4 Lessons from the Youngest Coach in Division 1

Nearly 15 months ago, North Carolina field hockey star Erin Matson walked into her athletic director’s office and said she knew just the person to succeed legendary coach Karen Shelton.

“I want this job when I graduate,” Matson said.  

“I never would’ve expected you to come say that to me, but I’m glad you let me know,” Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham told her.

“Go win a National Championship. Then, we’ll talk.” 

Matson did, and four months later, Cunningham hired her.

Now, she’s the youngest coach in all of Division 1 sports at just 23 — and has the Tar Heels back in the field hockey Final Four in her first season on the sidelines.  

Her success — and Cunningham’s decision to give her the job — has some key leadership lessons for us.

1. Age isn’t everything

We frequently associate experience with wisdom and thus believe that those we appoint to various positions need to have battle scars from their past.  

But not all experience is the same. Emotional intelligence, work ethic and an intimate knowledge of a field are far more relevant measuring sticks for a leader’s potential than simply the number of years someone has on the planet. 

2. The best hires often come from within  

When a position opens — particularly at a prestigious organization — we often think we can make a splashy hire and find a marquee name with a track record of success. 

But there’s something to be said for promoting from within and appointing someone who’s already well-versed in our team’s values and culture, as well as familiar with existing personnel. Continuity is typically a hallmark of sustained achievement, and that stability can be far more difficult to achieve if we’re bringing in someone entirely unfamiliar with our overarching philosophies.

3. Differentiate yourself

Obviously, Matson had to make a bit of a transition in moving to the sideline — and needed to get her players to see her in a slightly different light.

So, she changed her phone number so her last text exchanges wouldn’t be jokes from the past and also moved out of the house she was sharing with some of her past teammates. She also doesn’t hang out with them after games like she used to.

If we’re rising in an organization and are now leading people we were once side by side with, we may want to consider the boundaries and elements of our relationships that need to change.

4. Take chances

Matson was 22 when she went into Cunningham’s office to express interest in the job. She could’ve convinced herself that she was too young or too unqualified. But she went for it — and her courage paid off.

Achieving anything worthwhile requires being a bit unconventional and taking some risks that others won’t. We may not get it, it may sting for a bit, but the end reward can be extremely gratifying.

There’s no shame in being rejected. But there will likely be regret if we don’t at least try.