May 18, 2007

Kingston, R.I. -- Amanda Heryla, a former standout on the University of Rhode Island field hockey team, was named the new head coach of the program, it was announced today by interim Director of Athletics Gregg Burke.

"We are very proud and excited to have Amanda as our new head field hockey coach." Burke said. "We conducted a thorough national search and feel that we have found a person with all of the characteristics and qualities we sought in a head coach. It also makes me doubly proud that Amanda is a former field hockey standout of the University of Rhode Island. It is great to have her back in Kingston."

Heryla returns to her alma mater after spending the previous three seasons as an assistant coach at Lafayette College in Easton, Pa. While with the Leopards, Heryla worked with all aspects of the program, while serving as the Director of Lafayette's USA Field Hockey Camp - which features a staff comprised of several national team and World Cup members. She worked closely with individual player development - including working with the team's goalkeepers.

"I'm very excited to be returning to the University of Rhode Island." Heryla said. "I look forward to working with the student-athletes, towards our immediate goal of getting the program to the top of the Atlantic 10."

Prior to her time at Lafayette, Heryla served as a graduate assistant coach at Saint Francis University in Loreto, Pa. from 2001-03. While there, she also worked with the Red Flashes' lacrosse team, while earning a master's degree in human resource management.

In 2001 and 2006, Heryla was the field hockey coordinator for the World Scholar-Athlete Games in Kingston. In this role, she coordinated officials, teams, and coaches with field, practice and competition times. She also coached one of the teams during the tournament.

A native of Easton, Pa., Heryla graduated with a degree in English from URI in 2001. She was a four-year scholarship player and captained the Rams during the 2000 season. During that span, the Rams advanced to the Atlantic 10 Championship twice (1998, 1999) finishing second each time, while advancing to the conference semifinals in 2000. In May 2000, she traveled to Holland and Belgium as a member of the USA Athletes International Field Hockey Team, a collegiate all-star team that competed in two tournaments against international talent. Off the field, Heryla was selected to the Atlantic 10 Commissioner's Honor Roll and the URI Dean's List twice for her academic achievements.