US Field Hockey News

USA Field Hockey Coach Anders to Return to Old Dominion

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Field Hockey women’s national coach Beth Anders has resigned in order to resume her coaching duties at Old Dominion University.

“All of us in USA Field Hockey are grateful to Beth Anders for stepping in with our Women’s National Team at a very difficult and critical time,” said USA Field Hockey President Sharon Taylor.  “She and her staff did an excellent job with the team over the last year, and they leave the program poised for greater things in the next quad.”

Named the USA women’s head coach in the spring of 2003, Anders was granted a leave of absence from Old Dominion to accept the USA coaching assignment and help the USA team in its preparations for the 2004 Olympic Qualifying Tournament. The USA narrowly missed qualifying for the Olympic Games with a sixth place finish at the Qualifier.

“Beth’s decision to return to Old Dominion University had to be a difficult one, but reflects her loyalty and commitment to that outstanding program,” added Taylor. “I have expressed our thanks to (ODU Athletic Director) Jim Jarrett and (ODU Senior Assoc. Athletic Director) Mikki Baile for their support of both Beth and USA Field Hockey in the arrangement which allowed her to work for us over the last year.  We wish all of them well.”

Anders coached the USA to a silver medal performance at the 2003 Pan American Games and an additional silver medal at the 2004 Pan American Cup. In resuming her duties at Old Dominion, Anders returns to a Lady Monarch team she has led to a 430-64-7 record and nine national championships.

USA assistant women’s national team coach Nick Conway will serve as the acting coach of the USA team when the squad resumes its residency program in Virginia Beach, Va. in early June.

Conway is the former associate head coach at the Univ. of North Carolina and has served as the USA team’s full-time assistant coach since the spring of 2003.

“We are indebted to Beth for all of her contributions to the team over the past year,” said USA Field Hockey Executive Director Sheila Walker, “She has positioned the team well for the future, and we are confident in our players to continue to grow and flourish as we look forward to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and beyond.”

USA Field Hockey is expected to begin a search for a world class head coach following the association’s board meeting in June.

USA Field Hockey is the National Governing Body for the sport of Field Hockey in the United States as recognized by the United States Olympic Committee, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC). As such, USA Field Hockey is responsible for the training and selection of athletes for international competition as well as the promotion and development of the game of field hockey in the United States.

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