2024 Hall of Fame Inductee: Kelly Doton
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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – During the next two months, USA Field Hockey will be celebrating and honoring the 2024 Hall of Fame inductees prior to the celebration, hosted by the U.S. Field Hockey Foundation.
Beijing 2008 Olympian Kelly Doton was a member of the U.S. Women’s National Team from 2005 through 2010 and represented Team USA in over 100 international matches.
Originally from Greenfield, Mass., Kelly was one of the most dominant players in the country during her collegiate career. A 2004 graduate of Wake Forest, she was an asset to the Demon Deacons on both sides of the ball during her collegiate career, helping to lead her squad to back-to-back NCAA championships in 2002 and 2003. She was honored as the 2003 Honda Award winner, presented to the National Field Hockey Player of the Year. Kelly was also a two-time National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) All-American and three-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) honoree. She was inducted into the Wake Forest Hall of Fame in October 2014.
Following her legendary college career, Kelly was named to the U.S. Women's National Team. She began with Team USA on the 2005 New Zealand Tour and scored her first international goal against Australia later that year. She competed in the 2006 World Cup in Spain and 2007 Pan American Games in Brazil, and was named to the Pan American Games Elite Team that year.
Providing her team with her disciplined defensive skills, and quickly establishing herself as one of the best attack corner hitters in the country, Kelly helped Team USA qualify for an Olympic Games held outside of the United States for the first time in 20 years. The pinnacle of her international career, she led Team USA to an 8th place finish at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
Kelly began her collegiate coaching career at Indiana from 2008 to 2012, rising to the role of associate head coach. While at Indiana, she was instrumental in guiding the Hoosiers to the title game of the Big Ten Tournament in route to the program's second-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2009.
Kelly has been the head coach at Boston College since 2015. In 2019, the Eagles had one of the most storied seasons in program history as they tied their record for most wins in a season with 15 and won a program-best four ACC games. Boston College went on to earn the No. 2 seed in the ACC Tournament and advanced to their first ACC title game in history. Kelly then led the Eagles on a run through the NCAA Division I Tournament where they defeated Northwestern and Louisville to advance to their first-ever Final Four appearance. Boston College finished the season ranked No. 7 in the NFHCA Coaches' Poll, the highest since 2013. After their historical season, she was the first coach in program history to win the ACC Coach of the Year Award. Kelly was voted the 2020 USA Field Hockey National Coach Award.
“Following a stellar college career Kelly went on to be a rock on the U.S. Women’s National Team, and joining the rare company of those who have reached 100 international cap,” said Simon Hoskins, USA Field Hockey’s Executive Director. “As a college and junior national team coach she continues to inspire the very best field hockey athletes. Congratulations Kelly!”
Kelly is truly worthy of induction in the USA Field Hockey Hall of Fame. She has been a dedicated member of the USA Field Hockey community and has represented the red, white, and blue throughout her time, first as a player, then as a coach. She also shared her experience as she has worked with the U.S. U-17, U-19, and U-21 Women’s National Teams since retiring, helping to grow and develop the national team level and build future Olympians.
Join us as we celebrate and honor the 2024 Hall of Fame Inductees on Friday, May 24, 2024, at the 2024 Hall of Fame Celebration, hosted by the U.S. Field Hockey Foundation, at The Hyatt Regency Westlake in Westlake Village, Calif. Tickets can be purchased by clicking here. An extended thank you goes to 2024 Hall of Fame sponsors AstroTurf and Beyond Pulse.