Emily Harris joined the Oberlin field hockey program as an assistant coach this year with extensive national and international experience in both field and ice hockey — including a gold medal at the IIHF World Championship. With a recently completed master’s degree in strength and conditioning and coaching experience on the men’s and women’s sides of the game, she brings a unique blend of passion, energy, and insight to Oberlin.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

You come to Oberlin with national and international experience in both field and ice hockey. How do you think that background influences your coaching?

Coming from an international background really helps me put things in perspective. The things I learned at those camps and through training have definitely shaped how I coach. It’s helped me become more relatable to the athletes — I understand their daily lives, the commitments, and even the unspoken challenges they face. I also bring a high-intensity mindset to training. Every day, I want us to train like we’re playing in a game. That’s where our growth happens — especially in the circle, where we’re working on being more aggressive and goal-focused.

Do you think that international background helps you relate to players, especially those who may also be far from home?

Definitely. We do have one international player, Meaghan, who’s from the Netherlands. Being away from home myself for a long time helps me understand how hard that can be — especially for first-years dealing with homesickness, heavy workloads, and packed practice schedules. I try to be there for them, not just as athletes, but as people balancing a lot.

Head Coach Jess West described you as bringing energy, insight, and passion to the program. How would you describe what you bring to the field every day?

I’m super competitive — that’s probably the biggest thing. We’ve really been building a competitive edge in practice over the last few weeks. Jess is very defensively minded, and I’m offensively minded, so we bring a healthy top-down competition dynamic. It pushes the players, and it sets the tone. They see how invested we are, and that motivates them.

What fuels your competitiveness?

Success. Seeing things work — seeing results — drives me. As a player, I was very driven by results, and I still carry that with me. That’s why we emphasize not just performance in games but also doing the small things every day — taking care of your body, seeing the athletic trainer, staying mentally ready. It all adds up.

You mentioned some success this past weekend. How does that impact the team moving forward?

We had two really solid out-of-conference wins, and it was a great message to the rest of the conference. We’re building on a solid foundation — our defense is strong, and we’re developing that offensive mindset. The players are learning when to press and when to push, and their versatility is starting to show.

You also have a unique background coaching men’s field hockey and working in strength and conditioning. How do those experiences influence your coaching?

My master’s in strength and conditioning really helps me read the room — I can spot when players are fatigued, when they need hydration, when we need to dial things back or push harder. It gives me an edge in managing workload and recovery. Coaching men’s field hockey taught me a lot, too. The men’s game is faster and more physical, and I’ve brought some of that to our women’s team — specifically how we move the ball in and out of pockets quickly. That’s something we’re working on a lot.

You recently finished your master’s degree while preparing for your role at Oberlin. How did you manage that balance, and how has it shaped your goals as a coach?

My program was very research-focused. I read a lot of studies about recovery, performance, rehab — you name it. That gave me a great foundation for helping athletes at a higher level. While I was finishing up my degree in Tampa, I wasn’t coaching a team — they didn’t have field or ice hockey — so I had time to focus fully on my studies. That made me better prepared when I stepped into this role. I came in with more knowledge, and I think that’s made a real difference.

What excites you most about joining the Oberlin field hockey program, and where do you see this experience taking you?

Honestly, the players. They bring such great energy and passion every day. You can’t teach that — it’s just who they are. They love being on the field, they’re excited to learn, and they’ve made huge strides already. We came into preseason ready, and it’s showing in our results. I’m excited to keep building this program with them. They’re a special group, and I feel lucky to be a part of it.