Poughkeepsie, NY – Vassar College Director of Athletics and Physical Education Michelle Walsh has announced the appointment of Madeline Buckley to the position of Head Women's Soccer Coach. Buckley comes to Vassar following four years as the Head Coach at Macalester College and a successful playing career at Liberty League rival William Smith.
 
"Throughout the interview process, Coach Buckley demonstrated an unwavering commitment to providing a student-athlete experience that centers student development and growth within a competitive, inclusive team environment.  I'm confident that Maddy's experiences as both a coach and a student-athlete at the highest levels within Division III will allow her to build upon our recent successes in the Liberty League and further escalate the program to national prominence," stated Walsh.
 
Buckley joins the Brewers with a wealth of playing and coaching experience at the Division III level. Most recently, Buckley led the Women's program at Macalester for four seasons where she rebuilt the program with a nationwide recruiting effort that saw the roster grow to 35 student-athletes.
 
 In four seasons under Buckley, the Scots earned a berth into the MIAC Tournament on three occasions, including back-to-back appearances in 2022 and 2023, the first time in a decade the Scots had made the post season in consecutive seasons. 
 
In addition to on field responsibilities, Buckley led a national recruiting effort, built team culture from the ground up and headlined the program's alumnae and family engagement efforts.
 
Said Buckley upon the appointment, "I am thrilled to join the Vassar Athletic Department and the broader Vassar community. The opportunity to coach at Vassar, where outstanding academics and highly competitive athletics thrive together, is consistent with my coaching career and my personal values. I am eager to build on the success that Keith Simons and his staff brought to Vassar Women's Soccer, and I look forward to meeting our team and planning our pre-season. I am grateful for the confidence Michelle Walsh and the search committee have expressed in me. I am excited to return to the Liberty League and proudly wear the burgundy and gray of the Brewers."
 
Prior to taking the head coaching position with the Scots, Buckley served as an assistant coach in the NESCAC, serving as an assistant coach at Bowdoin for three seasons and an assistant coach at Tufts for two seasons prior to that. Buckley started her coaching career at Wheelock College following graduation from William Smith.
 
As a player, Buckley was a standout at William Smith, earning Liberty League Player of the Year honors in 2014 and Liberty League Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2015. Buckley was an NCAA Woman of the Year Top-30 Finalist, a NSCAA All-American and captained the Herons to the Division III National Championship in 2013. Buckley's resume also includes the Coach Wooden Citizen Cup awarded by Athletes for a Better World to one collegiate athlete, all divisions, all sports, for athletic performance, leadership and community service.
 
Buckley, who holds a USSF National 'D' license, graduated from William Smith with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Critical Social Studies in 2015 and completed her Master of Science in Child Life and Family Studies at Wheelock in 2016.