University of North Carolina Athletics
Briggs, Major Take On UNC Staff Roles
August 24, 2018 | Field Hockey
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – As the season gets underway on Saturday, the UNC field hockey coaching staff will include two new additions, both familiar faces. Jackie Briggs, a 2010 Carolina graduate and two-time All-America at goalkeeper, joins the staff as a volunteer assistant coach. Gab Major, the only senior on the 2017 Tar Heel roster, will be on the sidelines this fall as a student-assistant coach while finishing her UNC degree.
"We're thrilled to add Jackie and Gab to our staff," UNC coach Karen Shelton said. "They both have great field hockey knowledge and bring different perspectives to the staff, Jackie as someone who has been playing internationally for almost a decade and Gab as someone who knows our whole team so well. They've been valuable during preseason and I know that will be the case as games get started."
Second-ranked UNC opens the 2018 season – and its new facility – on Saturday at 11:30 a.m., hosting No. 5 Michigan in ACC-Big Ten Challenge action. No. 14 Wake Forest and No. 20 Iowa face off at 2 in the day's second game. On Sunday, Wake plays Michigan at 11:30 a.m. and UNC faces Iowa at 2.
Briggs, known as Jackie Kintzer while at UNC, is in her second stint on the staff. She also was a volunteer assistant coach at UNC in 2012, helping the Tar Heels to an Atlantic Coast Conference title. As a player, she was a member of two NCAA Championship teams (2007 and 2009) and one ACC Championship team (2007). She earned first-team All-America honors in her junior and senior years, when she also was named to the All-ACC and All-NCAA Tournament teams. As a senior, she was the recipient of the team's Carmen and Michael Hooker Leadership Award and the Laree Beans Practice Player of the Year Award.
"I am beyond thrilled to join the UNC field hockey staff this fall," Briggs said. "I am excited to work with the girls and see what this season has in store for us. I have so much pride for this amazing university and I feel incredibly lucky to be back working at my alma mater."
Briggs earned 184 caps during nine years as part of the U.S. National Team, representing her country at the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympic Games and at World Cups in 2014 and 2018. She was nominated for the FIH Hockey Stars Awards Female Goalkeeper of the Year Award in 2014, 2016 and 2017. USA Field Hockey announced her retirement from the National Team earlier this week.
"As one of the world's top goalkeepers, Jackie brings valuable expertise to our staff," Shelton said. "Our goalkeepers will benefit greatly from her insights and coaching. And our whole team will learn from her. She's had an outstanding career with the National Team, competing at the highest levels."
Major also is a former recipient of the team's Carmen and Michael Hooker Leadership Award. She won for the 2017 season, when she was the team's lone senior. Last fall, UNC didn't have a home facility, practicing and playing in Durham. Still, the Tar Heels succeeded, winning the program's 20th Atlantic Coast Conference title and reaching the final four for the ninth year in a row.
"Last year presented some challenges we haven't had in the history of our program," Shelton said. "Gab's leadership was crucial for us. She's had a great career for us and we're excited to have her stay on the roster in a new role this fall."
Major led the team in points in 2017 with 30, including a team-high 14 assists. She is majoring in exercise and sport science and plans to graduate in December.
"We're thrilled to add Jackie and Gab to our staff," UNC coach Karen Shelton said. "They both have great field hockey knowledge and bring different perspectives to the staff, Jackie as someone who has been playing internationally for almost a decade and Gab as someone who knows our whole team so well. They've been valuable during preseason and I know that will be the case as games get started."
Second-ranked UNC opens the 2018 season – and its new facility – on Saturday at 11:30 a.m., hosting No. 5 Michigan in ACC-Big Ten Challenge action. No. 14 Wake Forest and No. 20 Iowa face off at 2 in the day's second game. On Sunday, Wake plays Michigan at 11:30 a.m. and UNC faces Iowa at 2.
Briggs, known as Jackie Kintzer while at UNC, is in her second stint on the staff. She also was a volunteer assistant coach at UNC in 2012, helping the Tar Heels to an Atlantic Coast Conference title. As a player, she was a member of two NCAA Championship teams (2007 and 2009) and one ACC Championship team (2007). She earned first-team All-America honors in her junior and senior years, when she also was named to the All-ACC and All-NCAA Tournament teams. As a senior, she was the recipient of the team's Carmen and Michael Hooker Leadership Award and the Laree Beans Practice Player of the Year Award.
"I am beyond thrilled to join the UNC field hockey staff this fall," Briggs said. "I am excited to work with the girls and see what this season has in store for us. I have so much pride for this amazing university and I feel incredibly lucky to be back working at my alma mater."
Briggs earned 184 caps during nine years as part of the U.S. National Team, representing her country at the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympic Games and at World Cups in 2014 and 2018. She was nominated for the FIH Hockey Stars Awards Female Goalkeeper of the Year Award in 2014, 2016 and 2017. USA Field Hockey announced her retirement from the National Team earlier this week.
"As one of the world's top goalkeepers, Jackie brings valuable expertise to our staff," Shelton said. "Our goalkeepers will benefit greatly from her insights and coaching. And our whole team will learn from her. She's had an outstanding career with the National Team, competing at the highest levels."
Major also is a former recipient of the team's Carmen and Michael Hooker Leadership Award. She won for the 2017 season, when she was the team's lone senior. Last fall, UNC didn't have a home facility, practicing and playing in Durham. Still, the Tar Heels succeeded, winning the program's 20th Atlantic Coast Conference title and reaching the final four for the ninth year in a row.
"Last year presented some challenges we haven't had in the history of our program," Shelton said. "Gab's leadership was crucial for us. She's had a great career for us and we're excited to have her stay on the roster in a new role this fall."
Major led the team in points in 2017 with 30, including a team-high 14 assists. She is majoring in exercise and sport science and plans to graduate in December.
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