Field Hockey
Matson, Erin
Erin Matson
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Email:
- coach_matson@unc.edu
Erin Matson, the most decorated player in Carolina field hockey history, was announced on Jan. 31, 2023, as the next head coach of the program in which she starred. She wasted no time making her mark as a coach, leading the Tar Heels to Atlantic Coast Conference and NCAA Championships in her first year.
The Tar Heels finished her first season 18-3, winning the program’s 11th national championship and 26th ACC Championship, both all-time records.
Matson is the fifth head coach in the history of the varsity program and follows in the footsteps of Karen Shelton, who retired in December of 2022 as the winningest coach in the sport’s history after 42 years at the program’s helm.
“Erin is an outstanding leader who has a deep and thorough knowledge of the game, understands the balance it takes to be a successful student and athlete, and is determined to expand and propel the winning tradition of Carolina Field Hockey,” Director of Athletics Bubba Cunningham said when Matson’s hiring was announced. “She knows how to inspire, listen, teach and win – all qualities that that will translate well to the sidelines and make her a terrific head coach.”
Matson played on four NCAA Championship teams and five ACC Championship teams at Carolina. She was a three-time recipient of the Honda Sport Award for Field Hockey, becoming just the second player ever – after Shelton – to win that honor three times. She finished her career as the all-time scoring leader in both ACC history and NCAA Tournament play. In 2021, she was named by the ACC Network as one of the top 10 female athletes in conference history. A five-time ACC Offensive Player of the Year and the only student-athlete in any sport to earn ACC Player of the Year recognition five times, Matson started for three of the five undefeated teams in program history.
A member of the U.S. National Team since the age of 17, Matson has extensive international playing experience in addition to her collegiate experience. She was the top scorer at the 2022 Pan American Cup in Chile and has represented the U.S. all over the world, in countries including India, England, South Africa and New Zealand. In March of 2024, she returned to international play at the Indoor Pan American Cup, helping the U.S. secure a gold medal and a berth in the 2025 FIH Indoor World Cup.
While balancing collegiate play, international play and studies, Matson also became an entrepreneur, founding a brand, “One,” that sells gear bearing her logo. The company also organized and executed summer clinics, maximizing NIL (Name, Image, Likeness opportunities) as allowed by the NCAA.
A three-time team captain while at UNC, Matson majored in Advertising and Public Relations, graduating in December 2022.
The Tar Heels finished her first season 18-3, winning the program’s 11th national championship and 26th ACC Championship, both all-time records.
Matson is the fifth head coach in the history of the varsity program and follows in the footsteps of Karen Shelton, who retired in December of 2022 as the winningest coach in the sport’s history after 42 years at the program’s helm.
“Erin is an outstanding leader who has a deep and thorough knowledge of the game, understands the balance it takes to be a successful student and athlete, and is determined to expand and propel the winning tradition of Carolina Field Hockey,” Director of Athletics Bubba Cunningham said when Matson’s hiring was announced. “She knows how to inspire, listen, teach and win – all qualities that that will translate well to the sidelines and make her a terrific head coach.”
Matson played on four NCAA Championship teams and five ACC Championship teams at Carolina. She was a three-time recipient of the Honda Sport Award for Field Hockey, becoming just the second player ever – after Shelton – to win that honor three times. She finished her career as the all-time scoring leader in both ACC history and NCAA Tournament play. In 2021, she was named by the ACC Network as one of the top 10 female athletes in conference history. A five-time ACC Offensive Player of the Year and the only student-athlete in any sport to earn ACC Player of the Year recognition five times, Matson started for three of the five undefeated teams in program history.
A member of the U.S. National Team since the age of 17, Matson has extensive international playing experience in addition to her collegiate experience. She was the top scorer at the 2022 Pan American Cup in Chile and has represented the U.S. all over the world, in countries including India, England, South Africa and New Zealand. In March of 2024, she returned to international play at the Indoor Pan American Cup, helping the U.S. secure a gold medal and a berth in the 2025 FIH Indoor World Cup.
While balancing collegiate play, international play and studies, Matson also became an entrepreneur, founding a brand, “One,” that sells gear bearing her logo. The company also organized and executed summer clinics, maximizing NIL (Name, Image, Likeness opportunities) as allowed by the NCAA.
A three-time team captain while at UNC, Matson majored in Advertising and Public Relations, graduating in December 2022.
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