Celebrating 50 years of Division III athletics | head women's field hockey & lacrosse coach & former viking Karen Atkinson
Jose Rodriguez '24, Staff Writer | Media & Communications
SALEM, Mass. -- The Division III 50th anniversary campaign will mark significant moments in the division's past. It will also celebrate both current and former student-athletes and recognize the relationship the division shares with Special Olympics.
Division III started Aug. 6, 1973, with 240 member schools and conferences. On Nov. 10, 1973, Ashland became the first Division III national champion by winning the inaugural men's cross country championship hosted by Wheaton (Illinois).
Salem State athletics is profiling current head women's field hockey & lacrosse coach Karen Atkinson '11 about her experiences as a Division III player and coach. Atkinson is a 2011 graduate of Salem State where she was a four-year member and captain of the field hockey program, earning a degree in Sport and Movement Science with a concentration in Fitness/Wellness; graduating with honors. She also earned a Masters of Education, Leadership in Physical Education from Salem State in 2015. Atkinson was named head coach of the field hockey team in 2022 after spending three seasons as an assistant and was named interim head women's lacrosse coach in 2021 after two seasons as an assistant before being named head coach in 2022.
How did being a DIII athlete prepare you for a post-playing career?
"Being a Division III athlete guided my decision to pursue my career as a physical education teacher and coach. I have always loved being part of a team and participating in sports from a young age, but as I continued in college, I realized I appreciated helping others see their potential within athletics and fitness in general."
When did you realize you wanted to be a head coach?
"I found a true love for coaching while attending Salem State University. I was playing field hockey, but coaching high school and club lacrosse for various programs. After graduating in 2011, I realized there was potential to have coaching as a full-time career. I became the assistant field hockey coach at Daniel Webster College (Nashua, NH) and shortly after became the head coach of both women's lacrosse and field hockey. Although the opportunity of coaching full-time was there at Daniel Webster College, I decided I needed to also pursue my passion in teaching. Teaching and coaching seemed like the best of both worlds.
I transitioned to the education world and was able to also coach in the same district. When the former coach of Salem State University connected about coaching with her at Salem State, I couldn't turn down the option to work at the college level again. It proves to be difficult teaching and also coaching at the DIII level, but it is extremely rewarding working with the younger population during the day, while also having the ability to connect with student-athletes during their college tenure."
Why did you choose Salem State and the what drew your interest?
"I chose Salem State as a student-athlete because of the proximity to where I grew up and the exercise science program, The city of Salem and the ability to continue playing field hockey. Both my parents attended Salem State for their bachelor's degrees, and it seemed like it would be a great fit for me as a student. The class sizes were perfect, and I appreciated spending most of my time in Okeefe. The field hockey program at the time participated in the Little East Conference (LEC), which I found to be challenging and also rewarding. The games were competitive and the teammates I had over the years made it a great experience."
What were some of the positive aspects of being a DIII athlete?
"I appreciated being able to continue playing a sport I loved while also working towards my degree. The ability to be a student-athlete in college is an experience that most former high school athletes miss. Transitioning from high school to college was a difficult time for me and finding a spot on the field hockey team helped alleviate some of the stress. I was able to create a routine while in season and an incentive to do well in the spring semester to continue to be eligible to play."
Did you ever envision as a student that you would one day be coaching at Salem State?
"I think being a coach and former player at Salem State University, it has always been in the back of my mind. The ability to have an impact as a player, but then as a coach in the same program is something to be appreciated."
What advice would you give athletes who aspire to become head coaches?
"Creating relationships along the way with peers and coaches is always helpful. I had a great mentor who helped me realize my potential. Also just being OK with not always being successful. As cliche as it sounds, winning isn't always the most important piece. Sometimes changing the culture and environment of a program takes precedence and eventually over time the skills develop to truly compete."