State College Field Hockey Coaches   

Pictured left to right: Julie Martelli, Grace Brennan, Lucas Shaha, Sarah Pergine, Sharon Herlocher, Janet Egerer, Beth Shaha, Chelle Tambroni (Not pictured: Mary Nell Smith, Nicole Rao, and Chelsea Cummins)

 

Sharon (Kuntz) Herlocher, Head Coach, skh17@scasd.org

Sharon took over at the helm of the State College Field Hockey program in 2020 after being the middle school coach for four seasons. Since then, Sharon has compiled an impressive staff of coaches devoted to improving the complete student-athlete. Sharon has a long resume of coaching experience, including ten years as the volunteer coach at Penn State, four years as the assistant coach at Boston University, and 15-plus seasons coaching club field hockey. A 1994 NCAA All-American, All-Big Ten team selection, and PSU team captain, Sharon played in three Final Four championships as a player (1990, 1991, 1993) and had many NCAA appearances as a coach. Sharon loves teaching and sharing her love for the game. She co-owns Herlocher Foods and Ottis Properties and is the Chair of the Board of the Downtown State College Improvement District. She is a Lower Dauphin High School graduate and, while at Penn State, earned a B.S. in Exercise and Sports Science with a minor in Business. Sharon's husband, Neil, is a lifelong rugby player and coach. She is the mother of Charlie, Phebe, and Lanie. 

Chelle (Frates) Tambroni, Assistant Head Coach, tambogirls@yahoo.com 

Chelle's high school coaching career started after leading two NCAA Division 1 collegiate programs, directing three club programs across two sports, and several stints with the USA Field Hockey developmental program. Chelle spent ten years as the head coach at Cornell, three years as the head coach at Towson University, and three years as the assistant at Yale. As a player, she was a U-21 National Team Alternate, an NCAA All-American goal scorer (1990), the Atlantic 10 (A-10) Player of the Year (1990), and led Penn State to their first-ever NCAA Final Four appearance (1990). After becoming a mother to three girls, she began directing club lacrosse and field hockey programs, first in Ithaca, NY, then in State College, PA. Chelle has a B.S. in Exercise and Sport Science (Penn State), is a co-owner of MeMi Designs, the wife of PSU Men's Lacrosse Coach Jeff Tambroni, daughter of legendary Vermont Scholastic Coach Yvonne Frates, and mother of Carissa, Maddie, and Ella. 

Sarah Pergine, Assistant Coach, JV Head Coach, sep24@scasd.org

Sarah joined the SCFH program in the spring of 2021 as the middle school assistant coach. Her coaching resume includes one year as a volunteer assistant at Temple University, five seasons coaching club field hockey (FSC, Philly Hockey Club, Cleveland Hockey Club), and one season of volunteer coaching with The Ohio State University club program. Sarah captained a strong University of Iowa team as a player, earning two Big-Ten Tournament Championships (2007 & 2008) and one Final Four appearance (2008). She was a two-time Midwest Region Team player and participated in the USA High-Performance Tournament. Her ten years of advising student-athletes is what brought her to State College. She has an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership (Temple University), a B.A. in Communication Studies and Sociology (University of Iowa), and is a graduate of Perkiomen Valley H.S. She is an Associate Director for Student-Athlete Programming, Academic Counselor at Penn State University's Morgan Academic Center. Sarah recently became engaged to Justin Schillaci.

Julie Martelli, Volunteer Coach, juliebethlambi@gmail.com 

Julie Martelli has experience coaching field hockey at all levels, including Division I and II schools and within several clubs.  Julie is in the Hall of Fame at Towson University, where she spent four years as a student-athlete. She led her team in goals and points all four seasons at Towson, earning multiple All-Conference accolades and an All-Region award for the Tigers. Julie also has a background at the high school level, where she was a teacher and head coach at schools in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. She played in a highly-ranked high school program in Pennsylvania with several county, district, and state championships on her decorated award shelf.  

