USA Field Hockey Names U-21 USWNT Staff

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Field Hockey is pleased to announce the newly appointed staff of the U.S. U-21 Women’s National Team. Allan Law will serve as the head coach and Pietie Coetzee-Turner the assistant coach, both on a volunteer basis.

“We were very impressed with the level of interest and number of quality applicants who applied for the women’s U21 Head Coach position,” said Grant Fulton, USA Field Hockey’s Director of Junior High Performance. “Our head coach, assistant coach and their support staff will put together the best possible development environment for the athletes to thrive. We are very fortunate that we have a fantastic group of coaches and staff who are willing to support the next generation of the U.S. Women’s National Team.”

Law, who was previously the assistant coach since 2021, is now at the helm of the U-21 program after helping lead them to a bronze medal at the 2021 Junior Pan American Championship, gold at the 2023 Junior Pan American Championship and appearance at the 2023 FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup. A seasoned field hockey coach with more than 20 years of high performance experience, he excels in player development, program creation and possessing comprehensive insight into the Olympic pathway.

His first head coaching role came in 2010 when he led the Scotland U-16 Boys team for three years. Managing the development of more than 50 athletes, he provided technical, tactical and a physical long-term development plan for the program.

Law became involved within the USA system in 2014, starting at the Young Women’s National Championship, then coaching the U.S. O-40 Men’s Indoor Team for a year at the 2019 Indoor World Cup in Hong Kong and most recently with the USWNT. He had a stint as the assistant of the U.S. Men’s National Indoor Team and from 2019 to 2021 was the assistant coach of the U.S. U-16 Women’s National Team.

From 2013 to 2021, Law was the assistant coach at Syracuse University. With the Orange he helped lead them to their only NCAA National Championship in 2015, runner-up appearance in 2014, seven NCAA Tournament appearances, and Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) regular season title in 2015.

Currently the National Coaching Director of 3STEP Sports, Law is a certified USA Field Hockey Level 3, FIH Level 2 and United Kingdom Level 2 coach. He is a valuable Coach Educator and coach within the Nexus program. He had a ten year playing career for both the indoor and outdoor squads of the Scotland Men’s National Team.

“I am truly honored and thrilled to be appointed as the head coach of the U.S. U-21 Women's National Team,” commented Law. “My sincere gratitude goes to Craig Parnham and Grant Fulton for entrusting me with this incredible opportunity. I am excited to embark on this journey, build upon the exceptional foundation laid by former head coach Tracey Paul, and contribute to the continued success of the team. I eagerly anticipate working alongside the talented athletes and dedicated staff as we strive for excellence together.”

In March 2023, Coetzee-Turner joined the senior staff as a specialist coach but will now also step into the role of U-21 assistant coach. Arguably one of the most highly regarded strikers in the world, she is a three-time Olympian representing South Africa at the Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and London 2012 Olympic Games. She finished her playing career as the all-time female scoring leader, notching 287 goals over 289 international matches.

Her international career began in 1995, when Coetzee-Turner represented South Africa at the Atlanta Challenge Cup and became the youngest player at 16 years old to represent the nation on such a stage. The two-time South African Hockey Player of the Year (1997, 2002) went on to play in four World Cups and was named the tournament’s Leading Scorer in 2002.

In 2006, she served as an assistant coach at Indiana University, while also holding numerous roles across South Africa. Along with leading the University of Witwatersrand Johannesburg as head coach, Coetzee-Turner was director of hockey at St. David’s Marist Inanda from 2016 to 2019 and women’s head coach of the Southern Gauteng A Provincial Team from 2018 to 2019. 

From 2019 to 2022, Coetzee-Turner was the assistant coach at the University of Massachusetts. The Minutewomen posted back-to-back double-digit win seasons in 2021 and 2022, highlighted by an Atlantic 10 Championship appearance last season. In January 2023, Coetzee-Turner was named the associate head coach at Wake Forest.

Coetzee-Turner is a FIH Level 3 and South Africa Level 3 certified coach and graduate of the WeCoach Academy.

“I am truly honored to step into the role of U-21 assistant coach,” said Coetzee-Turner. This is not just a position; it's a commitment to fostering the growth, potential, and dreams of our exceptional young athletes. Together, we embark on a journey fueled by passion, teamwork, and the pursuit of excellence. I look forward to contributing to the development of these extraordinary talents and shaping a future where success knows no bounds. Here's to the relentless pursuit of greatness and the shared triumphs that lie ahead on this exciting path of coaching the future stars of USA Field Hockey.”

The calendar for the U-21 USWNT consists of a Selection Camp from February 9 to 11 and again in March in Charlotte, N.C. Training Camps will take place in April, May and June in Charlotte, N.C. The Junior Pan American Championship is set to take place June 26 to July 12 in Surrey, Canada.