By Layne McNary. BOONE, N.C. — Coming off the program’s first top-20 national ranking, App State Field Hockey head coach Emily Dinsmore has signed a contract extension through the 2028 season, Director of Athletics Doug Gillin announced Thursday. The extension was approved by Chancellor Heather Norris and the Appalachian State University Board of Trustees.

“We are excited about the future of App State Field Hockey under Emily’s direction,” Gillin said. “The program has had an upward trajectory throughout her tenure, including its first national ranking last season. We look forward to supporting our field hockey student-athletes’ continued pursuit of excellence in the classroom, in the community and in competition.”

App State is my home…

In three years under Dinsmore, the Mountaineers have reached new heights, establishing themselves as one of the best programs in the Mid-American Conference and rising as high as No. 17 in the 2025 national rankings.

Following six years as an assistant, in her inaugural season as head coach, Dinsmore led App State to its first MAC regular-season championship in program history and was named MAC Coach of the Year.

The Mountaineers carried that momentum into the 2024 season, winning their second consecutive regular-season title under Dinsmore. App State sustained that high level of play into 2025, matching Dinsmore’s program-best 14 wins from 2023, posting a 7-2 record in conference play and capping the year with a postseason victory over Ohio in the MAC Field Hockey Championship.

“App State is my home, and I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to continue to lead the field hockey program,” Dinsmore said. “Thank you to the Board of Trustees, Chancellor Norris, Doug Gillin and Erika Cheung for believing in me, our staff and student-athletes. We are building something special here, and I can’t wait to compete for more championships. I’m proud of what we have accomplished over the last three years and even more excited for the years to come. It’s a great day to be a Mountaineer!”

Following two exhibition matches against Queens and Liberty at the Dr. Jan C. Watson Field at the Brandon & Erica M. Adcock Field Hockey Complex, the Mountaineers will open the 2026 regular season at home against Towson on Aug. 28 at 6 p.m.

Three Mountaineers earned All-MAC honors last season, with first-team honors belonging to senior Lise Boekaar, App State’s all-time assists leader, and Sophia Baxter, who holds the program record with four MAC Player of the Week honors in a single season. Hadley Kuzmicky earned second-team honors in her senior campaign.

Boekaar and Baxter also received NFHCA accolades, with Boekaar earning All-Region First-Team honors and a spot on the senior team, while Baxter picked up a second-team nod.

In the classroom, the field hockey team holds a 3.61 cumulative GPA, with 12 players being named to the Academic All-MAC Team and 14 earning NFHCA academic honors.