CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Sarah Shute, a Lincolnville native and alumna of Somers High School in Lincolndale, New York, has made her mark on the game of field hockey in Massachusetts, first as a player at Boston University, then as an assistant collegiate coach at her collegiate alma mater and now as the newly named head coach of the field hockey program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 

Shute, in her collegiate playing career, amassed 45 goals, third on the Terriers’ all-time scoring list, and 107 points, fourth on the program’s all-time scoring list. 

During her collegiate senior season, in 2007, the Terriers reached the NCAA quarterfinals for the first time since 1991 while Shute broke the program record for career games played (87). 

With Shute on the roster, the program claimed a trio of America East conference championships from 2005 to 2007 and advanced to the NCAA playoff tournament each of those seasons. 

While a student-athlete, Shute became one of only five Terriers to receive the all-region first team accolade three times and was named to the conference’s all-conference first team her sophomore through senior seasons. 

Shute earned honors from Eastern College Athletic Conference her senior season and played in the 2007 NFHCA Division I senior all-star game. 

Academically, Shute received America East Academic Honor Roll recognition from 2005 to 2007. 

Following her graduation in 2008, with a bachelor’s degree from Boston’s School of Hospitality Administration, Shute trained with the Team USA ‘B’ team during the summer of 2008 and played in international field hockey matches against the Japanese and Canadian national teams. 

After a stellar playing career for the Terriers, turning to coaching was an easy decision for Shute, who coached at her alma mater since 2010 and was promoted from assistant coach to associate head coach in the spring of 2014. (As a member of the coaching staff at Boston University, Shute earned a master’s degree from the institution’s School of Education in 2017). 

“Throughout my life I have been incredibly fortunate to have outstanding coaches who have helped shape who I am today,” Shute said. “I wanted to become a coach because I love the game of field hockey and want to share that passion with student-athletes because of the impact my coaches have had on my life.” 

While serving as an assistant coach for the Terriers, the program won four Patriot League regular season and tournament championships. 

The staff, named as a DITA/NFHCA Northeast Region Coaching Staff of the Year, produced seven All-American players, 31 All-Patriot League selections and 10 Patriot League Athletes of the Year. 

Being a coach, Shute said, has its rewards, particularly relating to the culture of a team and its players. 

“The best part of being a coach is the ability to create a culture where hard work, resilience, teamwork, passion and joy are cultivated,” she said. “Working with talented young women and giving them the opportunity to discover how good they can be is a rewarding experience.” 

Despite the rewards of coaching, the profession comes with difficulties, with one difficulty, in particular, chief among the profession’s hardships. 

“The most difficult part of being a coach is finding ways to simultaneously push student-athletes to realize their potential while cultivating a safe environment for them to learn, make mistakes and grow,” said Shute. 

Shute, in an interview, shared some advice for those interested in entering the coaching profession. 

“One of the most important aspects of coaching is evolving with the game,” she said. “If you want to get into coaching, it's helpful to be a student of the game and continue to find ways to stretch yourself so you are always learning and growing with the sport and understanding the ever-changing landscape of what athletes need.” 

After years of being a student of the game, from playing to being an assistant coach, Shute has finally been granted the title of head coach. 

In mid-March, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology named the Lincolnville native as the head coach of its Division III field hockey program. 

“I am absolutely honored and thrilled to accept the opportunity to join the DAPER [Department of Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation] community at MIT as the head field hockey coach,” said Shute in a news release. “MIT is a world-renowned institution and this athletic department truly prides itself on the holistic development of its student-athletes.”

“Boston University will always be a special place to me as my time there on staff and as a student-athlete elevated my passion for both this sport and for coaching,” Shute said in the news release. “The support and guidance I received during my time at BU was incredible and I am grateful for everything [Director of Athletics] Drew Marrochello, [head field hockey coach] Sally Starr and [field hockey assistant coach] Tracey Paul have done to prepare me for this next step in my career.” 

MIT compiled a 15-5 record during the 2019 season and capped the season with a 5-1 loss in the Division III quarterfinals against eventual national runner-up Franklin and Marshall. 

“I am excited to welcome Sarah to MIT as our field hockey head coach,” said Dr. G. Anthony Grant, MIT Director of Athletics/DAPER Department Head, in a news release. “I am greatly impressed by her coaching and playing experience at Boston University, as well as her work with the USA Futures Program and other camps. Her energy, positive nature and commitment to the full student-athlete experience will help us continue to build on the already strong foundation that was built by Coach Silva.” 

Reach George Harvey and the sports department at: sports@penbaypilot.com.