a bronze medal in the Euro Hockey League in 2019. His next stop was Belgium, where he played in the men's first division and had three top eight finishes while also coaching a U-19 team to two top eight finishes as well. He then moved over to coach a women's team in the second division, where he came in as the runner-up and reached the league playoffs while also serving as the coach of the Belgian U-18 national team.
During that entire time, he represented the United States on the men's national team. In fact, he has made 172 international outdoor appearances and 62 international indoor appearances for the U.S., winning a bronze medal at the 2023 Pan Am Games for the team's first medal since 2000 and winning silver and bronze at the Pan Am Cup. He also helped the U.S. team to a fourth-place finish as the 2023 Indoor World Cup.
"I am elated at the opportunity to work with such a prestigious institution," Harris says. "The combination of my international experience as a player and coach and the ambitions of Princeton Field Hockey are in alignment. Carla and Dina [Rizzo] have established a very solid foundation, and I am excited to see how much we can all grow together."
Princeton opens the 2024 season Sept. 6 at Louisville.
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