Penn State field hockey welcomed Olympian Ally Hammel as an assistant coach ‘with open arms’: Q&A
Ally Hammel said she knew it was time for her to retire from the USA Senior Women’s National Field Hockey Team. She is now an assistant field hockey coach at Penn State. Photos: USA Field Hockey
The Penn State women’s field hockey program has had an Olympian on their sideline for nearly its an entire existence.
Lisa Bervinchak Love is the current head coach. She served as an assistant to Char Morett-Curtiss, known as “the face of Nittany Lion field hockey.” Morett-Curtiss led the program from the 1980s until her retirement in 2023.
Bervinchak Love, who is in her 32nd year on the Penn State staff, is the program’s sixth head coach. Her resume is riddled with experience having served as the long-time associate head coach for Morett-Curtiss, who is a 1984 Olympian.
Joining the Penn State field hockey coaching staff this Fall is Ally Hammel. Hammel is an Olympian from the USA Field Hockey 2024 Paris Olympics.
Female Athlete News asked Hammel questions about her field hockey career turned college coach career.
Here is what she had to say:
Q: Teamwork is an important aspect of field hockey, and the connection it brings between the players lead to lifelong friendships. What is something you learned about teamwork from your past teams? How have these past teammates made you a better player and person?
A: “We’d often talk about how connection is our magic. A team that is super connected both on and off the field often finds success. It’s almost like they’re my extended family. Even now, as I move into a coaching role, these are the people I lean on when I have questions, doubt myself, or just want to have a quick chat. They get me, how I think, and how I operate. That teamwork and connection piece is so important. It breeds success. When you have it off the field, it translates on the field. We always say, how lucky are we to step onto the pitch with 30 of your best friends? And not everything is perfect. That includes having hard conversations and letting yourself be vulnerable and authentic at the same time. I’m very grateful for my teammates. They’re like my extended family. For all they do for me and give to me, I’m grateful to give back to them.”
Q: What is the best piece of advice you’ve received from your coaches?
A: “It’s funny, now in coaching, it’s something I’m very aware of and continue to push back to players. In hockey and in life, you will make mistakes, and it’s okay to make mistakes. It’s okay to be vulnerable, authentic, and make a mistake because you’re trying something new. What’s important is how you respond. What’s your body language? Are you getting down on yourself, or are you saying, ‘It’s okay, I made a mistake. What’s my next goal? What’s the next play? How can I help my team?’ That’s the best advice I received. We’re so hard on ourselves, specifically as women, but also as athletes. It’s easy to spiral into self-doubt and negative self-talk. That’s why it’s important to slowly work yourself out of that and remind yourself, ‘It’s okay to make a mistake. What matters is how I respond. What does my attitude and effort look like?’”
Q: You played for the national team in the Olympics last year. The Olympic Games is the highest level of competition. Have you ever imagined making it to the Olympics? What was your reaction to being selected to play for the USA? How did you handle the pressure of competing at such a high level?
A: “I grew up playing ice hockey, so when I started field hockey, I realized I had a lot of passion for it. That passion grew everyday. Field hockey became a roaring flame…I just loved it. I never thought the Olympics could be a reality, but I always dreamed about it. When I went to BU [Boston University] and started getting into the U.S. system, I slowly saw that dream becoming possible. I still had a long way to go, but I kept striving.
When I saw my name on the roster, I still remember that feeling…it’s shocking, emotional, and so special. All the hard work, all the sacrifice…it’s amazing, exciting. Sometimes I look back and think, ‘I can’t believe that was a year ago. I can’t believe we were there.’ It’s something so special.
I tried my best to stay present, keep working hard, and perfect my craft, but I also knew there was more growth ahead. Going into the Olympic Qualifier, the pressure felt even bigger than the Games themselves. We reframed it: this was just another pitch, another game we’d played a million times, against teams we’d faced before. The key was not making the moment bigger than it was. That preparation made things feel second nature and took the pressure off.
If something unexpected happened, we focused on controlling the chaos, something David (Passmore) [USA head coach] always emphasized. We learned to handle those moments. There was no other outcome in our minds than qualifying and going to the Olympics. Being there felt so exciting, it was an underdog story for us.”
Q: You recently retired from the national team and took on the role as an assistant coach for Penn State field hockey. Why did you retire? How are you liking the role so far? What is it like to be on the sidelines instead of on the field?
A: “Why I retired is a tough question. It took me a long time to come to terms with it, and there were a lot of emotions. After the Olympics, I just didn’t have the spark for it anymore. It sounds so simple, but that spark for high performance…showing up every day and pushing myself to the max, wasn’t there. I still love the game; it’s my life. But I didn’t feel like I was in it anymore. My teammates and coaches supported me through it all, but it just felt right.
I’m so grateful for the Penn State coaching staff and players. They welcomed me with open arms. Coaching hasn’t come second nature to me, I’m still learning how to describe what I see on the field in ways players can understand and execute. That’s been a challenge, but one I’m excited for. A big part is not just explaining what to do, but also giving the ‘why’ behind it.
I’ve been very vulnerable with them about how hard it’s been stepping away from the team and into this role, but Love [PSU head coach] has been fantastic. She tells me, ‘If you want to go play, go for it.’ And sometimes I run around a bit and realize, ‘Oh yeah, this is why I retired.’ But everyone has been so supportive. I’m very grateful for this opportunity and this new family.”
Q: Being a professional athlete and balancing your regular life can be challenging. What motivates you? How have you balanced your athletics and your life?
A: “I always found joy in playing…being on the field with my best friends and having the opportunity to do this as a job every day. Sign me up, I’m there. We just had so much fun together. Before the Pan Am Games, the Olympic Qualifier, and the Olympics, we centralized as a team. We all committed to a common goal. Knowing that 27 or 29 people were showing up every day, all in it together, made the hard moments easier. And in the joys, we experienced them together. That accountability kept me focused on nutrition, hydration, sleep, and everything else, because I know the whole team was doing it with me.
Of course, there were times I wanted to just be a 25-year-old, see my family, or live a more typical life. But we knew those sacrifices were necessary, and there was no other option but to put in the work for the outcome we wanted. It was all about buying into a common goal and doing it together.
Even when I came home from training and had to work another job, I was willing because it allowed me to keep playing. That motivation, playing with my teammates and working toward something bigger than myself, made it all worth it.”
Thank you for reading Female Athlete New. Sydney Madden is a student-intern at Penn State University.