Madeline Buckley

Madeline Buckley became the head women's soccer coach at Macalester in January of 2022. Buckley comes to Macalester after serving as the top assistant at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine for the past three seasons.

“I am thrilled to be joining the Macalester community and to lead the women's soccer program,” Buckley said. “Macalester has a rich history in women’s soccer and I am excited to build on that history by contending for the MIAC title and returning to the NCAA Tournament. I am grateful to Donnie Brooks for his partnership and for all those I have met, especially the student-athletes and those who have already reached out and welcomed me. I already feel a part of the Macalester community and look forward to connecting with the alumni, family, and friends of Scots women's soccer.”

While at Bowdoin, Buckley was the Polar Bears’ lead recruiter, successfully bringing in student-athletes from several states across the country. She worked closely with head coach Brianne Smithson to create practice plans, develop strategy and evaluate players. This past fall, Buckley mentored three players who received All-Region honors, one of whom was also named a Scholar All-American, as the Polar Bears finished with a record of 8-7-1. In addition to her duties as assistant coach, she was an assistant strength and conditioning coach for the Bowdoin athletic department.

“Maddy will be greatly missed within our community at Bowdoin as she has been deeply immersed not only in our women’s soccer program, but across all aspects of our athletic department and campus community,” Bowdoin Director of Athletics Tim Ryan said. “I am excited for Maddy to have the opportunity to pursue her passion for soccer and the holistic development of student-athletes at Macalester and look forward to following her success both on and off the field.”

Prior to coaching at Bowdoin, Buckley spent two seasons at fellow NESCAC school Tufts University in Medford, Mass., helping to lead the Jumbos to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in 2017 and 2018. She began her coaching career at Wheelock College as the top assistant for two seasons.

As a player, Buckley had a decorated career at William Smith College in Geneva, N.Y., earning All-American honors as a senior. As a junior in 2013, she helped the Herons win the NCAA Division III national championship, leading the team in scoring and tallying the game-winning goal in the championship game. Buckley finished her career with 33 goals and 17 assists for 83 points, which ranked 10th at William Smith at the conclusion of her career. Also a Scholar All-American, she received in 2015 the prestigious Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup, which recognizes one college and one professional athlete nationally who best display character, teamwork and citizenship.

“We are thrilled to bring in a coach as bright and determined as Maddy,” Brooks said. “Krystle [Seidel] did a great job in building the roster into a competitive force in the MIAC, and we are confident that Maddy has the vision, the training and the fire to take our women’s soccer program to the next level.”

A native of Wilmington, Del., Buckley graduated from William Smith in 2015 with a Bachelor’s degree in Critical Social Studies and Education. She also earned a Master of Science degree from Wheelock in Child Life and Family Studies in 2016.