Monday, June 7, 2004

McDAVITT HIRED AS FIELD HOCKEY COACH AT TUFTS UNIVERSITY

Tina McDavitt, the assistant field hockey coach at Holy Cross for the past four seasons, has been named the new head coach of the Tufts University Jumbos. The Walpole native and Boston University graduate is the sixth coach in the 31-year history of Tufts Field Hockey.

The head coaching position of Field Hockey and Women's Lacrosse was split at Tufts following the 2003 season. McDavitt replaces Carol Rappoli as head coach of Field Hockey. Rapolli, who coached both teams to much success from 1985-2004, remains head coach of Women's Lacrosse.

"Tina is an excellent young coach who combines tremendous interpersonal and team building skills with passion and knowledge for the game," Director of Athletic Bill Gehling said. "We're excited to have Tina join our staff and add to the tradition of our field hockey program."

McDavitt is a member of the USA Field Hockey national indoor squad that is aiming to qualify for the World Cup in 2006. She was hired right out of college in 2000 as the assistant at Holy Cross under Meg Galligan, the winningest coach in the history of the Crusader program. The team played for the Patriot League championship last fall and won regular-season titles in 2000 and 2001.

At BU McDavitt was a four-year standout and captain of the 1999 team. She led the Terriers to an undefeated America East championship and a #13 ranking nationwide that season. Scoring 27 points on eight goals and 11 assists, she was named to the America East First Team and received a First Team Regional All-American honor.

A lifelong enthusiast for the sport, McDavitt won two Massachusetts state championships with the Walpole High School team in 1994 and 1995. She is the Regional Coaching Director for USA Field Hockey's Futures Program.

The Tufts program enjoyed many successful seasons with Rappoli at the helm. She steps down as Field Hockey coach after posting a 155-132-7 record during 19 seasons. Her teams made NCAA Tournament appearances in 1998 and 1995 and won ECAC championships in 1996 and 1989.

Leading scorer Lea Napolitano (Waltham, MA/Waltham), an All-New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) and All-Region pick last fall, leads the return of 19 letter-winners for the upcoming 2004 Jumbo season.

"I want us to be intense, I want it to be fun, and I want to win," McDavitt said in anticipation of beginning her career as a head coach. "I've looked at the roster and I'm excited about the kids who are coming back. They had lots of one-goal losses and I want to help turn those into one-goal wins. That's my goal at the start.

"NESCAC is as good as it gets in Division III," she continued. "The players are smart, they work hard and they're not at school just to play field hockey. I'm looking forward to being at Tufts."

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