University of Connecticut Women's Field Hockey

Caddy finished his 15th season on the UConn staff and his sixth as the associate head coach in 2015. His primary focuses are defense and player and team development, including technical and tactical advancements. "Paul has been a tremendous addition to our coaching staff," UConn head coach Nancy Stevens said. "He spends countless hours with our players to help them develop their individual technique. Paul's tactical creativity adds a great deal to our team-style of play. His coaching expertise has resulted in our defensive unit ranking among the nation's best on a consistent basis." Most recently, Caddy coached two-time First Team All-American Roisin Upton, who earned Big East Defensive Player of the Year in 2014 and 2015.  From 2006-11, a Husky was honored as the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year. Jestine Angelini earned the award in 2011, Melissa Gonzalez took home the honor in 2009 and 2010 and Jennifer Kleinhans got the nod in 2006, 2007 and 2008. Roisin Upton was tabbed the Defensive Player of the Year in 2014. Caddy is also a United States Field Hockey Association high performance coach and has assisted the United States U-16 National Team and was a member of the New England High Performance coaching staff that captured the 2008 National Championship. He is considered one of the top rated associate/assistant coaches in the nation and recently earned his U.S. Level III coaching certification, which is the top certification level nationally. Additionally, Caddy served as a US Field Hockey assistant coach during Team USA's tour of New Zealand in the spring of 2013. He is also a member of the New England regional training squad coaching staff. In 2004, Caddy acted as a selector for the United States Women's Indoor Hockey National Team. Caddy has competed in the North American Premier Indoor Hockey League where he helped guide his squad to back-to-back championships in 2003 and 2004. In 2008, Caddy served as a member of the Junior National Camp coaching staff. Always doing what he can to spread the sport, Caddy conducts U.S. Level 1 coaching courses across New England. Prior to Connecticut, Caddy was an assistant field hockey coach at Ohio State and was an assistant field hockey coach and team manager for the United States Under-18 Women's Team. Prior to his experience at Ohio State, Caddy was an assistant coach at Quinnipiac University for the 1999 season when Quinnipiac captured the Northeast Conference Championship. Caddy is a 1999 graduate of the University of Wales, Swansea, where he earned a bachelor's degree in american studies. In 2004, Caddy earned his masters degree from Quinnipiac University. Caddy was a four-year field hockey sportsman, during which time Swansea was crowned champions of Wales in 1995-1996 and 1996-1997. In Caddy's senior season, Swansea earned silver medallist honors at the European Club Championships in Hungary, Caddy received All-Wales First Team honors, as he had previously earned during his junior campaign. Caddy served as the head coach of the women's field hockey team at the University of Wales, Swansea, and the assistant coach of the Swansea City Juniors in 1998-1999 as well. During his time at the University of Wales, Caddy also spent a year in the United States as a volunteer assistant for the University of Massachusetts in 1999, when the Minutewomen advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Caddy resides in Hebron, Conn., with his wife Kate, daughter Izzy, born Feb. 15, 2010 and son, Miles, born June 23, 2014.

Herr works primarily with the goaltenders. During the 2004 season, Herr's expertise proved to be a key factor at UConn. The team allowed just 0.57 goals per game to its opponents, which ranked first nationally and helped earn goalkeeper, Melissa Bostwick, second-team All-America honors. The Huskies have consistently ranked among the nation's leaders in fewest goals allowed during her tenure. More recently, former Husky goalkeeper Sarah Mansfield was honored as a First Team All-American for the third straight year in 2013. Mansfield also earned a spot on the 2011 All-NCAA Tournament Team after leading the Huskies to a spot in the National Semfinal. Mansfield was also selected as the BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year in 2010. In 2014, the Huskies finished with nine shutouts, including back-to-back clean sheets in the NCAA National Semifinals and NCAA National Finals from redshirt-freshman keeper Nina Klein. "Cheri brings a wealth of goalkeeping experience to our program," UConn head coach Nancy Stevens said. "She has developed two All-America goalkeepers during her five years on the coaching staff. Cheri is a tireless worker who always puts the needs of the team first. We are very fortunate to have her in our program." Herr came to UConn from Providence College, where she served as an assistant coach for two years under head coach Bill Davidson. The Friars made the BIG EAST Field Hockey Tournament, eventually losing to UConn in the championship game in 2000. Prior to her stint at Providence, Herr was an assistant field hockey coach at Fairfield University during the 1998 season, when they captured their first-ever Patriot League title. She also served as a graduate assistant at Syracuse, her alma mater, from 1996-1998. While at Syracuse, Herr was a four-year starter in goal for the Orangewomen. During her career, Syracuse went a combined 54-23-6, won two BIG EAST Championships and made two NCAA appearances under the direction of head coach Kathleen Parker. Herr, a member of the BIG EAST All-Conference Team in 1993 and 1995 and an All-America selection in 1995, is Syracuse's current record holder for career saves, save percentage, goals against average, single game saves and shutouts at Syracuse. She was named the MVP of the 1995 BIGEAST Tournament. Herr is a native of New Holland, Pa. She graduated from Syracuse in 1996 with a bachelor degree in Physical Education. Herr is also involved in the USFHA Futures Program. She has served as a coach in the program since 1996 and was named Site Director of New York State Central Region in 1998. In Oct. 2004, Herr was inducted into the Hall of Fame at her alma mater, Garden Spot (Pa.) High School.

