Haley Buffenbarger is an assistant coach for the University of Vermont field hockey program in Burlington, Vermont, and joined the staff in the summer of 2024 after completing a five-year playing career with the Catamounts. In her first season on the bench, Vermont won the America East championship for the first time and reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. The team finished tied for eighth nationally with eight shutouts and ranked 24th in save percentage, while goalkeeper Merle Vaandrager led the conference in goals-against average, shutouts, and save percentage and later earned America East All-Tournament Team and All-Rookie Team recognition.
In 2025, Buffenbarger worked extensively with Vermont's goalkeepers as the Catamounts captured their first regular-season conference title, advanced to a second straight America East Championship game, and hosted the league playoffs for the first time in program history. Vermont ranked 17th in the nation in shutouts per game, and Vaandrager finished first in the conference in goals-against average, added four shutouts, ranked second in save percentage, and was named America East Goalkeeper of the Year and an All-Conference First Team selection. After the season, Buffenbarger, head coach Devin Pfeifer, and assistant coach McClendon were recognized as the America East Coaching Staff of the Year.
