Aug. 17, 2007

Garden City, N.Y. - Adelphi University is adding field hockey as a club sport this fall with the intention of elevating it to a varsity sport in the fall of 2008. Field hockey will be the 21st sponsored sport by the University.

Adelphi previously sponsored field hockey from 1970 through the mid 1980's. The Panthers made a NCAA tournament appearance in 1981, which was the first year the NCAA hosted a national championship, finishing third. Adelphi also posted an undefeated season (8-0) in 1975.

Athletic Director Robert Hartwell has announced the hiring of Patricia Kennedy as head coach of the field hockey program. Kennedy will assume the task of starting the program from scratch and moving it to the NCAA Division II level.

"I am very excited to have Pat involved in the start of our field hockey program," Hartwell said. "Her experience and knowledge will get this program off to a tremendous start."

Kennedy was the head field hockey coach at Long Island University - C.W. Post from 1975-1980. In her five years the Pioneers set school records for fewest goals allowed in a season (12) and most goals scored in a game (13). Kennedy also served on the NCAA Regional Field Hockey Committee and is a past president of the Long Island Field Hockey Association (LIFHA), which is a chapter of the United States Field Hockey Association (USFHA).

In addition to her coaching experience she has director a field hockey summer camp for the past six years for Garden City and has taught field hockey since 2001 at Hofstra University where she is an Associate Professor of Physical Education.

Kennedy also brings over 30 years of administrative experience to Adelphi, after spending 13 years as LIU-C.W. Post's Women's Athletic Director and the last four years as an Assistant Director of Admissions at the State University of New York, Maritime College.

For more information or if you are interested in Adelphi field hockey should contact coach Kennedy through email at plk11530@aol.com.