Stevens has firmly secured the tradition of UConn field hockey among the nation's best. Recognized as one of the top collegiate field hockey coaches in the nation, she has compiled an impressive 617-179-24 record for a .767 winning percentage over her previous 37 seasons. In 2013, Stevens became the all-time winningest coach in NCAA Division I Field Hockey history, surpassing Old Dominion coach Beth Anders as the sport's all-time winner. Stevens guided Connecticut to its third-ever national championship in 2013, finishing the season with a stellar 21-4 record. For her efforts, she received National Coach of the Year accolades from the National Field Hockey Coaches Association and was also tabbed as the Regional Coach of the Year by the NFHCA. In 2014, Stevens took the Huskies back to the top of the sport, winning back-to-back titles for the first time in school history. Her Huskies finished with a 20-2 record, winning their final 14 games of the season en route to the 2014 national crown. In 2015, Stevens became the first coach across all divisions to reach 600 career wins, after defeating No. 10 Boston College, 2-1, on Sept. 13, 2015. She led the team to its fourth-straight Big East Touranment title and 15th Big East Regular Season crown. The Huskies were undefeated during the regular season and went on a 36-game win streak, dating back to the 2014 national championship run. UConn finished with a 22-1 overall record in 2015. Stevens has guided the Huskies to the NCAA Tournament in 19 of the last 20 seasons overall and during that span, Connecticut has earned 15 NCAA quarterfinal berths and advanced to the NCAA National Semifinals eight times. The Huskies are currently enjoying a streak of 14 straight NCAA berths, dating back to 2002. Stevens became the second coach all-time to win 500 games when the Huskies defeated No. 5 Syracuse, 2-1, to win the 2009 BIG EAST Tournament Championship. Stevens is one of a select group of U.S. collegiate coaches to attend an International Hockey Federation (FIH) High Performance Coaching Course. The 25 coaches in attendance included top European club coaches as well as coaches preparing their teams for the Olympic Games. From this course, she received a further recommendation to attend an FIH Final Coaching Development Course. The UConn coach has taken two Division I programs to a No. 1 ranking (Connecticut in 1999 and Northwestern in 1985). Under Stevens, the Huskies have qualified for the BIG EAST Tournament in 25 of her 26 seasons, with a league record 15 different squads (2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2009, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2002, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1996 and 1992) winning the conference tournament title. The 2015 season was the 20th UConn squad under Stevens that earned a berth to the NCAA Division I Championship, as her 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996 and 1990 teams qualified as well. The 2015 campaign also marked UConn's fourth NCAA National Semifinal berth in the last five seasons and the program's eighth overall under Stevens. Since beginning BIG EAST play in 1989, the UConn field hockey team has captured 15 of the 27 BIG EAST Tournament titles, including three in a row from 1998-2000 and 2012-14 and four straight from 2004-07 and 2012-15. The Huskies have advanced to the conference championship game 22 times. In addition, the Huskies earned 15 of the last 19 regular season titles, including a stretch of five in a row from 1996-2000 and four consecutive crowns from 2002-2005. A nine-time BIG EAST Coach of the Year, Stevens is also an eight-time National Field Hockey Coaches Association Mideast Coach of the Year (1996, 1998, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2011, 2013, and 2014). The UConn field hockey program has been ranked among the nation's elite consistently throughout Stevens' career. In 1999, the Huskies sat atop the national poll for five consecutive weeks. After opening the year No. 6 in the nation, UConn defeated then top-ranked Penn State to take over at No. 1. Connecticut remained undefeated through the end of the regular season, before losing to