EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. — The ESU Athletics Department has announced that Katie Ord '07 has been selected as the 11th head coach in program history for field hockey and that Madison Kline '24 will join the staff as an assistant coach on Wednesday, Aug. 5.

Both Ord and Kline had decorated careers as student-athletes at ESU and now take the reins in leading their alma mater into the program's next chapter. Ord's promotion to head coach comes after 14 seasons as an assistant coach, as well as one season each as a graduate assistant and volunteer coach, with the program after her four-year career as a player from 2003-06.

"I am thrilled to elevate Katie Ord as the next head coach to lead our field hockey program," Dr. Allen G. Snook Jr., Director of Athletics, said. "Throughout her tenure, she has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to competitive excellence and character development of our student-athletes. Katie embodies the core values of our athletic department, and I have the utmost confidence she will lead our program to new heights as she has earned the absolute respect of our student-athletes, staff and alumni.  We are excited to support her vision as our new head coach."

"First, I'd like to thank President Kenneth Long and Director of Athletics Dr. Snook for entrusting me with the opportunity to lead this prestigious program," Ord said. "As an ESU alumna and having spent the past 15 years as an assistant coach, this is truly a special moment for me. I am beyond excited to lead this next chapter of ESU field hockey. We have an exceptional group of young women who are committed to being champions on and off the field, and I plan to invest in that every single day. I can't wait to get to work with this team and continue the tradition of excellence that makes ESU field hockey so special."

Since Ord joined the staff as a full-time coach, ESU has amassed a 206-82 (.715) record as the Warriors have become one of the top field hockey programs in the toughest conference the sport has at the Division II level. The Warriors have won both their national championships and all four of their PSAC Championships with Ord on the staff, while also making 10 of the program's 13 NCAA Division II Tournament appearances as well.

Going back to 2015, Ord has helped ESU earn multiple All-America nods, at least five All-PSAC selections, and make the NCAA Championship game four times. Ord and the ESU coaching staff were recognized for their efforts in their 2022 championship season, earning the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division II Atlantic Region Coaching Staff of the Year award. In total, ESU's players have earned four Honda Broderick Award nominations, two NFHCA National Player of the Year awards, three NFHCA Atlantic Region Player of the Year awards, 38 All-America honors, and 77 All-PSAC selections.

As Ord moves up to head coach, filling her previous role is Kline. A 2023 All-American and two-time All-PSAC forward, Kline was part of the most successful class in ESU field hockey history. During her four seasons from 2019 to 2021-23, Kline was ESU's leading scorer on the 2022 Division II national championship team and played key roles on three PSAC Championship squads. Kline's class captured the most wins and best winning percentage of any four-year class in program history, going 73-13 (.849).

"It is an honor to return to a place that has given me so much as both a player and as a person," Kline said. "I have a deep passion for this sport and this program, and I am excited to continue building on the amazing culture and success that ESU field hockey has. I am grateful to Coach Ord for her guidance and confidence in me, and I can't wait to be back on Whitenight Field with her this fall."

Following her graduation and career at ESU, Kline stayed involved with the program, coaching at camps for summers through 2024. After that, she spent one season as the head coach at Oley Valley Middle School, then returned to X-Calibur Field Hockey Club, where she played for seven years before committing to ESU, as its head coach from Oct. 2024 to Nov. 2025.

"Maddie Kline knows exactly what it takes to win," Ord said. "She was part of ESU field hockey's winningest class during her time here, capturing three conference championships, a national championship, and a national runner-up finish. Her success as a player, combined with her leadership, high field hockey IQ, and passion for the game, is exactly why I chose her as my assistant coach. Even back when I was recruiting Maddie, what stood out to me most was how she made every player around her compete harder."

Ord graduated from ESU in 2007 with a bachelor's degree in Exercise Science and completed her master's degree in the same field in 2008. Kline graduated from ESU in 2024 with a bachelor's degree in Political Science.