Tufts Field Hockey Coach Tina Mattera on Defining what it Means to Win, On and Off the Field

Tufts University Field Hockey Head Coach Tina McDavitt Mattera joins the pod to share her unfiltered experience building one of the most dominant programs in the country AND raising kids – and finding time to hang with her husband and friends at the beach. Tina is entering her 21st year with Tufts. Under her leadership, they won the NCAA championship in 2012 – the first NCAA title won by a women’s team at Tufts, earning them a spot in the Tufts Athletics Hall of Fame – made the NCAA tournament 11 times, and appeared in the Final Four five times. Tina herself is a two-time NESCAC coach of the year and a National Field Hockey Coaches Association National Coach of the Year. 

Tina is also a celebrated field hockey player, having been a member of USA Field Hockey's national indoor team and won a silver medal at the Pan Am Games. She was also recently selected by USA Field Hockey to the Masters Indoor World Cup Team. 

In this conversation:

- How Tina built a powerhouse at Tufts

- Leaning into her own definition of success and opting out of Div 1 (for now)

- Coaching in labor and returning to the field days later (“tweet… tweet”)

- The profound impact of finally having help she didn’t need to “check on”

- Thinking critically about the day-to-day life she wants and the professional choices to support it

- What it looks like to have “enough”

Looking for camps for your teenager this summer? Sign them up for a clinic with Tina at mcdavittsports.com

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This episode is supported by Little Saints. More than a non-alcoholic beverage, it’s a mushroom-infused cocktail that elevates the soul. Get 20% off when you use code THEMOTHERS20 at littlesaints.com. 

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