Maddie Gaffney was named an assistant coach in July of 2019 and promoted to associate head coach in February of 2022. She enters her fourth season with the Coyotes in 2022.
In 2021, Gaffney helped the Coyotes to the most wins since the program transitioned to Division I with a 10-4-4 record and a spot in the Summit League tournament for the second straight season. South Dakota set numerous records on the pitch in 2021 including shot percentage (14.3) and shots on goal average (10.1). USD also limited opponents to a 5.2 shot percentage and recorded 10 shutouts on the season.
Gaffney coached five all-Summit selections in 2021 in Alexis Mitchell (1st team), Jordan Centineo (2nd team), Abby Ostrem (2nd team), and Emma Harkleroad (2nd team). Mitchell (2nd team) and Ravelo (3rd team) also were selected to the United Soccer Coaches All-West Region team. Mitchell was named Summit League Player of the Week (09/20) while Harkleroad was named Summit League Defensive Player of the Week twice (09/07 and 10/18).
In her second season with the Coyotes, Gaffney helped USD to a 9-7-1 record and a spot in the Summit League Tournament for only the second time since joining the conference. The Yotes set several team and individual records over the course of the unusual season including longest win streak in the Division I era at six games. USD recorded 2.1 goals per game which led the Summit League and recorded 35 goals on the season which finished 15th in the nation.
Individually, Gaffney helped coached four players to All-Summit League honors in Alexis Mitchell (1st), Harkleroad (2nd), Taylor Cotter (2nd) and Taylor Ravelo (2nd). Mitchell was also named a Summit League Offensive Player of the Week (April 12) and named to the United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-West Region team. Harkleroad also earned Summit League Defensive Player of the Week (April 5). Cotter not only moved up in the Coyote record books but also finished 13th in the nation last season with eight assists on the season. She now is tied for second all-time in a season at USD with those eight assists.
In her first season with the program, Gaffney helped coach Alexis Mitchell to second-team all-Summit League and third-team all-West Region honors, the second straight Coyote to earn the award. Mitchell also earned Summit League Offensive Player of the Week honors (Sept. 23) and was named Summit League Player to Watch.
She also helped coach Kellee Willer to first-team all-Summit League honors, the second straight Coyote to earn the honor. Abby Ostrem earned second-team all-Summit League while freshman Lexie Wood was named to the all-Freshman Team.
She spent the 2018 season as the assistant coach at Bethel University, helping lead the defensive unit to its best season in program history. The Royals matched their best win total in program history with 13 victories with eight wins coming in shutout fashion. The five shutouts in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action set a program record during league play.
She coached three all-region performers and the program’s first All-American in her season with Bethel.
Gaffney played collegiately at Minnesota, making 64 starts in 74 games played. As a defender, she tallied four goals and added seven assists. Three of her goals were marked as the game-winner. She is a third-team all-Big Ten honoree and earned NSCAA Scholar All-Region accolades.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from Minnesota in May of 2018.
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