She was 22. Honestly, think about that for a second. While most people that age are still trying to figure out how to file their own taxes or wondering if they can stretch a bag of frozen dumplings for three meals, Erin Matson was being named the UNC field hockey coach. It wasn't a PR stunt. It wasn't a "placeholder" move while the university looked for an established veteran. It was the boldest gamble in the history of college athletics, and it happened at the most successful program in the sport.
Replacing a Legend is Usually a Death Trap
Following Karen Shelton is like trying to write a sequel to the literal Bible of field hockey. Shelton spent 42 years in Chapel Hill. She won 10 national championships. She won more games than any coach in the history of the sport. When she retired in 2022, the logical move—the "safe" move—would have been to hire a seasoned assistant or a head coach from another powerhouse program like Northwestern or Maryland. Instead, UNC went with the kid who had just finished her senior season months prior.
The skepticism was everywhere. You’ve heard the whispers: "She's too close to the players," or "She’s their friend, not their boss." People figured the transition from teammate to tactician would be messy. It’s hard to tell your best friend they’re riding the bench because their defensive rotation is half a second slow. But Matson isn't most people. As a player, she was the "GOAT"—a four-time national champion and the all-time leading scorer in ACC history. She didn't just play the game; she saw it in a way that made everyone else look like they were playing in slow motion.
The 2023 Season: Pure Cinema
Matson’s first year as the UNC field hockey coach wasn't just good. It was ridiculous. She didn't have a "rebuilding year." There was no grace period. She took the Tar Heels to the NCAA Championship game against Northwestern—the very team that had beaten them in the finals the year before she took over.
The game went to a shootout. If you want to talk about pressure, imagine being 23 years old, standing on the sideline of a national championship game, watching your players go one-on-one with a goalkeeper while the entire legacy of your program hangs in the balance. When Ryleigh Heck scored the winning goal, Matson became the youngest coach ever to win an NCAA title in any sport.
One year. One ring.
It basically shattered every preconceived notion about "experience" being the only prerequisite for leadership. Matson proved that deep, intrinsic knowledge of a specific culture—the "Carolina Way"—mattered more than thirty years on a resume. She knew the players' tendencies because she had lived in the dorms with them. She knew the pressure of the jersey because she’d worn it through four title runs.
Breaking Down the "Matson Effect"
What does she actually do differently? If you watch a Tar Heel practice, it’s not a military camp. It’s fast. It’s incredibly technical. Matson focuses on "hockey IQ" over raw grinding. She expects her players to see the field the way she did—anticipating the pass before the defender even commits to the tackle.
- She uses modern communication. She isn't shouting from a pedestal; she's using the language of the current generation.
- There is a heavy emphasis on "The Process." This sounds like a cliché, but for Matson, it means focusing on the micro-details of a stick-tackle rather than the scoreboard.
- Recruiting has shifted. Top-tier high schoolers don't just see a coach; they see a mentor who was literally in their shoes three years ago.
The "Friendship" Problem
People love to talk about the awkwardness of coaching your former teammates. It’s the most common question she gets. How do you transition from being "one of the girls" to the person who decides their playing time? Matson addressed this head-on from day one. She set boundaries that were firm but not robotic.
She's been open about the fact that she doesn't go out with the team anymore. She isn't in the group chats. There's a line. But that line is built on a foundation of mutual respect. The players know she isn't asking them to do anything she hasn't done herself—usually better and more recently than anyone else on the planet.
Why the Rest of the Country is Scared
The scary part for the rest of the NCAA is that she’s only getting better. In 2023, she was learning the administrative side on the fly—the budgets, the travel logs, the NCAA compliance paperwork. Now, she has that under her belt.
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The UNC field hockey coach position isn't just about winning games; it's about maintaining a dynasty that Karen Shelton built from scratch on a muddy field decades ago. Matson has taken that foundation and added a layer of modern, aggressive tactical flexibility. She isn't afraid to pull her goalie early or change a press mid-game. She coaches with the same "killer instinct" she had as a forward.
The Statistical Reality
To understand the weight of this role, you have to look at the numbers. UNC doesn't just win; they dominate. Under Matson, the expectation remains the same: ACC Championship or bust, National Championship or bust.
- Recruiting Rank: Consistently #1 or #2 in the nation.
- Home Record: Karen Shelton Stadium remains a fortress where opponents' dreams go to die.
- Player Development: She's already turning blue-chip prospects into First-Team All-Americans at a staggering rate.
It’s About More Than Just Turf
Matson’s rise is a cultural moment for women's sports. It’s a signal that the "old guard" path isn't the only way. You don't have to spend 20 years as an assistant to be a genius. Sometimes, the genius is already in the building.
The 2024 and 2025 seasons have shown that 2023 wasn't a fluke. The Tar Heels are playing a brand of hockey that is faster and more transition-heavy than almost anyone else in the country. They are fun to watch. They are arrogant in the best way possible—the way you can only be when you know you've prepared harder than the person standing across from you.
What’s Next for the Program?
Expect more innovation. Matson is a fan of looking at other sports—basketball, soccer, even NFL schemes—to see how spacing and movement can be applied to the pitch. She’s not a "tradition for tradition's sake" kind of leader. If there’s a better way to execute a corner, she’ll find it, regardless of how it was done in 1995.
She’s also becoming a major voice for the sport's growth. Field hockey in the U.S. has often struggled for the spotlight compared to Europe, but Matson’s "celebrity" status as a young, winning coach is drawing eyes to the ACC that weren't there before.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Aspiring Coaches
If you're following the trajectory of the UNC field hockey coach or trying to learn from her rise, here are the real-world takeaways:
For the Fans: Go to Chapel Hill. Seriously. Seeing the speed of a Matson-coached team in person is different than watching it on ACC Network Extra. The technical skill required to execute her "one-touch" passing style is world-class. If you're looking for tickets, the rivalry games against Duke or Syracuse are the ones that truly showcase the tactical chess match.
For Young Coaches: Study her transition. Matson didn't try to be Karen Shelton. She didn't change her personality to sound "older" or more "authoritative." She leaned into her strengths—her technical knowledge and her ability to relate to the players. The lesson here is that authenticity beats a "coaching persona" every single time.
For the Players: Understand that "Player-to-Coach" isn't a shortcut. Matson works longer hours now than she did when she was an athlete. The administrative burden is massive. If you want to follow that path, start studying the why behind the drills your coach runs now, not just the how.
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The Matson era isn't just a new chapter for UNC; it's a completely new book. And based on the first few entries, it’s going to be a very long, very gold-plated story.
Check out the official GoHeels Field Hockey page for the current schedule and to see how the team is performing this week. If you're interested in the tactical side, watch the replay of the 2023 National Championship—pay attention to the defensive structure Matson employs in the final ten minutes. It’s a masterclass in controlled aggression.