Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Alexa Carlson enters her second season with the WPI field hockey coaching staff in 2025.

Carlson brings over a decade of collegiate coaching experience to the Engineers, having served in various roles at Worcester State, Elms College, and within club programs. Prior to joining WPI, she was the head coach at Worcester State from 2016–2021, where she led the program to unprecedented success, including the 2019 Little East Conference Championship — the first in school history. A three-time LEC Coach of the Year, Carlson guided the Lancers to 60 wins over five seasons and mentored numerous all-conference and academic honorees.

She returned to Worcester State as an assistant coach in 2021, helping guide the program to another LEC semifinal appearance while also serving as a mentor to the first-year head coach. Her previous stops include assistant coaching roles at Elms College and Cape Ann Field Hockey Club, where she helped develop youth athletes and contributed to player development, recruiting, and video analysis.

In addition to her coaching background, Carlson is a seasoned educator. From 2014 to 2020, she taught physical education at both the Shaker Lane and Russell Street Elementary Schools in Littleton, MA, designing curriculum for students in grades K–5 and serving on multiple school-wide behavior and wellness committees. She also taught at the collegiate level as an adjunct professor in motor learning at Springfield College.

A four-year letter winner at Springfield College, Carlson helped lead the Pride to the 2008 NEWMAC Championship and a pair of conference finals appearances. She graduated in 2012 and began her professional career shortly thereafter in both coaching and athletic administration.

Carlson holds a Master of Education in Physical Education with a concentration in Athletic Administration from Springfield College, where she graduated with a 3.9 GPA in 2014. She also earned her Bachelor of Science in Movement and Sport Studies with a minor in Health Studies from Springfield in 2012.