Andy Thornton Named Women's Indoor Coach

2010-02-02

CHULA VISTA, CA - USA Field Hockey today announced Andy Thornton has been named Head Coach of the Women's Indoor National Team. Thornton had been serving as Assistant Coach for the team.

"I am excited to take on the role as Head Coach for the Women's Indoor National Team and look forward to the Indoor Pan Am Cup this August in Venezuela," said Thornton. "There is a lot of work to be done between now and the tournament, but I feel that our athletes have the right attitude and mindset to give us every opportunity of winning the Pan Am Cup and subsequently qualifying for the Indoor World Cup in 2011."

Thornton joined the Indoor National Team staff as an assistant coach in 2008. In that capacity, Thornton helped lead the U.S. Women's Team to a silver medal at the Indoor Pan American Cup last November.

Professionally, Andy Thornton has served for six years as an assistant coach with the University at Albany field hockey program. He was named the 2004 Scottish Coach of the Year for youth boys and took Grove Academy High School to their first U-18 national field hockey title in March of 2004. Thornton was also the head coach for the women's field hockey team at Dundee University from 2002-04. In 2003 he was named the Scottish Grass Roots Coach of the Year.

As a player, Thornton was a member of the Menzieshill men's field hockey club, which competes at the top indoor and outdoor level. Thornton won eight national titles and played in eight European Cups, representing Scotland. He played on the Scottish outdoor and indoor senior teams, including U-18, U-19 and U-21 international teams.

Thornton replaces Shawn Hindy, who stepped down as Head Coach.

In addition, Jun Kentwell has accepted the position of Manager for the Women's Indoor National Team.   Jun is an international umpire, having umpired at the World Cup, Junior World Cup, Olympic Qualifying Tournaments, and many other international tournaments. Jun played eight years of international hockey in her native China, and also served as an Under-21 coach for China.

The USA will begin their tournament preparations with a trip the Big Apple Cup in February. The team will participate in the Indoor Pan American Cup in Barquisimeto, Venezuela from August 9 to 15. The Cup champion automatically qualifies for the Indoor World Cup in Poznan, Poland in February 2011.