Erin McCrudden’s Redwood Grant Journey
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO — When Erin McCrudden launched Louisville Magic Field Hockey Club in 2024, the vision was clear: create access, build community, and provide a meaningful athlete experience for players who might not otherwise find their way into the sport. As McCrudden’s journey as the 2025 Redwood Grant recipient comes to a close, the impact of the grant is evident not just in numbers, but in the lives and opportunities it helped shape.
Turning Vision Into Access
The Redwood Grant, an NFHCA initiative designed to support entrepreneurial coaches, provides funding and mentorship to help leaders grow the game in new and meaningful ways.
For McCrudden, that meant expanding access to field hockey in the Louisville, Kentucky area—particularly within public school systems where exposure to the sport has historically been limited.
Her path to this work reflects a steady commitment to the game. Following her playing career at the University of Louisville, McCrudden joined the Cards coaching staff in 2019 as a volunteer assistant, contributing to a program that advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight for the first time in school history. She later served as an assistant coach at Brown University beginning in 2020, continuing to develop her coaching voice at the collegiate level.
In 2024, she founded Louisville Magic Field Hockey Club with a focus on creating a premier athlete experience and expanding access to the sport. The program has quickly become a leader in its region, offering clinics, competitive teams, and development opportunities. It is also the first program in Kentucky to introduce the sport to athletes ages 3–8 and the first to provide adaptive field hockey opportunities for individuals with a range of disabilities.
Recently, McCrudden took the next step in her coaching journey, accepting the head coaching position at Transylvania University—a role that reflects both her growth as a leader and the momentum behind her work.
Over the past year, that work translated into tangible growth.
Louisville Magic saw its spring club enrollment increase by more than 65 percent, driven largely by athletes who were new to the sport rather than those transitioning from other programs. That distinction matters. It reflects expansion through new players and new entry points into field hockey.
“We’ve been able to expand free and low-cost opportunities to get more individuals involved in our sport,” McCrudden shared. “That growth has helped create more consistent engagement and has strengthened the overall program.”
The Redwood Grant is made possible entirely through the generosity of NFHCA donors, and contributions are collected year-round to continue supporting ambitious coaches like McCrudden.
Building More Than a Roster
The growth extended beyond participation numbers.
Through the support of the Redwood Grant and its mentorship network, McCrudden recruited and developed four new coaches—each entering with little to no prior coaching experience. With guidance, shared resources, and hands-on learning, those coaches quickly became integral to the program’s expansion.
At the same time, Louisville Magic reached a meaningful milestone: its first senior committed to play field hockey at the collegiate level.
“That achievement has helped inspire younger players in our club,” McCrudden noted. “We’re now seeing more athletes begin to consider and pursue opportunities to continue playing.”
The result is something more sustainable than a single season of growth. It is the beginning of a pathway.
The Power of Mentorship
At the center of the Redwood Grant experience is mentorship, and for McCrudden, that proved to be transformational.
Paired with Ainslee Lamb, founder and CEO of Performance Sports Events and a longtime field hockey coach, McCrudden gained access not only to guidance, but to a broader network of leaders across the sport.
“The opportunity to connect with Ainslee and all of the incredible people she introduced me to has had a huge impact on my personal growth and on moving our club forward,” McCrudden said. “Being able to learn from people who have done, or are currently doing, similar work is something I continue to reflect on in my day-to-day.”
Those connections extended beyond a single mentor. Conversations with coaches and leaders across the NFHCA community challenged her thinking, sharpened her approach, and ultimately improved the experience Louisville Magic provides to its athletes and families.
“The willingness of others to share ideas, knowledge, and connections made a significant difference,” she added.
The NFHCA extends its gratitude to Lamb for her leadership, mentorship, and continued investment in growing the game. Her role in guiding Redwood Grant recipients reflects the very best of what this community represents—experienced leaders helping the next generation move forward.
Creating Momentum That Lasts
The Redwood Grant also provided McCrudden with opportunities to attend national events and engage more deeply with the broader field hockey landscape. Those experiences brought new insights, ideas, and strategies back to Louisville, many of which were implemented directly within the club.
Equally important was the flexibility the grant funding provided.
“The funding allowed us to be creative in offering free or low-cost opportunities without being as consumed by covering overhead costs as a newer program,” McCrudden said. “That flexibility helped us focus more on growing the game and creating positive experiences for players and families.”
In many ways, that balance between sustainability and accessibility is where real growth happens.
A Model for What’s Possible
McCrudden’s journey reflects the purpose of the Redwood Grant: to support coaches who are not only building programs, but expanding the reach and future of the sport.
Her work in Louisville demonstrates what is possible when vision, mentorship, and resources come together with intention.
It also reinforces a broader truth.
The game grows because people choose to invest in it.
Looking Ahead
As the 2025 Redwood Grant cycle concludes, the NFHCA looks ahead to the next group of coaches ready to take that step.
Applications for the 2026 Redwood Grant close on April 1, 2026.
For coaches with an idea, a vision, or a desire to create more access and opportunity within their communities, the Redwood Grant offers a pathway to turn that into action.
Supporting the Redwood Grant
The Redwood Grant is made possible through the generous support of donors and contributors who believe in the future of field hockey and the coaches who are building it.
Every contribution helps provide:
- Funding for program growth
- Access to mentorship and leadership development
- Opportunities to expand the game into new communities
To support the Redwood Grant and help grow the game, consider making a donation here.
A Year of Impact
For McCrudden, the impact of the past year is both professional and personal.
“Connecting with trailblazers in this space has been the most meaningful part of the experience,” she reflected. “The ability to learn from and share ideas with others who are doing similar work continues to influence how we grow and shape our program.”
That influence will extend well beyond the grant period.
Because when access expands, when coaches are developed, and when new athletes find the game, the impact does not end—it multiplies.
And that is how the game moves forward.
Learn more about the Redwood Grant and apply by April 1.
Support the future of the game by donating to the NFHCA Redwood Grant fund.
