University of North Carolina Athletics
Tar Heel Legend Joins Field Hockey Staff
September 11, 2017 | Field Hockey
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Kate Barber Kinnear, one of the most decorated players in UNC field hockey history and a long-time member of the U.S. National Team, has joined the North Carolina coaching staff as a volunteer assistant coach. Carolina field hockey head coach Karen Shelton announced the appointment on Monday.
"We're extremely fortunate to have Kate Barber Kinnear join our staff," Shelton said. "She's one of the greatest Tar Heels of all time, and one of our greatest leaders – she was a captain here and a captain on the National Team. She's just an incredible role model for our players. She's gone on to success in the private sector, and now to have her back in college field hockey and working with our team is something that's going to be incredibly valuable to us."
Kinnear lettered at UNC from 1994-97, helping the Tar Heels to three NCAA Championships (1995-97) and to Atlantic Coast Conference titles all four years. She was a three-time first-team All-America selection and a two-time finalist for the Honda Award as national player of the year. On the conference level, she earned All-ACC honors three times and All-ACC Tournament honors all four years, and was named ACC Rookie of the Year, ACC Player of the Year and ACC Tournament MVP during her time in a Tar Heel uniform.
She was an undergraduate assistant coach for the Tar Heels during the 1998 season while completing her degree in exercise and sport science.
Kinnear continued her hockey career as a member of the U.S. National Team from 1998 to 2008, earning more than 200 international caps. She captained Team USA at the 2008 Beijing Olympics as the U.S. made its first appearance in the Summer Games since 1996.
After her retirement, Kinnear served on the USAFH Board of Directors from 2009-14. She is now Contracts Director for ADS, Inc., in Virginia Beach, Va. She is married to Glenn Kinnear and they have three children: daughter Sammie and sons Colin and Max.
"I am honored to be given this opportunity to join the team and staff for this season," Kinnear said. "Carolina Field Hockey and Coach Shelton have always held and always will hold a special place in my heart, so I am extremely excited to be involved again. I'm looking forward to working with this team and giving back to the UNC program."
Kinnear will be on the sidelines this weekend as the Tar Heels host Boston College on Saturday and James Madison on Sunday in Durham, N.C. UNC will play all of its home games this season at Duke's Williams Field at Jack Katz Stadium while a new on-campus facility is under construction.
"We're extremely fortunate to have Kate Barber Kinnear join our staff," Shelton said. "She's one of the greatest Tar Heels of all time, and one of our greatest leaders – she was a captain here and a captain on the National Team. She's just an incredible role model for our players. She's gone on to success in the private sector, and now to have her back in college field hockey and working with our team is something that's going to be incredibly valuable to us."
Kinnear lettered at UNC from 1994-97, helping the Tar Heels to three NCAA Championships (1995-97) and to Atlantic Coast Conference titles all four years. She was a three-time first-team All-America selection and a two-time finalist for the Honda Award as national player of the year. On the conference level, she earned All-ACC honors three times and All-ACC Tournament honors all four years, and was named ACC Rookie of the Year, ACC Player of the Year and ACC Tournament MVP during her time in a Tar Heel uniform.
She was an undergraduate assistant coach for the Tar Heels during the 1998 season while completing her degree in exercise and sport science.
Kinnear continued her hockey career as a member of the U.S. National Team from 1998 to 2008, earning more than 200 international caps. She captained Team USA at the 2008 Beijing Olympics as the U.S. made its first appearance in the Summer Games since 1996.
After her retirement, Kinnear served on the USAFH Board of Directors from 2009-14. She is now Contracts Director for ADS, Inc., in Virginia Beach, Va. She is married to Glenn Kinnear and they have three children: daughter Sammie and sons Colin and Max.
"I am honored to be given this opportunity to join the team and staff for this season," Kinnear said. "Carolina Field Hockey and Coach Shelton have always held and always will hold a special place in my heart, so I am extremely excited to be involved again. I'm looking forward to working with this team and giving back to the UNC program."
Kinnear will be on the sidelines this weekend as the Tar Heels host Boston College on Saturday and James Madison on Sunday in Durham, N.C. UNC will play all of its home games this season at Duke's Williams Field at Jack Katz Stadium while a new on-campus facility is under construction.
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