Mary Nell Smith, Youth and Middle School Coach, mns17@scasd.org

Mary Nell is the Fall Youth Field Hockey program leader and a middle school coach.  She is a 2019 graduate of Penn State, named two-time All-Big-Ten Distinguished Scholar Athlete, four-time Division 1 National Academic Squad member, and named four-time Academic All-Big Ten.  She is a graduate of Central Dauphin H.S., holds a B.A. in Public Relations with Honors (Penn State), and an M. Ed from Penn State University’s Educational Leadership program. When not involved in field hockey, Mary Nell advises collegiate student-athletes as an academic counselor at Penn State University’s Morgan Academic Center for Student-Athletes.

Nicole Rao, Volunteer Coach

Nicole comes to State College Field Hockey with a vast field hockey and lacrosse coaching background. While teaching in Florida, she spent five years as head coach at East Lake and Palm Harbor H.S. and five years as the Assistant Coach at Williamsville East High School. She is a founding member and secretary of the (Adult) Florida Field Hockey Club. She now coaches club field hockey and lacrosse at State College. She spent her collegiate field hockey career at Central Michigan and was named to the 2014 Sweet Home H.S. Athletics Hall of Fame. She holds an M.S. in Education, Secondary English (Buffalo State College), and a B.S. in Education, Secondary English & Physical Education (Central Michigan). She is working on a D.Ed. in Education Leadership (Penn State). She is a Learning Specialist at Penn State University Morgan Academic Center. 

Beth (Urban) Shaha, Volunteer Coach 

Beth brings mindfulness, spirit, and balance to our coaching staff as a certified Life Coach and founder of The Grounded Canary. She is licensed and trained in mindfulness. She played field hockey for two years at Millersville University before becoming Millersville University's Mascot. A life-long cultivator of spirit! She coaches club field hockey at State College. Beth holds a Masters in Education (Bowling Green) and a B.A. in Psychology (Millersville). She graduated from Susquenita High School, where she played field hockey and was the school Mascot. She is a certified ICF Certified Master Life Coach who encourages others to strengthen their mental fitness - meeting people exactly where they are at and encouraging them forward!  She is married to Danny and is a working mother of three: Lucas, Lilly, and Delaney. 

Janet (Heim) Egerer, Volunteer Coach, Yoga extraordinaire

Janet is the only coach on our staff who is a State College Field Hockey Alumna. She also has the most certifications for lifelong health. Janet's work with the team makes everyone's bodies feel better and minds clearer. She's a Mind and Body fitness Coach, Personal Trainer, and an 800-hour E-RYT yoga educator and teacher. She spent four years as a Marine Corps Semper Fit Instructor and works with PSU Athletics as a Yoga Instructor. She is a State College business leader and co-owner of PYP Studio. Janet is a State College Area High School Field Hockey Alumna with a B.S. in Kinesiology (Penn State). She and her husband, Fred, are the parents of four: Zack, Tommy, Heidi, and Kennedy. 

Grace Brennan, Volunteer V/JV Coach

Grace is a senior at Penn State studying early childhood education and a student teacher in a 4th grade classroom in Bellefonte. Before attending Penn State, she played field hockey as a high school student and is grateful to now have the opportunity to share her love of sports with high school players. This is her second year of volunteer coaching, and the team has quickly begun to feel like family. 

Lucas Shaha, Volunteer Coach

Lucas (Luke), a sports enthusiast, is in his second year as a volunteer coach. He began as a manager of the 2021 SCFH team. Currently a sophomore at Penn State, he is a manager of the Penn State Field Hockey team and is quickly becoming a goalie guru.  His school spirit and love for sports shine brightly. When not in the classroom or on a field, you'll see him at Nittany Lion events through and through. 

Chelsea (Mearig) Cummins, Volunteer Coach

Chelsea is a former and stand-out SCFH head coach (2014-17) and former field hockey player (Ohio University 2005 graduate and Warwick High School, Lititz, PA 2001). She is currently an 8th-grade Academic Literacy teacher at Mount Nittany Middle School. She and her husband Ryan (SC Wrestling coach) are raising two spirited boys, Kyler and Lawson.  

 

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