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US Field Hockey Names Women’s National Team Coach
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Jan. 14) - The U.S. Field Hockey Association has named Australian Olympic gold medalist and Queensland Academy of Sport coach Tracey Belbin as head coach of the U.S. Women’s National Field Hockey Team.
"During my playing career, I had always seen the U.S. as a very passionate and animated team," said Belbin, following her trip to the U.S. team selection A-Camp. "My recent time in the U.S. has shown that that passion and enthusiasm has not changed, but added to that is an unbelievable level of athleticism, speed and agility as well as a high level of commitment.
"All this combined makes the prospect of coaching the U.S. National team very exciting for me. It is a fantastic opportunity and a great challenge. I believe this team can do great things, and I only hope that as coach, I can steer them towards great achievements."
Belbin’s appointment concludes a six-month, world-wide search following the resignation of former U.S. head coach Pax Hixon in July of last year. Former U.S. assistant and Dutch national team member Carina Benninga served as interim coach for the national team selection camps in December and January and will direct the team through practices scheduled for Jan. 14-23 at the ARCO Olympic Training Center in San Diego. Belbin is expected to join the team in February when the U.S. team returns to San Diego for practices and games against Canada.
"We are all very excited to have Tracey Belbin as our women’s head coach," said U.S. Field Hockey Executive Director Jane Betts. " Tracey is a dedicated and determined competitor and a proven champion as both a coach and a player. We are extremely confident she will continue that level of success with our national team."
As head coach for the women’s hockey program at the Queensland Academy of Sport, Belbin directed and implemented programs for the National Squad players while coordinating the talent identification program. A Level 3 accredited coach in Australia, she also served as head coach for the women’s hockey program at the ACT Academy of Sport/Women’s Hockey Australia in 1997-98. One of the world’s top women’s teams, Australia won the 1996 Olympic Gold medal in addition to capturing the 1998 World Cup title.
A member of the Australian Senior National Team from 1985-93, Belbin won a gold medal with the Australian team at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games. She made an additional Olympic appearance for Australia with a fifth place finish at the 1992 Barcelona Games, and served as vice captain of the Australian silver-medalist team at the 1990 World Cup. She has continued her playing career as a member of the National Women’s Hockey League’s Canberra Strikers where she helped lead the team to a second place league finish in 1998.
With her appointment as U.S. head coach, Belbin begins an eventful year in 1999. After relocating to San Diego, the 1993 graduate of the University of Queensland in Brisbane plans to marry in April and will lead the U.S. team at the XIII Pan American Games, July 24-Aug. 8, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
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1999 U.S. Women's National Team