Roxy Coetzee-Turner
Assistant Coach
Roxy Coetzee-Turner joined Wake Forest ahead of the 2023 season as an assistant coach and also operates as the program coordinator.
She joins Jackie Briggs and Pietie Coetzee-Turner on staff with Averill. Her duties and responsibilities will include assisting the current coaching staff with specific needs, culture and player development, travel and recruiting.
The Deacs defeated two top-10 teams during her first season in 2023, with an early season 1-0 win against then No. 4 Michigan in the ACC/Big 10 Challenge and a 2-1 win in the ACC regular season finale against No. 10 Syracuse. Nat Friedman received All-ACC honors for the fourth-straight season and senior midfielder Grace Delmotte was named to the All-ACC Second Team for the third time in her career and second-straight season. A program-record 17 Demon Deacons were named to the All-Atlantic Coast Conference Field Hockey Academic Team.
"We are extremely thrilled to announce Roxy Coetzee-Turner as our program coordinator and assistant coach," said coach Averill. "Roxy has a keen understanding of high performance at a club, college and national team level. Her attention to detail as it pertains to student-athlete development, academically and athletically, will be a tremendous asset to our current hockey and support staff."
Coetzee-Turner comes to Wake Forest after two years at the University of Massachusetts as an assistant. She brings 17 years of coaching experience to the Deacs and was at Amherst College prior to UMass.
"Being part of a program with a rich history and a bright future is beyond exciting for me," said Coetzee-Turner. "I believe I have landed in a program that is enriched by female coaches with a passion for excellence and in pursuit of a unique culture within the program. In my short time at Wake Forest and around coach Averill, I can see a clear vision that aligns with my passion for growth within culture, student-athlete development and high performance. I cannot thank Jen enough for this opportunity and I look forward to contributing to this historic program."
Coetzee-Turner was part of two successful seasons at UMass with an overall record of 27-12, including an 11-3 record in the Atlantic 10, having advanced to the championship game of the 2022 conference tournament. The 2022 season also included a win over then-ranked No. 23 Maine.
The 2021 season saw the Minutewomen defeat three ranked opponents - then-ranked No. 10 Boston College in a 3-2 double overtime victory, the then-ranked No. 11 Saint Joseph's in a 1-0 overtime win and then-ranked No. 18 UConn in a 2-1 triumph. Massachusetts ranked as high as No. 18 during the season, holding on to rankings from September 9 through November 5.
With Coetzee-Turner on staff, Amherst College had two NFHCA All-Region honorees in 2019 as Sophia Kaplan and Beth Williamson both had standout seasons on the backline. The duo also collected NESCAC All-Conference accolades in a league consistently regarded among the best in NCAA Division III.
Coetzee-Turner arrived with the Mammoths following six years in South Africa at St. Mary's School, Waverley. She served as the Director of Field Hockey, the head coach of the school's top field hockey team, and as a sports conditioning specialist.
In her role at St. Mary's, Coetzee-Turner was responsible for managing all aspects of field hockey, managing 12 coaches across 14 teams and over 300 student-athletes. She also formed the school's field hockey curriculum and plan for development. As sports conditioning specialist, she led the physical program for field hockey, tennis, squash and basketball student-athletes.
Before moving into the director role, Coetzee-Turner was an assistant to St. Mary's field hockey for three seasons, under former South Africa national team coach Ros Howell. During this time, the program sent multiple players forward to the national team level.
A South Africa Hockey Association Level 2-certified coach, Coetzee-Turner also served as head coach with the Southern Gauteng Hockey Association's U18 team.
Coetzee-Turner was a member of the South Africa national field hockey team from 2008-12, as well as a two-time captain and three-time member of the South African U21 Team. In 2008, she was named University of Johannesburg Sportswoman of the Year. She frequently competes in triathlons and qualified for the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in 2018.
Coetzee-Turner earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sports Psychology from the University of Johannesburg in 2009 and holds a Master's degree in Sports Management from Ulster University at Belfast (2012). She also earned a diploma in Exercise Science from the Health and Fitness Professional Academy (HFPA) in 2013.