Katie DeSandis ’13CC was named the sixth head coach in the Columbia field hockey program's history in June 2020. DeSandis, a four-year letterwinner for the Lions, served as an assistant from 2017-19 on Caroline Nelson-Nichols' staff, who accepted the position of head coach of the U.S. Women's National Team in December 2019.
DeSandis returned to Columbia in April 2017 as an assistant coach after one season on the Hofstra coaching staff. During her latest stint with the Lions, DeSandis had a strong influence in the recruiting process and worked with Columbia’s forwards. A total of 10 student-athletes were named All-Ivy League and five claimed NFHCA All-Region honors. Additionally, the Lions picked up the first two wins over ranked opponents when they knocked off No. 22 Boston University and No. 24 Maine in back-to-back games in 2019.
She was integral in the creation of leadership development initiatives with the team and brought awareness to mental health and mental performance in collaboration with Athletics’ Success Through Well Being office. In 2021, she joined Columbia's We Roar Together initiative for diversity, racial justice, equity and inclusion.
DeSandis becomes the fourth former Lion student-athlete who has been named to a current head coaching position at Columbia, joining Ilene Weintraub ’02CC (women’s tennis), Howard Endelman ’87CC (men’s tennis) and Megan Griffith ’07CC (women’s basketball).
DeSandis has been involved with USA Field Hockey since 2016 as a Futures Level I Head Coach (Region 4) and a National Futures Championship Head Coach. She is currently certified as a Level II coach as well as a Coach Educator through the USFHA Coach Education programs.
Prior to her year with the Pride, she held coaching positions at the University of New England and with the Maine Styx, a club squad in Portland.
DeSandis was a National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) All-Mideast Region second team selection, earned All-Ivy League first team accolades and served as the Lions' team captain as a senior. DeSandis also was named to the All-Ivy second team as a junior and was an All-Ivy honorable mention as a first-year. She recorded 11 goals, 12 assists and 10 defensive saves in 67 games during her college career.
In the classroom, DeSandis was an Academic All-Ivy selection in 2012-13, a four-time Dean's List student and received the Libby Horowitz Scholarship from 2011-13. Additionally, DeSandis was the co-founder of an Alternative Break Program, directing the pilot program from 2010-13. She also was a co-founding member of the Student Wellness Program and was a graduate of the Leaders for Life program from 2011-13.
DeSandis, who is a graduate of field hockey powerhouse Emmaus (Pennsylvania) High School, also has an outstanding scholastic and United States Field Hockey Association (USFHA) playing history. At Emmaus, she was a member of two Pennsylvania State title squads and two Top of the Circle National Championship teams. Her teams posted a 96-4 mark during her tenure. DeSandis was also a two-time all-state selection, team captain and most valuable player.
Following graduation from Columbia with a bachelor's degree in anthropology, DeSandis became a core member of Teach for America (TFA), where she was chosen from 42,000 applicants to teach in under-resourced public schools in Nashville, Tennessee. DeSandis received her master's degree from Lipscomb in December 2014.
