Kent State Field Hockey Camps
Coaching Staff
Assistant Coach Heather Schnepf
Heather Schnepf is in her first season as an assistant coach with the Kent State field hockey team Schnepf comes to the Golden Flashes program after spending last season as the head coach at Princeton Day School in New Jersey.
“Heather’s experience as a coach and a standout player will be a huge asset to our program,” said Head Coach Kathleen Schanne. “We are thrilled to have her join our staff and look forward to the positive impact she will bring to our student-athletes both on and off the field.”
Prior to her stint at Princeton Day, Schnepf was an assistant coach at Drexel University. With her guiding the defensive unit, Drexel posted a then school-record 16 wins in 2008 and finished runner-up in the Colonial Athletic Association with a 7-1 league record. During the season the program earned a No. 14 national ranking and posted a 1.59 goals against average with Schnepf on the sideline.
An All-American and two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year at Iowa, the Medford Lakes, N.J. native launched her coaching career at her alma-mater in 2007. Schnepf worked as a student assistant coach helping to lead the Hawkeyes to a No. 5 national ranking, a 17-4 record and the Big Ten Tournament title.
During her playing days she led Iowa to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances and became only the third player in Big Ten history to earn the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year award in back-to-back years. She recorded 11 goals, 13 assists and 16 defensive saves in her collegiate career and was a first team All-American as a senior.
“I look forward to working with Coach Schanne and Coach Amar on the Kent State staff,” said Schnepf. “I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to be a part of an established program with a strong winning tradition and aim to continue that success in the future.”
Schnepf brings a wealth of International experience to the Golden Flashes program. She represented the United States taking home the silver medal at the 2009 Pan American Games. Previously she participated on the Midwest High Performance Team and the USA-B squad that faced Sony Japan, the Canadian National Team and the USA-A squad.
A first team All-American at Lenape High School as well, she earned her bachelor of science in athletic training from Iowa in 2007.
Assistant Coach Lawrence Amar
Lawrence Amar, team captain of the United State’s 1996 Olympic field hockey squad, enters his second season as an assistant coach in 2010.
“Lawrence has been a tremendous addition to our program. His wealth of knowledge about the game of field hockey is a huge asset for our student-athletes,” said Head Coach Kathleen Schanne. “His experiences with the national team and the U.S. Army has helped in the development of our team on and off the field.”
In 2009 Amar returned to the sport he excelled in after an eight-year absence. In his first year on staff the Golden Flashes posted a 12-8 overall record and earned a share of their second straight Mid-American Conference title with an 8-2 mark. In the process the team ripped off 57 goals and paced teh league with 2.85 goals per game.
The 1994 and ‘95 United States Field Hockey Association (USFHA) Athlete of the Year and was a member of the program for 13 years. A native of California, Amar competed on several successful Junior World Cup and Pam Am teams. He won five Olympic Festival medals -- including two gold -- and was a member of the Canterbury Hockey Club of the English First Division in 1994.
Following his tenure with the USFHA, Amar was a member of the U.S. Army for six years, serving two tours overseas. He earned the rank of Staff Sergeant in the Infantry. Amar received two Army Commendation and Army Achievement Medals among his numerous honors and achievements.
Courtesy: Kent State Athletic Communications
