US Field Hockey Names Interim National Team Coach

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The U.S. Field Hockey Association has named Dutch Olympic gold medalist and former U.S. assistant Carina Benninga as interim head coach to the U.S. Women’s National Field Hockey Team. The Association’s world-wide search for a permanent coach for the National Team will continue through Benninga’s appointment.

An assistant coach and consultant for the U.S. team from 1993-95, Benninga, 36, will take over coaching duties for the women’s program through January when U.S. Field Hockey selects its 1999 National Team. The ’99 team will represent the U.S. at the Pan American Games, July 24-Aug. 8, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

"We’re very pleased Carina has agreed to help us in this critical time for our women’s National Team," said U.S. Field Hockey Executive Director Jane Betts. "Carina has worked with our players in the past, and we are extremely confident in her ability to prepare the team for the Pan American Games while we continue our search for a permanent head coach."

A gold medalist for the Dutch field hockey team at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, Benninga earned additional Olympic honors with a bronze medal at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul. In her third Olympic appearance, she was named as the flag bearer for the Netherlands at the 1992 opening ceremonies in Barcelona. She served as captain of the 1990 Holland World Cup team and earned two World Championships with the Netherlands in 1983 and 1990. As a member of the U.S. coaching staff, she helped lead the U.S. team to a bronze medal at the 1994 World Cup in Dublin, Ireland.

A 1981 graduate of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va., Benninga earned a Master’s degree in law from the University of Amsterdam Law School in 1987 and currently owns a coaching and consulting company in the Netherlands.

Benninga will begin her duties Nov. 20-21 during the U.S. Field Hockey elite coaching course at the NCAA Division I field hockey championships in Philadelphia. She will continue her service through the U.S. National Team selections at A-Camp in early 1999 and conclude her duties with National Team practice sessions in mid-January.

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