Jill Dixon is a Michigan native, Ann Arbor Pioneer alumna, educator, coach, and lifelong advocate for the growth of field hockey. After beginning her playing career in Ann Arbor, Dixon traveled east to Randolph-Macon College, where she was a four-year starter in field hockey and a two-sport standout. She earned three All-Old Dominion Athletic Conference honors and graduated with degrees in Biology and Mathematics. She later earned a master’s degree in Sport Leadership from Wesley College.
Dixon’s collegiate coaching career has included positions at Smith College, Oberlin College, Wesley College, The College of Wooster, and Central Michigan University. She has also been deeply involved with USA Field Hockey since 2012 and has served as a Nexus coach, selector, and Regional Manager until 2026. Her experience spans player development, recruiting, leadership, and collegiate athletics at multiple levels. Her work with developing athletes has given her a broad understanding of the opportunities and pathways available to young players.
At Live Oak, Dixon brings extensive experience in player development, recruiting, and athlete mentorship. She is passionate about creating meaningful opportunities for players to challenge themselves, build confidence, and discover their potential. Her vision for Live Oak is rooted in developing not only skilled field hockey players, but resilient, confident people who remain connected to the sport throughout their lives.
Amy Kilgore has been part of the Michigan field hockey community since discovering the sport at a young age. A former University of Michigan goalkeeper, Kilgore was an NCAA Regional All-American, Michigan’s M-Women’s Female Athlete of the Year, and a member of Michigan’s 1997 Big Ten Championship team.
After earning her degree in Education, Amy returned to Ann Arbor Pioneer to coach and began a career in education. She later earned a master’s degree in Counseling from Eastern Michigan University and became a school counselor with Novi Community Schools. In 2008, she founded Novi High School’s first varsity field hockey program, where she continues to coach.
Kilgore and her husband, Kevin, founded Live Oak in 2017 to create opportunities for young athletes to learn, develop, and pursue field hockey beyond high school. Her background as an educator, counselor, coach, and former collegiate athlete shapes a whole-person approach to coaching. Kilgore is passionate about mentoring young people and believes field hockey can build confidence, resilience, accountability, and community. At Live Oak, she remains committed to developing strong players while helping young people discover the joy, relationships, and lifelong opportunities the sport can provide.
For Thiemo Taurit, field hockey has been a lifelong passion, and wherever he has lived, he has found a way to grow the game. Taurit began playing in Germany at the age of five with LBV Phönix Lübeck. By 15, he was refereeing, and at 17 he became a head coach for the club’s U14 team. He continued playing while coaching youth athletes and helping organize youth events.
While studying Business Administration in Nuremberg, Taurit coached U10 and U12 players at Nürnberger Hockey- und Tennis-Club and refereed in German competition. When his family later returned to Coburg, Bavaria, he helped establish a field hockey program at Sportvereinigung Ahorn when none existed so his daughters could play.
In 2018, Taurit’s career brought his family to Michigan, where he found a new field hockey home with Live Oak. He has coached with the club since 2019 and also coaches at Novi Middle School. He brings an international perspective to Live Oak and the experience of seeing the game as a player, coach, referee, organizer, and program builder. Most importantly, he believes in creating opportunities for athletes to discover the game, develop confidence, and become part of a field hockey community that extends well beyond the playing field.
Zahraa Chamas brings the perspective of a standout player, captain, and coach, along with a personal connection, to Live Oak. A standout at Edsel Ford High School, Chamas served as team captain during her junior and senior seasons and earned All-State honors in both years. She continued her playing career with Live Oak, anchoring the defensive unit of the club’s travel team.
Since completing her playing career, Chamas has continued to grow as a coach. She began coaching at Academy of the Sacred Heart Middle School and now leads the Plymouth-Canton Educational Park varsity program. She also holds USA Field Hockey Level 1 and Level 2 coaching certifications.
Chamas believes effective coaching is about more than teaching skills and tactics. She works to create an environment where athletes are challenged to improve while feeling supported and confident enough to take risks, make mistakes, and learn.
As a former Live Oak athlete, Chamas understands the club from the player’s perspective and now has the opportunity to give that experience back to the next generation. She is passionate about helping athletes build strong fundamentals, communication, confidence, and character while developing a lasting love for the game.
Brooke Stephenson brings a player’s perspective, a passion for field hockey, and a genuine desire to help young athletes grow in both skill and confidence. A standout at Salem High School, Stephenson was a three-year varsity starter and captain who led her team as a defender.
Stephenson continued her development through club field hockey with Live Oak, gaining firsthand experience with the commitment, teamwork, and opportunities that come from playing beyond the high school season. Her experience as both a high school and club athlete gives her an understanding of the challenges young players face as they develop their skills and find their place within a team.
Stephenson’s approach to coaching is shaped by the lessons she learned as a player: hard work, coachability, communication, perseverance, and the importance of being a supportive teammate. She especially enjoys working with developing athletes, helping them establish strong fundamentals while gaining the confidence to compete, communicate, and contribute. She now has the opportunity to help create that experience for the next generation.
