Hannah Prince Departs St. Joe’s to Revitalize Penn State Field Hockey Legacy
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — In a significant shift within the collegiate field hockey landscape, Hannah Prince has been appointed as the new head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions. Leaving behind a dynasty she meticulously constructed at Saint Joseph’s University, Prince arrives in Happy Valley with a clear mandate: return one of the Big Ten’s most storied programs to national championship contention.
A Proven Architect of Success
Prince’s hiring comes off the heels of a historic tenure at Saint Joseph’s, where she transformed the Hawks from a regional competitor into a national powerhouse. Under her guidance, St. Joe’s dominated the Atlantic 10 Conference, securing multiple conference titles and regular NCAA Tournament berths. Her ability to recruit top-tier talent and implement a high-octane tactical system propelled the Hawks into the NFHCA top-10 rankings, a feat previously unimagined for the program.
Penn State officials are banking on Prince replicating this blueprint in State College. The Nittany Lions, while historically successful, are looking to reassert their dominance in a conference that has seen the rise of programs like Northwestern and Maryland. Prince’s track record suggests she possesses the specific skillset required to bridge the gap between being a competitive team and a Final Four favorite.
The Big Ten Gauntlet: Challenges Ahead
Despite Prince’s accolades, the move is not without significant challenges. Critics and analysts point out that the leap from the Atlantic 10 to the Big Ten represents a massive increase in week-to-week competitive intensity. The Big Ten is widely regarded as the premier conference in Division I field hockey, often sending more than half its members to the postseason.
There is also the question of transition. Prince is leaving a program where her system was fully entrenched to take over a roster recruited by a different staff. Rebuilding culture and adjusting tactical schemes in the face of opponents like Iowa, Rutgers, and Maryland often requires a patience that major athletic departments rarely afford. Furthermore, skeptics note the difficulty of sustaining momentum when stepping into the shadow of Penn State’s decades-long legacy, where expectations are perpetually high regardless of roster turnover.
Context and Career
Prince brings an elite pedigree to the sidelines. A former standout player at the University of Massachusetts and a member of the U.S. National Team, she has long been viewed as a rising star in the coaching ranks. Her deep ties to the Pennsylvania recruiting circuit—a hotbed for field hockey talent—were likely a deciding factor in her hiring.
Penn State’s field hockey program boasts a rich history, anchored by the legendary tenure of Charlene Morett-Curtiss, who retired in 2023. The program has struggled to find firm footing in the immediate post-Morett-Curtiss era, making Prince’s appointment a critical pivot point. By luring Prince away from the empire she built in Philadelphia, Penn State has signaled its aggressive intention to not just compete, but to conquer the Big Ten once again.
