Terrapins Welcome Katie O?Donnell Bam to Staff
1/19/2017 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Head coach Missy Meharg and the Maryland field hockey announced the hiring of Terrapin great Katie [O'Donnell] Bam to the staff Thursday. The two-time Olympian and four-time NFHCA All-American will serve as an assistant coach.
“Katie's deep-rooted passion and commitment to the game make her a natural teacher and players' coach,” Meharg said. “Her progressive and current hockey knowledge coupled with being one of international hockey's most potent attackers will be an immediate asset to our young, talented and fearless Terps. For the student-athlete that aspires to compete for their country or take a professional playing track between NCAA and career and family will have a mentor of such valuable experience. Once a Terp, always a Terp. Welcome home, Katie."
Bam played for the Terrapins from 2007 through 2010, leading them to the 2008 and 2010 NCAA championships, as well as three ACC titles. A four-time NFHCA All-American, Bam was named ACC Player of the Year all four years of her career, and won the Honda Sports Award as the nation's top player twice.
"Coming back to Maryland feels so right,” Bam said. “I have so many great memories of my time as a Terp. Everyone at Maryland helped me reach the highest levels in the game and I can't wait to help the Terps achieve their best."
Bam holds Maryland career records of 99 goals, 306 points and 108 assists. Her 32 goals, 34 assists for 98 points in her senior season are program records as well.
In 2010, she was named Sportswoman of the Year by the Woman's Sports Foundation, an award previously won by Mia Hamm and Venus and Serena Williams.
"We are all thrilled to welcome back Katie Bam," director of athletics Kevin Anderson said. "Katie represents the best of the University of Maryland. As a student-athlete, Katie possessed a strong work ethic and was a natural leader. She has competed and been successful at the highest level and will be an outstanding addition to both our field hockey program and athletics department. Katie's past experiences will be very advantageous for our student-athletes as they work to achieve their academic and athletic goals."
She was the youngest player ever named to the U.S. Senior National Team at the age of 16 and earned over 200 caps in her career. Bam competed in the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games, helping Team USA to a fifth-place finish in Rio. She also helped Team USA to a fourth-place finish in the World Cup in 2014.
She helped lead Team USA to gold in the 2011 and 2015 Pan American Games, the 2014 Champions Challenge in Scotland and the 2013 World League Round 2 Tournament in Brazil.
Bam started her coaching career at Maryland in 2012 as a student assistant coach. She helped the Terrapins to a record of 18-6 and the NCAA Final Four.
Bam earned her bachelor's degree in family science in 2013.
Stefanie Fee, who is also a member of the U.S. National Team and an Olympian, will stay on as the Terps' Director of Field Hockey operations. Fee and Bam both competed in the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
Fee was a four-year starter at Duke from 2008-2011. She helped the Blue Devils to a pair of NCAA Quarterfinals appearances. She earned NFHCA Second Team All-America honors in 2011 and graduated with her bachelor's degree in psychology in 2012.
Fee has been on the U.S. Senior National Team since 2012, earning 90 caps. She helped Team USA win gold in the 2015 Pan American Games, the 2014 Champions Challenge and the 2013 World League Round 2 Tournament. Fee and Team USA won the bronze medal in the Champions Trophy last year in London.
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