FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 7, 2014
Courtesy of Pace Athletics Communications
PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. - Pace University Director of Athletics Mark Brown has announced the hiring of Valerie Hickman as the department’s first-ever women’s field hockey head coach, effective July 1, 2014.
Hickman was most recently the assistant field hockey coach at the Steven Institute of Technology. Hickman will now be charged with fielding the first-ever women’s field hockey team at Pace University for the fall 2015 season.
“I am honored and excited to embark on this exciting journey with Pace University,” said Hickman. “The opportunity to build a program from the ground up and create a field hockey legacy is beyond thrilling and I look forward to the challenge. Pace has embraced a wonderful balance of academics and athletics and I cannot wait to further add to the overall success.”
Hickman comes to Pace with an extensive background in field hockey as she was a two year player for Division I Lehigh University. She was also a member of the women’s lacrosse team for the Mountain Hawks for two seasons at Lehigh. She was selected to the 2001 Patriot League Winter/Spring Sports Academic Honor Roll as well as being the Treen Scholarship for Academic Merit Award recipient. She graduated from Lehigh in 2002 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science and History. Hickman went on to earn her Juris Doctorate Degree from The Pennsylvania State University Dickinson School of Law in 2006.
We are very excited that Valerie will be joining our coaching staff,” Associate Athletic Director Claudia Stabile said. “She has the ability and background to lead the new program to exciting heights early in her tenure.”
Hickman has been involved with collegiate field hockey since her graduation, serving as an assistant coach at Dickinson College from 2003-07. She worked with the goalkeepers and developed game planning as well as player training. She moved on to the United States Field Hockey Association Futures Program for Region 6 Site B in New Jersey as the head coach and head trainer in 2009. She coached under-16 field hockey players and oversaw assistant coaches as well as player training and skill development.
She was also the assistant field hockey coach at Stevens Tech for three seasons. She was involved in all aspects of the program from maintaining budgets, recruiting, game strategies, player development, film exchange and scouting. The Ducks won the Empire 8 Conference title three times and achieved the program’s highest national ranking during her time at Stevens. Hickman was also as assistant coach for The Edge Field Hockey Club from 2007-09.
Hickman is a member of the United States Field Hockey Association and holds Level One Coaches Certification. She is also a member of the National Field Hockey Coaches Association.
