The field hockey community is mourning the passing of Lauren Burke Smith, a longtime member of the sport whose career touched athletes, coaches, programs, and colleagues at several prominent universities.
USA Field Hockey shared news of Lauren’s passing, expressing deep sadness over the loss of a respected member of the field hockey community. Her career included roles as an assistant coach at Sacred Heart University and Rutgers University, director of operations with Penn State field hockey, and a student-athlete at the University of Vermont.
Her death has prompted an outpouring of remembrance from people across the field hockey community who knew her through her playing career, coaching work, and years of service to the sport.
Lauren Burke Smith’s Field Hockey Career
Lauren Burke was a four-year letterwinner at the University of Vermont, graduating in 2009. During her time with the Catamounts, she established herself as an important member of the program and was named a team captain as a senior in 2008.
Vermont records also show that Burke was selected to the 2006 America East All-Tournament Team. She earned America East Academic Honor Roll recognition from 2006 through 2009, combining her athletic career with academic achievement.
Her playing career included substantial time on the field. In the 2007 season, for example, Burke appeared in all 19 games for Vermont, starting 13, and recorded two assists.
The experience she gained as a student-athlete eventually became the foundation for a coaching career that took her to multiple programs.
Coaching Career at Sacred Heart and Rutgers
After completing her undergraduate career at Vermont, Burke moved into coaching.
Rutgers University records state that she spent the 2012 and 2013 seasons as an assistant coach at Sacred Heart University. During her time with the Pioneers, she worked in several areas of the program, including defensive strategy, recruiting, operations, practice planning, tactical and technical development, and game-day responsibilities.
Burke subsequently joined the Rutgers field hockey staff. Rutgers records identify her as an assistant coach and note that she was involved with recruiting as well as other aspects of the program. She was part of the Scarlet Knights' coaching staff during the mid-2010s.
Her coaching career also included earlier work at Robert Morris University, where she served as a graduate assistant in 2011. She had previously taken on a head coaching role with Somers High School's varsity field hockey program and coached with the Venom Field Hockey Club in Pennsylvania.
Connection to USA Field Hockey
Lauren's involvement in field hockey extended beyond college programs.
According to her Rutgers biography, she had served as a United States Field Hockey Association Futures Coach beginning in 2007, working with Level 1, U19, and U16 programs. She also held Level 2 accreditation and participated in regional player-selection activities.
Those experiences placed her in a position to work with developing athletes and contribute to the sport beyond a single university program.
Penn State Field Hockey
Lauren later became associated with Penn State field hockey as the team's director of operations.
A Penn State Athletics biography for her husband, Stuart Smith, identifies Lauren Burke (Smith) as the team's director of operations and records that the couple married in December 2018 and lived in State College.
Her role at Penn State represented another chapter in a career centered on supporting student-athletes and the daily operation of a high-level field hockey program.
Remembering Lauren Burke Smith
For those who knew Lauren through field hockey, her legacy extends across multiple generations of the sport.
She experienced the game as a college athlete, later became a coach, worked with developing players, contributed to collegiate programs, and eventually served in an operations role at Penn State.
USA Field Hockey's message of remembrance extended condolences to Lauren's family, friends, teammates, former players, colleagues, and everyone who had the opportunity to know her.
The organization described her as a longtime member of the field hockey community, reflecting the breadth of her involvement in the sport.
Tributes From the Field Hockey Community
News of Lauren's passing has resonated particularly strongly among people who shared the field hockey community with her throughout different stages of her life.
Former teammates could remember her from her years at Vermont, while athletes and colleagues from Sacred Heart, Rutgers, Penn State, USA Field Hockey, and other parts of the sport knew her through her coaching and professional work.
Her career illustrates the many ways a person can contribute to field hockey beyond playing the game—from developing young athletes and helping organize programs to supporting coaches, recruiting efforts, tactical preparation, and day-to-day team operations.
Cause of Death and Funeral Arrangements
At this time, a reliable public source confirming Lauren Burke Smith's cause of death was not located.
Likewise, specific information concerning funeral services, memorial arrangements, or other private family arrangements should be treated as unconfirmed unless released by her family or an official organization.
This article therefore does not speculate about the circumstances of her passing.
A Lasting Legacy
Lauren Burke Smith leaves behind a legacy connected to generations of field hockey players and coaches.
From her days as a Vermont student-athlete to her work at Sacred Heart and Rutgers and later her role with Penn State, her professional life remained closely tied to the sport she had spent years playing and supporting.
Her contributions were not limited to statistics or wins and losses. Much of her work involved the people and organizational efforts behind successful field hockey programs—recruiting, preparation, development, operations, and supporting athletes.
As the field hockey community remembers Lauren, condolences go to her family, friends, former teammates, former players, coaches, and colleagues.
May Lauren Burke Smith be remembered for the time, dedication, and care she gave to the field hockey community throughout her life.
Rest in peace, Lauren Burke Smith. Your legacy in field hockey will be remembered.
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