Penn State announces search for next head field hockey coach

Penn State head field hockey coach Lisa Bervinchak-Love is pictured waving. She has led the Nittany Lions for the past three seasons. Photo: Bob Benscoter

Penn State athletics announced late last week that they are not renewing a contract with head field hockey coach Lisa Bervinchak Love.

Love became the Nittany Lions leader after Char Morett-Curtiss announced her retirement following the 2022 season. While in charge of the BigTen program, Love’s overall records were 9-8 in 2023, 8-9 in 2024, and 7-10 in 2025.

A national search for the program’s next head caoch is underway.

“We are so grateful to Lisa for her many years of dedication to Penn State field hockey and the impact she has had on countless student-athletes,” Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Pat Kraft said in a statement. “After careful evaluation, we decided to make a change in leadership as we look to the future of the program. We thank Lisa for her commitment to our university and wish her the very best in her next chapter.”

Love has been part of the Penn State field hockey coaching staff for 32 years. She joined Morett-Curtiss in 1994 as her assistant. She was eventually promoted to associate head coach.

According to Penn State, “During Bervinchak Love’s Penn State Field Hockey 30-plus year tenure, the Nittany Lion program cemented itself as a national powerhouse. Since her arrival as an assistant coach, Penn State made 23 NCAA Tournament appearances, including three trips to the national semifinals. Penn State won seven Big Ten regular-season titles and six Big Ten Tournament championships. The Nittany Lions amassed 27 Big Ten major award winners, 32 NFHCA first-team All-Americans, 31 NFHCA second-team All-Americans, 73 first-team All-Big Ten selections, had more than 300 Academic All-Big Ten selections and nearly 300 NFHCA National All-Academic honorees.”

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