Reading, Pa. - Alvernia University announced today that Laura Gingrich has been named Head Field Hockey Coach. Gingrich, who will remain as Associate Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator, returns to the take over the program she guided from 1999-2007. She replaces Nicole Rhoads, who after two years at the helm will take the head coach position at her alma mater, Bloomsburg University.
“We are very fortunate to have a coach of Laura’s caliber already on staff,” said Alvernia Director of Athletics Bill Stiles. “She has 106 wins, two conference championships, a conference Coach of the Year Award, an ECAC Championship final appearance, and three NCAA tournament appearances under her belt.” He added, “she has been successful in each of her roles at the University and I have no doubt that will continue as she takes over the field hockey program.”
Gingrich, the winningest coach in program history, holds a 106-72 record including a 73-18 record from 2003-2007. During that span she coached four straight PAC Players of the Year and two conference Rookies of the Year.
Gingrich took the field hockey team from a roster that struggled to meet the minimums to a perennial invitee to the NCAA National Championship. Gingrich claimed her first PAC title in 2005, and a year later was named PAC Coach of the Year as she led the Crusaders to their second PAC Final appearance in as many years, and second straight trip to the NCAA tournament. Alvernia finished with an impressive 18-5 (10-1 PAC) record in 2006. The 2006 season also produced the third of four straight PAC Players of the Year for Alvernia, three NFHCA All-Region Team selections and two NFHCA All-American selections. In 2007, the team produced a perfect 10-0 record in conference, the second PAC title for Gingrich, a top 20 national ranking and another appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
Since leaving the field hockey program, Gingrich has served Alvernia successfully as Interim Director of Athletics from 2007-09, where she managed the University’s transition from the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference to the Freedom Conference and oversaw the completion of new baseball, softball, and artificial turf and track facilities. Most recently, she served as the first Head Track & Field Coach in Alvernia history. Her inaugural team produced four individual winners, an individual MAC champion, and a ninth-place finish for the Crusader men at the MAC Indoor Track & Field Championships.