Danielle Kogut enters her 13th year as the head coach of the Bates College field hockey program in 2025 after assuming the position in June of 2013.
In 2024, Kogut led the Bobcats to their most wins in program history (14), a NESCAC runner-up finish, and an NCAA quarterfinals appearance.
Kogut and her assistants were named the 2023 NESCAC Coaching Staff of the Year Award for leading the Bobcats to their most wins in one season since 1975 (13), and to the program's best NESCAC record ever (7-3). The Bobcats qualified for the NCAA tournament for the first time in program history, advancing to the second round. They also won their first-ever NESCAC tournament game when Bates beat Bowdoin 2-1 in a double overtime thriller on Halloween in front of a packed house at Campus Ave. Field.
2023's success built on previous seasons, as Kogut led Bates to its best NESCAC record in program history (at the time) in 2019, as the Bobcats finished 10-6 overall and 6-4 in conference play. They had another winning season in 2022, as the Bobcats went 9-7 and 5-5 in NESCAC action. That season, Kogut led Bates to the program's first win over Bowdoin since 1984.
In 2017, she led Bates to its second straight winning season, the first time the field hockey team has posted back-to-back winning seasons since they posted five straight winning records from 1980-1984. The Bobcats finished 9-7 overall for the second straight year and their 5-5 NESCAC record was their best conference record since a 5-4 finish in 2002.
Since taking over the reins of the Bobcats’ program, Kogut has instilled a new culture of dedication in the team. In 2015, she led the Bobcats to the NESCAC Tournament for the first time since 2010. Bates also picked up its most victories in a single season since 2005. One of the Bobcats' biggest wins in 2015 was a 1-0 victory over previously undefeated and ninth ranked Babson.
In 2014, the team had two players named to the NFHCA Division III All-Region Team.
In 2013, Bates registered its best goals-against average since 2006 and demonstrated marked improvement over the second half of the season.
Prior to Bates, Kogut served as head coach at the University of New England for two years, compiling a 29-14 record, two postseason appearances and guiding the Nor’easters to the first Division III national ranking in program history. Before her stint at UNE, Kogut was an assistant coach at the University of Vermont, and at Bates’ NESCAC rival Tufts University before that.
“Representing Bates, a community and college founded in the richest traditions of exploration and intellectual growth, is an honor,” Kogut said at her appointment. “Having begun my coaching career in the NESCAC, I feel it is a once in a lifetime opportunity to be named the head coach at Bates, and I am truly grateful. I look forward to working with the student-athletes as together we build a winning program.”
When first hired by Bates, Kogut was cited by then Director of Athletics Kevin McHugh and the search committee for her innovative coaching, as well as her drive, intensity and enthusiasm.
“We were fortunate to have an extremely competitive pool of candidates, with five terrific finalists, and Dani proved to be the best of that great group,” McHugh said. “I am thrilled to have her join the Bates Athletics family, and look forward to the excellent coaching and leadership that Dani will bring to the field hockey program.”
Kogut was named the 2011 Commonwealth Coast Conference Coach of the Year, after leading the Nor’easters to a program-record 18 wins against four losses. UNE began the year with 13 straight victories and appeared in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division III poll for two weeks, including a No. 2 ranking in New England. The season came to a close with two overtime setbacks in the conference final (2-1 to Endicott) and an ECAC Championship semifinal (2-1 in 2OT to Mount Holyoke). In 2012 she led the Nor’easters to the semifinals of both the CCC and ECAC tournament semifinals.
Born and raised in Sturbridge, Mass., Kogut graduated from Stonehill College in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She played goalkeeper for the Division II Skyhawks, finishing her career as the team’s all-time leader in shutouts and earning Northeast-10 all-conference and all-academic honors.
After graduation, Kogut became an assistant coach at Tufts, while earning a master’s degree in child development. At Tufts, she was credited with playing a significant role in the transformation and development of the Jumbos’ defense, as Tufts compiled a 37-4 record with consecutive appearances at the NCAA Division III Final Four.
Kogut holds a level II coaching accreditation from USA Field Hockey. She spent 10 years as the director of Coastal Field Hockey from 2009-2019 and is currently the director of Maine Field Hockey Events. In addition, she serves on the executive board of the NFHCA as the VP of Membership.
