COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Field Hockey is pleased to announce Patrick Cota as the next head coach of the U.S. Men’s National Indoor Team.
“It’s a pleasure to welcome Pat as the new head coach of the men's indoor program,” said Nigel Traverso, USA Field Hockey’s Indoor High Performance Manager. “He has represented the United States as a player at the highest level and now look forward to working with him as the new head coach. Pat knows the culture, successes and challenges of the indoor program and look forward to working with him for the continued success and improvement of the program.”
In 2004, Cota began his coaching career in 2004, following 14 years of playing for the U.S. Men’s National Team. His coaching experience includes working with boys, girls, men and women, and he has impacted the lives of hundreds of athletes across the country. Over the last two decades, he coached at the University of Michigan (2004-2005), Stanford University (2010-2021), NorCal Sharks (2013-2021) and at The Ohio State University (2022-present), where he is currently an assistant coach.
During his time on the U-21 National Team, Cota started to give back to field hockey through coaching similar programs for boys and girls that he once played in as he started his field hockey career. During his time at Stanford University he started the NorCal Sharks team. This team started as a high-performance boys training group but grew to training both boys and girls which helped to grow field hockey in the northern California area.
Cota was named the U.S. U-18 Men’s National Team Head Coach in July 2021, and served as an assistant coach for the U-21 squad since that time. During his tenure, he led the program through multiple training camps, selection camps, Talent Identification, tours and a Five Rivers Tournament.
As a long-time member of the USMNT from 1999 to 2012, Cota represented the United States in 119 international matches and was named to the Pan American Federation Elite Team in 2009. He competed in four Pan American Games (1999, 2003, 2007, 2011), three Pan American Cups (2000, 2004, 2009), and the 2011 FIH Champions Challenge. He also played in five Indoor Pan American Cups (2002, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2010) and two Indoor World Cups (2003, 2011).
Cota’s impact off the field has been equally impressive. He served two terms on the USA Field Hockey Board of Directors as an Athlete Representative and two terms on the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) Athlete Advisory Council. Lastly, he continues to serve as a director on the USA Men's Field Hockey Foundation, where the aim is to grow playing opportunities for all and continue to promote boys field hockey in the United States.
"I am excited to accept this role with USA Field Hockey,” commented Cota. “I look forward to contributing and building upon the success of our men's indoor program that finished fourth at the 2023 Indoor World Cup. As a complimentary game to our outdoor program, I am eager to assist with the growth and long term development of the men's game in the United States."
Join USA Field Hockey in congratulating Cota for the new role of Indoor USMNT Head Coach!
