Courtesy of Holy Cross Athletics Communications
Kim Cosenza has been named the next head coach of the Holy Cross field hockey program, as announced by Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Kit Hughes on Monday, Feb. 2.
Cosenza arrives at Holy Cross after five seasons at nearby Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where she led the team to New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament appearances in every season, including the program's first NEWMAC Championship appearance in 2025.
"We could not be more excited to welcome Coach Cosenza to Holy Cross as the next leader of our field hockey program," Hughes said. "She has a strong history of building competitive and supportive teams, and is deeply connected to the Worcester community. During this search process, we were thoroughly impressed by her level of detail and strategy for building our program, her holistic approach to leadership, and her commitment to developing well-rounded, successful student-athletes. We are thrilled to have her guide our talented student-athletes to new levels of success in the coming years."
Last season, the Engineers earned a spot in the NFHCA Top 25 Poll (22nd), finishing with a 15-6 overall record in 2025, including an 8-0 home record. WPI also earned an at-large bid into the 2025 NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship tournament. The at-large selection marked the fifth-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament, and led to the first NCAA postseason victory since 1989, as No. 22 WPI shut out No. 15 Stevenson before falling to eventual national runner-up Johns Hopkins in the Sweet 16.
Cosenza posted a winning record in each of her five seasons at WPI, and her programs routinely excelled in the classroom, achieving a 3.59 grade-point average as a team and earning NFHCA National Academic Squad honors and Scholars of Distinction recognition.
"I'm deeply honored and excited to serve as the head field hockey coach at College of the Holy Cross," Cosenza said. "Holy Cross is a special place with an outstanding academic reputation and a proud Division I tradition, and I'm eager to get to work, connect with our student-athletes, and build something truly special together. I'm especially grateful to Kit Hughes for the opportunity and the trust he's placed in me, and to WPI, Dana Harmon, and the many coaches, mentors, and student-athletes who have shaped me throughout my career."
Cosenza was a two-sport standout at Worcester State, excelling in field hockey and lacrosse. Cosenza graduated in 2009 with a degree in health education and went on to earn a Master's of physical education in athletic administration from Springfield College in 2011, where she served as a graduate assistant for the Pride. She also played field hockey internationally for Club Pinjacker in the Netherlands.
She is no stranger to the area; prior to her tenure at WPI, Cosenza spent time as the head coach at Fitchburg State, Worcester State and Elms. She served three seasons as head coach of the Falcons, where she notched a double-digit win total during her first campaign at Fitchburg State in 2018, earning a home game in the 2018 Little East Conference (LEC) Tournament.
Prior to Fitchburg State, Cosenza spent the 2015 season as head coach at her alma mater Worcester State. She guided the Lancers to their first appearance in the LEC semifinals since 2006, while having 11 players recognized by the NFHCA. At Elms, Cosenza took over a team that was winless the season before her arrival, and led the Blazers to a spot in the 2012 New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) championship game.
ABOUT HOLY CROSS
The College of the Holy Cross, in Worcester, Mass., is among the nation's leading liberal arts institutions. A highly selective, four-year, exclusively undergraduate college of 3,200 students, Holy Cross is renowned for offering a rigorous, personalized education in the Jesuit, Catholic tradition. Since its founding in 1843, Holy Cross has made a positive impact in society by graduating students who distinguish themselves as thoughtful leaders in business, professional and civic life.