Pallister Named Associate Head Coach

University of Louisville head field hockey coach Justine Sowry has announced that Mike Pallister will join her staff as associate head coach.

"We are thrilled to welcome Mike to our staff as Associate Head Coach," said Sowry. "Mike brings a wealth of experience from some of the top programs in the country as an assistant coach, and more recently as a head coach. His competitive edge, deep tactical knowledge, and commitment to player development and recruiting will be a tremendous asset to our program. Most importantly, he believes in building a strong, values-driven team culture that aligns perfectly with our vision."

Pallister joins the Cardinals following two seasons as head coach at Long Island University. In 2024, he led the Sharks to a 7-10 overall record and their first appearance in the Northeast Conference (NEC) tournament semifinals since 2021. Under his leadership, LIU produced four All-NEC selections.

"I'm grateful for my experience as head coach at LIU, but the chance to join a program like Louisville is something special," said Pallister. "To step into an environment where the standard is already so high, and to work with Justine, Debbie, and Erin—coaches I really respect—is a great opportunity. I was also blown away by how much support there is behind the program, and that's a huge positive. I'm excited to contribute, learn, and be part of a team that's competing for ACC and national success. I'm looking forward to getting started, enjoying the hockey, and diving into recruiting and summer camps as we prepare for the 2025 season."

Prior to his time at LIU, Pallister served as an assistant coach at Syracuse University from 2021 to 2022. During his tenure, the Orange made back-to-back NCAA Elite Eight appearances and produced nine All-ACC and seven All-American honorees.

From 2011 to 2018, Pallister was an assistant coach at Princeton University. In that span, the Tigers earned eight consecutive NCAA tournament bids, including three Final Four appearances and a national championship in 2012. That title-winning season saw the team go 21-1. He coached seven Olympians, 24 Junior National Team members, and 17 NCAA All-Americans during his time in New Jersey.

Pallister began his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, where he spent three seasons while earning his MBA.

Alongside his collegiate experience, Pallister has made a significant impact at the club level. He served as technical director and high-performance coach for AG Hockey Club from 2019–2021, helping guide teams to silver and bronze finishes at the Club National Championships. During his tenure, AG was ranked the No. 2 club in the nation and the top club in the Northeast.

He was also the technical director and head coach for all age groups at Princeton Field Hockey Club from 2013–2018, returning to the role from 2021–2022. In 2016, he led PFHC to a landmark 2-1 win over WC Eagles in the U19 Club National Championship, ending their eight-year championship streak.

A native of Canberra, Australia, Pallister represented the Australian Capital Territory at the National Championships and competed in the Men's State League One for St. Patrick's Hockey Club.

He holds a finance and accounting degree from Australian National University (2004) and an MBA from UMass-Dartmouth (2010). Pallister is a USA Field Hockey Level 3 accredited coach with FIH recommendation and is a Level 2 accredited coach educator with more than 30 years of playing experience.

University of Louisville Athletics

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