University of Delaware Field Hockey Adds Chelsea Cipriani to Staff as Assistant Coach
May 5, 2011
File Photo Courtesy of Longwood College
NEWARK, Del. -- Chelsea Cipriani, a standout player at Wake Forest and most recently an assistant coach at Longwood, has joined the University of Delaware field hockey staff as an assistant coach, new head coach Rolf van de Kerkhof has announced.
Cipriani (at right) joins Van de Kerkhof and assistant coach Laree Beans on the Blue Hen staff. Van de Kerkhof was hired in December after spending the previous 12 seasons at Michigan State, including the last five as head coach.
"Chelsea’s addition to our Blue Hen field hockey coaching staff allows our team and program to have a balanced, experienced, fun, knowledgeable and top-notch staff in place,” said Van de Kerkhof, whose team recently capped off a successful spring practice campaign. “It has been a joy seeing her work and coach with Laree Beans and myself. Her contributions will allow our players to become stronger and smarter field hockey-wise. Chelsea has a real passion for playing and coaching the game of field hockey and a creative ability to find ways to make things happen for the better. She has shown that while at Wake Forest University as a student-athlete and at Longwood University as an assistant coach and I look forward to her contributions to our Blue Hen field hockey program."
A native of West Deptford, N.J., Cipriani earned her degree in communications from Wake Forest University in 2008. While at Wake Forest, she was a standout for the Demon Deacons, serving as a team captain and earning All-South Region honors. She led the squad to four NCAA Tournament appearances, including a national title during her freshman season in 2004, the Atlantic Coast Conference crown in 2006, and the ACC regular season title in 2005.
"I am extremely honored and excited to be a part of Blue Hen field hockey and the Colonial Athletic Association,” said Cipriani. “The balance of the coaching staff along with the will of the team to improve will make each day enjoyable and special. The Blue Hen field hockey family has a lot to look forward to and I am very grateful to be a part of the process."
Cipriani arrives at Delaware after serving the last three seasons as an assistant under head coach Iain Byers at NCAA Division I newcomer Longwood University. Longwood won 28 games over that span, posted a record of 11-7 in NorPac Conference play, and finished third in the league in both 2008 and 2010.
Cipriani was a standout at Wake Forest in 2004-07, leading the Demon Deacons to a four-year record 79-13, the 2004 NCAA title, a national runner-up finish in 2006, and a semifinal berth in 2005. The team won 20 or more games three of her four seasons there and posted an undefeated regular season in 2005.
She played in 74 games and recorded 29 goals during her career, scoring 13 as a junior in 2006 and leading the team with 12 as a senior when she was named to the NFHCA All-South Region team. She was also named the South Jersey Collegiate Field Hockey Player of the Year in 2007.
While at West Deptford High School, Cipriani scored 49 career goals as a two-year captain and four-year starter and was named first team All-South Jersey and the Gloucester County Times Player of the Year as a senior. She also played basketball and was a National Honor Society student.
A member of the USA Olympic Development Program from 2001-03, Cipriani has also worked several camps, including the USA Futures Camp where she was an assistant coach from 2005-08 and a site director and head coach in 2010-11.
She also worked with the Wake Forest Field Hockey Camp (2005-10), University of Maryland Camp (2006-07), Mount Tabor Field Hockey Camp (2005), Indiana University (2008), Appalachian State University (2008), and was camp director at Longwood University (2009-10). She holds a Level 2 coaching certification with USA Field Hockey and served as a National Futures Tournament Under 16 coach in 2010 and as a USA Futures regional selector in 2009-10.
