FREDERICK, Md. (Field Hockey) -  Hood College has named Carley Shannon as the Blazers' field hockey head coach, Director of Athletics Dr. Susan Kolb announced.  

"It is truly an honor and a privilege to be named the head coach field hockey at Hood College," said Shannon. "I am very excited to start this journey and want to thank Dr. Susan Kolb, Director of Athletics, for this opportunity. I am thrilled to work with such a great group of student-athletes and to contribute to an amazing athletic department. I am eager to work alongside current and future Blazers to develop the field hockey program and build a winning culture." 

Shannon comes to Hood after spending the past two years as a volunteer coach at Division I Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, her alma mater. In 2019, the Cardinals posted a three-win overall improvement over the previous season and had their best Mid-American Conference record since 2016. The team's four shutouts were the most at Ball State since the 2004 season. The 2019 team had 16 student-athletes on the Zag Field Hockey/NFHCA Division III National Academic Squad and three NFHCA Scholars of Distinction. 

"Carley rose to the top through the interview process because of her ability to articulate a vision for the field hockey program at Hood College that would encompass athletic, academic and personal success for the team," said Kolb. "Carley understands the expectations set for the field hockey program and I am looking forward to seeing her make an immediate impact on our program." 

She has additional coaching experience with the USA Field Hockey Futures program in Region 9. Shannon, a native of Williamsburg, Virginia, has worked numerous camps in the Mid-Atlantic region, including the High Intensity Training Camp (Manheim, Pennsylvania), Focus College Select Camp (Richmond, Virginia) and the Georgetown Camp (Washington, D.C.). 

Shannon earned All-Mid-American Conference Second Team at midfielder as a senior after leading the Cardinals in points. She was a standout in the classroom, as well, where she earned Academic All-Mid-American Conference honors and National Scholar of Distinction from the NFHCA. 

Shannon graduated from Ball State in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science degree in exercise science and a minor in coaching. She earned her Master of Science degree in exercise physiology from BSU in 2020.