We pride ourselves on the women run environment we have cultivated to provide strong female role models to all of our athletes!

Kate Pfeifer

OWNER

Kate Pfeifer is entering her 11th season as the Head Coach of the University of Vermont field hockey team. Pfeifer has been coaching collegiate field hockey since 2006. Prior to entering the field of coaching, Pfeifer played for the University of Michigan Field Hockey Team from 2000-2004. At Michigan she won four Big Ten Tournament Titles, made four NCAA Tournament appearances, and won the NCAA National Championship in 2001. In 2003, Pfeifer was the recipient of the Brian Fishman Award at Michigan for exceptional work ethic, passion and pursuit of excellence. In 2004, she captained the Wolverines and was also awarded the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.

Haley Buffenbarger

PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Haley Buffenbarger joins the University of Vermont field hockey staff as an assistant coach for the upcoming 2024 Fall season. Buffenbarger recently finished her 5th season on the University of Vermont field hockey team in the Fall of 2023. At UVM she started every game of her career and is ranked 2nd for most games played in a career (81) in UVM’s record book. Buffenbarger brings a wealth of leadership as a former 3 time captain of the Catamounts and 2 time winner of the team’s GRIT award. At UVM she minored in coaching and began coaching club field hockey in 2023.

Marlee McClendon

HEAD COACH

Marlee McClendon joined the University of Vermont Field Hockey Staff as an assistant coach in 2023. Prior to UVM, McClendon worked as the assistant coach at Converse University and helped lead them to a South Atlantic Conference Championship. In her lone season at Converse, McClendon coached the league’s offensive and defensive players of the year. In her own collegiate career McClendon was a 5 year starter for Old Dominion University. At ODU McClendon was a two-time Second Team All-Big East selection and two-time All- Big East Tournament selection.

Bernice Garnett

HEAD COACH

Bernice Garnett currently serves as a faculty advisor to the University of Vermont Coaching Staff. Garnett works heavily with the UVM field hockey team to build team chemistry and connections through restorative practices. Garnett played collegiate field hockey at the University of Pennsylvania in the early 2000s.