FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
EASTON, Mass. – Stonehill has announced the hiring of Anne Hansbury as its next head coach of the field hockey program. The announcement was made today by Dean O'Keefe, '94, Director of Athletics at the College.
"We are thrilled to announce that Anne Hansbury will join the Stonehill College family as our new head field hockey coach," said O'Keefe. "Coach Hansbury possesses an impressive background coaching at the NCAA Division I, II and III levels, and her contagious energy and passion to teach the game will serve our program well. In addition, Coach Hansbury's experience and success as an NCAA Division II student-athlete will provide our student-athletes a mentor who will foster a culture of personal growth and development in the pursuit of academic and athletic excellence.
"We are excited for Coach Hansbury to arrive in Easton, and are confident her appointment will build upon the program's strong foundation and lead our student-athletes to new heights."
Hansbury, a 2012 graduate of the University of Massachusetts Lowell, where she was a member of a River Hawks field hockey program that competed in the Northeast-10 Conference, winning a Division II national championship, brings experience as a coach and student-athlete from all three levels of NCAA field hockey, as well as overseas coaching and playing experience. She takes over as the sixth head coach in the Stonehill field hockey program's 23-year history, after Susan Ciufo recently took over as head coach at Temple University in Philadelphia after four years in Easton.
"I am honored and beyond excited to begin my journey at Stonehill, and am eager to begin working with these incredible student-athletes," said Hansbury. "I want to thank Dean O'Keefe, (Senior Associate Director of Athletics) Cindy MacDonald, and the rest of the search committee for giving me the wonderful opportunity to lead this program. I am not only thrilled to be back in the NE10 but lucky to be at a special place like Stonehill."
Hansbury comes to Stonehill after spending the 2018 season as an assistant coach at Bryant University. She served as head coach Joppe de Vries top assistant coach, coordinating all aspects of daily operation for the Bulldogs NCAA Division I program, was the team's recruiting coordinator, and oversaw academic advising.
Prior to returning to New England, Hansbury was an assistant coach at Division I Central Michigan University for two years from June 2016 through the 2017 season. She assisted in running the daily operation of the program, including game day operation, practice organization, player and leadership development and social media coordination. Hansbury was responsible for all video coordination and was the team's academic liaison and compliance coordinator.
Hansbury spent four seasons as an assistant coach at NCAA Division III Colby College, helping the Mules to 31 wins from 2012 through the 2015 season. She has been head field hockey coach and club administrative assistant for Northeast Elite Field Hockey Club in Windham, New Hampshire, since 2009. Following her playing career at UMass Lowell, Hansbury traveled to Melbourne, Australia, and was head junior coach and administrative assistant for Doncaster Hockey Club, running a junior program for ages 9-14 and was co-director for the midweek ladies' program, while also playing for the club, competing in the Victorian Premier League, the top league in Australia. She also was an official and U14 head coach for the regional development team for Hockey Victoria.
Hansbury, a Plaistow, New Hampshire, native, was a four-year letterwinner for coach Shannon Hlebichuk at UMass Lowell, helping the River Hawks to four-straight NCAA Division II Championship game appearances. The River Hawks won the 2010 National Championship, finishing 24-0, while winning a pair of NE10 Championships in 2010 and 2011. Hansbury was a two-time All-American as a midfielder for UMass Lowell, earning a pair of All-NE10 honors, as well as NE10 All-Rookie accolades in 2008.
ABOUT THE NE10
The NE10 is an association of 15 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.
Each year, 4,500 student-athletes compete in conference championships, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.
