22-year-old field hockey star becomes youngest head coach in D1 college sports

[@roberthudson1959]

At least this transition was intentional. In 1974, a 22-year-old graduate student was the only assistant coach for the Tennessee women's basketball team. When the head coach resigned during the preseason, the grad student was named as the replacement. The Lady Vols really lucked out because the grad student retired in 2012 with 1,098 career wins. I hope that UNC has as much success under Matson as the Vols enjoyed under Pat Summitt.

[@paulmorrow8372]

Pat Summitt also never had a losing season and made the NCAA tournament every year. I am not a Tennessee fan at all, but respected the hell out of her! Good luck to this coach!

[@BiznizTrader]

She will do great things there, no doubt about it. Props to UNC as well for taking that chance.

[@robertconklin4657]

She literally walked into the AD’s office after the National Championship and asked for the job. After interviews, they took the chance. Props to NC.

[@AJXOXO-vz1pn]

It’s a fringe sport supported by Athletic Dept monies mostly from men’s football and basketball. It doesn’t generate any revenue so it doesn’t matter much if they had a broom coaching the team.

[@emadeit704]

@@AJXOXO-vz1pnyou sound happy

[@elsenorgatito]

​@@emadeit704I mean, women's sports gets millions of dollars to be subsidized by the state of North Carolina while hard working black CNAs can't afford to become nurses during a nursing staffing crisis because of lack of money..

[@halleberria]

@@elsenorgatitothey're not the reason people aren't being well paid. your company is (the money isn't from the same fund anyway)

[@brandotex]

Great story, way to go Erin

[@ArrowRozz]

The way I see it they have nothing to lose. She was an elite player who has great skills she can pass on to other players. If she fails as a coach they will fire her or bump her to assistant.

[@TheeMrJD3]

What an inspiration that young lady is

[@Moonroofmusik]

Absolute Legend

[@Dr.J27]

Erin Matson is a BOSS!

[@robertconklin4657]

And National Champion in first year

[@bmillz007]

This is amazing!!!

[@sanjj_1]

very interesting and inspiring story

[@tiboregoldberger6817]

Third grade they're wonderful they're great and they're just like the best places to go 0:21

[@fernandosibecas3492]

I´m curious, in the US where do hockey players play after they graduate from college? I´m from Argentina, and here most sports are played in clubs from childhood until you reach retirement age (unless you become a professional athlete) Being 22 she is at the peak of her career, so I´m surprised that she became a coach. Luciana Aymar (for those who don´t know her she was the Messi version of hockey) retired at 37 after winning her sixth Champions Trophy.

[@ynie1]

I got to watch Lucha Aymar at the 2011 Pan America games in person. I have never seen a player move as fluidly as she did. There was one moment where she moved effortlessly through Chili's defense, and drilled a shot as soon as she centered the arc. Absolutely blew my mind how strong she was.

[@westhoodqualzini7884]

In the United States you would never say just hockey players because people think you are talking about ice hockey. You say field hockey and field hockey is woman’s college sport in America so there’s nothing else to do. It’s a growing sport that most Americans have never seen

[@naeemdollie6836]

Amazing..but does this mean her career as player ends at 22 ..is that normal foor hockey!

[@EveMillerrr0316]

If you only play collegiate, yes. You’ll stop when you’re 22, 23, maybe 24. On the USA team you see women playing until their mid-thirties ish. Unfortunately there’s just not enough options in the US for post-college players to play unless they make the national team.

[@tpd1399]

Greatest Tar Heel of all time for me. Just passing Mia Hamm

[@gregory596]

North Carolina's best-known athletes include Michael Jordan, Mia Hamm, *and* Lawrence Taylor.

[@Optim40]

I would never put a 22 year old in charge of anything

[@michaelzdanis3979]

Then you'd have made a big mistake. She won the national championship in her first year, ACC championship both years, ACC coach of the year her second year (2024) and is again the #1 seed in the NCAA tournament which starts this week.

[@soccerplyr8]

Does taco bell really have breakfast now?

[@Vermontguy87]

Why are the sticks so short? They have to hunch over their backs must really hurt all the time because of having a hunch over. Also, why can’t you put the ball on both sides of the stick? Field hockey seems like a not as good version of ice hockey.

[@nottheatf6357]

HEEL YEAH Ladies UNC university of national champions

[@zenithofcourse5369]

Is this Tennis before everyone started playing??

[@M21655]

That’s too young

[@Nikki-ks6wi]

Yay go Tar Heels!

[@m.687]

Didn't realize this was a serious sport

[@namkun78]

@@JSB1TV Field hockey is 5th most watched sport in the world . Serious enough and American Football not even top 10

[@derkong7114]

take mom, dad, brothers, sisters, grandparents, and boy friends out of the stands and they are empty....

[@YourMarvelRival]

And yet, she has accomplished at 22 more than you will in a lifetime. Crazy to think about

[@derkong7114]

@@YourMarvelRival hurt your feelings?

[@YourMarvelRival]

@@derkong7114 facts don’t care about either of ours and that’s all I spoke

[@derkong7114]

@@YourMarvelRival You dont know me so your response was emotional. You had hurt feelings....

[@derkong7114]

Also the only reason this team exists is title 9 forcing schools to fund money losing women programs...