SPORTS

 

First-year field hockey head coach Zoe Almquist has completed her coaching staff with the addition of assistant coaches Stephanie Hussey and Shauna Rankin-Byrne and volunteer assistant Jenny Rizzo, she announced Friday.

The staff will lead the Wildcats, 5-13 last season, into the 2019 campaign on Aug. 30 when Davidson visits Georgetown.

“I am really pleased with how our staff has come together for this fall,” said Almquist. “Steph, Shauna and Jenny each bring different experiences and areas of expertise, and I think that together we will be able to support the collective needs of our team. I can’t wait to see where we can lead this group.” 

Hussey comes to Davidson after spending the last three years as an assistant at UC Davis and will draw on her experience playing on all three lines around the globe. A native of Argentina, she moved to Miami as a teenager and played for the U16 and U19 U.S. National Teams. She then played collegiately at Syracuse and Penn State.

In two years at Syracuse, she helped the Orange win Big East tournament and regular season titles and reach the NCAA Final Four in 2012. At Penn State, she scored a career-high six goals as a senior captain.

Hussey has also coached with Club Deportivo Terrassa in Barcelona, Spain and USA Field Hockey’s U18 Futures program in Florida.

“I am so excited to have Stephanie on board with our program,” said Almquist. “She comes to Davidson with a great coaching background. The depth and breadth of Steph’s hockey knowledge is fantastic, and her energy is contagious to be around. I know she will help take our program to the next level.”

Rankin-Byrne arrives at Davidson after serving last season as a volunteer assistant coach at UMass, her alma mater.

Rankin-Byrne was a defensive standout and senior captain for the Minutewomen of the Atlantic 10 and helped UMass win three A-10 championships. Those 2013, 2015 and 2016 titles also included NCAA Tournament appearances.

A New Hampshire native, she played with the U.S. National Program from 2014-16. Her playing career at UMass overlapped with Almquist, who was an assistant there in 2016.

“It is awesome to have Shauna back on my team,” said Almquist. “It’s a natural fit to be able to work with her again, this time from a coaching standpoint. Shauna’s technical expertise and attention to individual skill development is excellent.”

Rizzo is beginning her coaching career with the Wildcats after spending the last four seasons as Penn State’s starting goalkeeper.

From Hershey, Pa., Rizzo started 79 games for the Nittany Lions and spent more than 5,400 minutes in the cage with a career save percentage of .749. She registered seven saves as Penn State defeated then-No. 2 Maryland 3-1 last fall and was part of three NCAA Tournament teams (2016-18).

Rizzo played on the U19 and U21 U.S. National teams and is a member of the U.S. National Development Squad. While she works with the Wildcats, she will also be pursuing a pro career in England.

“I could not be more excited that Jenny is beginning her coaching career here at Davidson,” said Almquist. “She has played at the highest levels, and will provide our goalkeepers with the specialized instruction that is essential for their position.”