2011 was the fourth season for Katie Hawke as assistant coach of the Bowdoin women's lacrosse team. The head coach at Springfield College from 2005-08, Hawke led the Pride to a pair of NEWMAC Championships and two NCAA Tournament appearances while twice earning Conference Coach of the Year recognition. Before Springfield, Hawke coached at Mount Holyoke College, where she served as a visiting lecturer in physical education, and assistant women's lacrosse coach and head squash coach.

From 1995 to 1999, she was the head of girl's physical education at the Queensbury School in Bradford, England. In 1999, Hawke came to the United States to pursue a master's of science degree in exercise and sports studies and serve as a graduate teaching fellow at Smith College. She was awarded her master's degree in May of 2001, and went on to hold visiting lecturer and coaching positions at Elms and Mount Holyoke. Hawke graduated with honors with a bachelor of education in physical education from Leeds Metropolitan University in England in May of 1992.