Field hockey gets a new skipper

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.

Tina McDavitt

The head coaching position for field hockey and women’s lacrosse was split at Tufts following the 2003-04 season. McDavitt replaces Carol Rappoli, who coached both teams from 1985 to 2004 and 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 of the game,” Director of Athletics Bill Gehling said.

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 most successful coach in the history of the Crusader program. The team played for the Patriot League Championship last fall.

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 national ranking that season. She won two Massachusetts state championships with Walpole High School in 1994 and 1995, and she is the regional coaching director for USA Field Hockey’s Futures Program.

“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.”

The New England Small College Athletic Conference “is as good as it gets in Division III,” she said. “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.”