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U.S. Field Hockey Restructures Events, High Performance Divisions

Colorado Springs, Colo. (10/31/02)- The United States Field Hockey Association has restructured its events and high performance staff in anticipation of a full schedule of events in 2003.

      The restructuring includes the division of duties in U.S. Field Hockey’s high performance programs. Current high performance head Ashley Collier will remain as director of men’s high performance while gaining additional duties as assistant director of events. In addition, former assistant director Kate Roberts will now oversee the women’s program as director of women’s high performance.

      The position of high performance manager will also be restructured and relocated to Virginia Beach, Va.; the residency home of the U.S. women’s team and site of the U.S. Field Hockey National Training Center. A search will be conducted for the manager position with an expected starting date set for mid-January.

     “The changes are a result of our commitment to our strategic plan and the continuing growth of U.S. Field Hockey,” said Executive Director Amy Frankenstein. “We are very excited about our events and high performance schedule for next year and leading up to Athens in 2004. It is an incredible undertaking, and we’re taking the steps to ensure the success of each event.”

      U.S. Field Hockey’s domestic schedule for 2003 includes an exhibition tour by the men’s and women’s teams, the International Atlantic Cup Women’s Four Nation Tournament, tentative host responsibilities for the NCAA Division I Field Hockey Championships in Virginia Beach and a full slate of international coaching seminars. U.S. Field Hockey also conducts the annual 194-team National Hockey Festival and National Indoor Tournaments.

      Internationally, the U.S. men’s indoor team will compete in the first FIH Indoor World Cup in Germany in February, and both the men’s and women’s team will prepare for the Pan American Games, Aug. 1-16 in Santo Domingo.

      "Ashley has a very strong background in event management, and we need to utilize the full range of her talents,” said Frankenstein. “Kate has done a great job working with our women’s teams for a number of years, including coordinating the team’s move to Virginia Beach and managing the team through the World Cup qualifying process.  It should be a rewarding move for Ashley and Kate as well as the Association.”

      In her second year at U.S. field Hockey, Collier will continue to coordinate the men’s high performance program while serving as assistant director of events with current director of events, Karen Collins.  Collier’s event-management background includes serving as the Director of Competition and Training for Special Olympics Minnesota and duties with the basketball venue staff during the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta. In addition, she served on the local organizing committee for the inaugural NCAA Women's Hockey Championships Frozen Four in Minneapolis in 2001. Collier is a 1995 graduate of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

      A member of the U.S. Field Hockey staff since 1999, Roberts will oversee all facets of U.S. Field Hockey's women's elite team program including planning and coordinating team trials, training sessions and competitions.  Roberts previously served as a high performance manager before she was promoted to assistant director of high performance in 2001. A 1998 graduate of the Univ. of New Hampshire,

Roberts has led team tours to Barbados, Cuba, England, Korea, The Netherlands, New Zealand and Spain.