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Boal Named Associate Head Field Hockey Coach
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia head field hockey coach Michele Madison announced the hiring of Michael Boal as the associate head coach for the Cavaliers. Additionally, former goalkeeper Kim Kastuk joins the staff as a student assistant coach.
“I am thrilled to join the field hockey staff at the University of Virginia and become part of this illustrious institution,” Boal said. “I am delighted to contribute to the coaching staff as we build the next phase of UVa field hockey.”
Boal, a native of Sunderland, England, replaces Iñako Puzo who left Charlottesville to become the head field hockey coach at Miami University (Ohio). Boal comes to UVa after one season as an assistant coach at James Madison, where he spearheaded recruiting efforts and coached the goalkeepers.
“Michael brings quality coaching experience to the staff,” Madison said. “His coaching ability is highly regarded in the English national league for taking his two National League ladies teams to the finals. I have had the opportunity to work with Michael the last five summers at my camp and look forward to working together.”
Prior to his stint at JMU, Boal served as the assistant director of hockey at Durham University in the United Kingdom. There he assisted Gavin Featherstone, a renowned double Olympic and World Cup head coach for the USA and South Africa field hockey teams.
At Durham, Boal was responsible for the coaching and development of both men’s and women’s performance groups, recruiting across Europe, match preparation, video analysis and conducting coaching and evaluation sessions for all 16 intramural college teams. Boal helped lead Durham’s men’s and women’s first teams to a ranking inside the top-10 of U.K. universities when they became National North Conference Champions and Northern Division One champions in 2010.
Before his stay at Durham, Boal coached at the Olton & West Warwick’s Hockey Club for four years and was involved in all aspects of the management of the ladies first and second teams, including daily planning and conducting of practice and physical training. He coached the women’s first team in the prominent English National Premier League at the age of 20, making Boal the youngest ever to coach a women’s team in the English National Premier League.
At Olton & West Warwick’s, Boal also coached players with National and International Representative Honors, including two 2008 Olympians for Great Britain. He developed three representatives for the Junior World Cup earlier this year and two under-18 Internationals.
Boal graduated with honors from the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom in June 2009 with an impressive range of experience and accomplishments. He earned his bachelor’s degree in sports management and was an ambassador for the university. Boal made four British University Finals Appearances as player and coach and was part of their 2006-07 National League winning side.
Kastuk played two years at Virginia where she helped lead the Cavaliers to back-to-back NCAA semifinal appearances in 2009 and 2010. As a senior in 2010, the two-year starter at goalkeeper led the ACC in save percentage (.772) and was second in saves (78) and goals against average (1.26).
“Kim wants to be a coach and wants to learn everything about coaching,” Madison said. “This experience will definitely expose her to the other side of the game. She loves the sport and there is no doubt she will be a great coach someday. Kim was also named to the USA developmental squad and will continue to train and pursue her dream of being the national team goalkeeper.”
Kastuk was a second-team all-south region performer and was named a third-team All-American by womensfieldhockey.com in her final season at UVa. She is slated to graduate with both her bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and her master’s degree in education in the spring of 2012.