eventual national finalist Michigan. Before taking over at Connecticut, Stevens served as the head coach at Northwestern University for nine years. She led the Wildcats to eight consecutive NCAA Division I Championship quarterfinal appearances (1982-89), three NCAA semifinal games (1983, 1985 and 1989) and four Big Ten Championships (1983, 1984, 1985 and 1988). During her final season in 1989, Stevens directed her Wildcat field hockey team to an 18-4-1 record and a third-place finish in the NCAA Championship. Her 1985 team also finished third at the NCAA Championship. In 1988, she was voted Big Ten Coach of the Year when her team went 17-2-1, winning the league title and making an appearance in the NCAA Quarterfinals. In her nine-year career at Northwestern, Stevens' teams had an overall record of 152-35-12, for an impressive .764 winning percentage. Her student-athletes also maintained a perfect 100 percent graduation rate while at NU. Eight of her players have been selected to represent the Unites States as part of the National Team. In addition to her players' being recognized for exceptional abilities, Coach Stevens has received a number of accolades in recognition of her excellence over the years. Additionally, four of her players at Northwestern were finalists for the Honda Broderick Award, with forward Jennifer Averill voted the winner in 1985. Former UConn All-America Kristen Kelly was named a finalist for this award in 1994. The program's all-time leading scorer, Lauren Henderson, was a finalist for the prestigious honor in 2004. Most recently, Lizzy Peijs was recognized as one of four finalists for the national player of the year award in 2006 while Lauren Scherer was a finalist in 2009 and Melissa Gonzalez a finalist in 2010. In 2013, forward/midfielder Marie Elena Bolles was named the Division I National Player of the Year by the NFHCA and was recognized as the Honda Sports Award Winner for Field Hockey. Stevens also acted as Northwestern's assistant lacrosse coach for nine years and helped guide the Wildcats to five NCAA Championship appearances in her final seven seasons. She has been a part of the U.S. Field Hockey National Coaching Staff, serving in that capacity from 1982-1990. In 1997, she took over as coach for the U.S. Under-19 National Team - named "Team of the Year" by U.S. Field Hockey. She was head coach of the U.S. Junior National Team from 1982-84, while coaching in the U.S. Olympic Developmental Program. Stevens has been a U.S. Olympic Festival head coach five times since 1985, leading her team to a gold medal in 1986 and to a silver medal in 1985. Prior to coaching at Northwestern, Stevens was head field hockey and lacrosse coach at Franklin and Marshall College for two seasons. Her 1979 F&M team placed second at the AIAW National Championship, while her 1980 team reached the quarterfinals. A member of the U.S. National Team from 1974-79, she competed in the 1975 World Championships in Edinburgh, Scotland. That team was captained by former UConn coach Diane Wright. Originally from Manheim, Pa., Stevens received her bachelor's degree in education, summa cum laude from West Chester University in 1976. She captained the 1975 field hockey team at West Chester that won the AIAW National Championship. She was a 2003 inductee into the West Chester University Hall of Fame. In 1979, she received her master's degree in sports psychology from Penn State. There, she also served as assistant field hockey and lacrosse coach from 1977-79, with the lacrosse squads winning AIAW National Championship titles in 1978 and 1979. Stevens holds annual summer camps at UConn and is a longstanding member of the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA). Stevens has also served on the U.S. Olympic Committee's Athlete's Advisory Council and the U.S. Olympic Committee's Membership Committee. In addition, Coach Stevens has held the positions of Vice President in the U.S. Field Hockey Coaches Association and was a former Vice President of the National Field Hockey Coaches Association. Field Hockey Home   Email this article   Printer-friendly format Position: Head Coach 1* 617 Connecticut 1990-present The Nancy Stevens File