HADDONFIELD, N.J. - The Atlantic East Conference is pleased to continue the Alumni Spotlight Series, where it celebrates the remarkable achievements and inspiring journeys of former student-athletes who once proudly represented our member institutions. These individuals have continued in the athletics field, showcasing exceptional dedication, and bringing honor to both their alma maters and the league.
Through hard work, resilience, and the values they cultivated during their time as student-athletes, our featured alumni continue to exemplify the core principles of the Atlantic East. Join us as we highlight their stories, share their accomplishments, and explore how their experiences as student-athletes helped shape their careers and communities.
Name: Julie Trott
Current Organization: Marywood University
Current Role: Assistant Director of Athletics & Recreation and Head Field Hockey Coach
Graduation Year: 2012 (Marywood)
Sport: Women's Field Hockey
Describe your current job and your connection to sports?
My current job at Marywood is the Assistant Director of Athletics & Recreation and Head Field Hockey Coach. In addition to coaching, I serve the department administratively in student-athlete affairs, transportation coordination, and budgetary related areas. Sports have been a huge part of my life ever since I can remember, and is now a part of my everyday life.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
The most rewarding part of my job is being able to work with the Marywood student-athletes, seeing them grow over their four years here into young, successful adults.
Best memory at Marywood?
It is tough to pick my favorite memory here at Marywood as a student-athlete and now as a coach an administrator. As a student-athlete, the team reached the post season for the first time in 10 seasons in 2008 (my freshmen year), and we advanced to the conference semifinal game. That was an incredible first year experience. As a coach, it has been winning three conference champions since 2019, including being back-to-back champions in 2024-2025. Advancing to the NCAA Tournament and representing Marywood at the national level is truly special.
How has mentorship influenced your transition into professional practice?
Mentorship is key in transitioning into a professional role. It is always important to utilize your network to learn and grow. I wouldn't be where I am today without strong mentors.
Can you describe a situation during your transition from college to a professional career where you felt challenged, and how did you handle it?
Transitioning from a student to a coach was very difficult, especially when it's within a close timeframe of when you graduated to when you start your coaching career. When I graduated from Marywood, I went on to earn my masters from Temple, so I was away from Marywood for two years. However, when I began my coaching career as an assistant in 2014, I was only three years older than the seniors on the team. It can be challenging to navigate, but I was fortunate to have mentors along the way to show me what an appropriate coach/student-athlete relationship looks like, and how impactful a coach can be in a student-athlete's life.
What do you look back on most from your time at Marywood?
I look back on the friendships I made here as a student-athlete. Some of my teammates and classmates became my best friends, and still are to this day.
Where do you see yourself in the future?
I see myself continuing to coach and be an administrator here at Marywood. A lot of coaches work a long time to come back to their alma mater to coach, and I am lucky that I began my career here as an assistant in 2014, and had the opportunity to become the head coach in 2019, and then additionally an assistant director of athletics in 2023.
ABOUT ATLANTIC EAST
The Atlantic East Conference is a member of NCAA Division III comprising eight institutions in a four-state area - Gwynedd Mercy, Immaculata, Marywood and Neumann Universities in Pennsylvania; Centenary and Saint Elizabeth Universities in New Jersey, Marymount University in Virginia, and Pratt Institute in New York.
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