Coaching Staff
Andrea Shaner - Club Founder / President, Middle & Elementary School Coach
Andrea Shaner is an East Coast native, born and raised in Frederick County, MD (north of Washington, D.C.) As a result, sports like field hockey and lacrosse that might be "weird" for Michiganders are second nature to her. Andrea was a letter-winner in both sports at Urbana High School, and was also a swimmer. Andrea is a member coach of USA Field Hockey and the National Field Hockey Coaches Association. In 2013, she was one of eight nominees for the NFHCA's Midwest Region High School Coach of the Year. Andrea possesses a USA Field Hockey Level 2 coaching certification. Andrea stepped down from the varsity head coaching position at the end of a 2020 season in which she marked the club's 100th win.
Gabi Coty - Varsity Head Coach
Gabi Coty, who returned to the Grand Rapids area in 2018 after playing field hockey at Ohio Wesleyan University, took over the head coaching position at the start of 2021. Coty graduated from Forest Hills Northern in 2014 after playing four years in the Forest Hills Field Hockey program. Gabi was one of the senior captains on the 2013 team that made a surprise run to the Division 2 state championship game. That season, Coty was named to both the Academic All-State team and the NFHCA National All-Academic Squad. The 2013 team also won silver medals at both the State Games of Michigan and State Games of America tournaments. At Ohio Wesleyan, Coty earned all-conference honors as a freshman defender, leading the league in defensive saves in 2014. After receiving her degree in Elementary Education, Gabi began teaching and led the Forest Hills Field Hockey middle school program. She then worked as an assistant for the varsity team in 2019 and 2020. Currently Gabi serves as secretary of the MHSFHCA and vice president of Forest Hills Field Hockey Board.
Meg Brownley - Varsity Assistant
Megan Brownley played field hockey for four years in the Forest Hills Field Hockey program from 2010 to 2013. Alongside Coach Gabi, Meg was one of the senior captions who helped bring the team to the State championship Game in 2013. She was named an All-State field hockey player in 2012 and 2013. Meg went to Saint Mary's College in South Bend, Indiana and continued to play club field hockey at the University of Notre Dame. She received a Marketing and Communications degree from Saint Mary's College in 2018 and currently works as a Senior Content Marketing Specialist at a fintech organization called HealthBridge in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Coach Meg has a deep love for the sport of field hockey and enjoys connecting with players, teaching new skills, and creating a positive and fun experience for players on the team.
Lauren Daugherty - Middle & Elementary School Assistant
Lauren Daugherty played three years in the Forest Hills Field Hockey program during her time at Forest Hills Central high school back in 2011-2014. Lauren was also part of the 2013 state finalist team. Born and raised in Grand Rapids, Lauren returned home to Ada for a role at Amway after receiving her degree in Nutritional Sciences from Michigan State University in 2019. With her passion for working with kids and improving and instilling confidence in their abilities, she was thrilled to reconnect with the sport and program in 2021 as an assistant coach for the Elementary and Middle School programs aside Coach Andrea.