UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Pat Kraft named Lisa Bervinchak-Love the head coach of Penn State’s storied field hockey program today. Bervinchak-Love, the long-time associate head coach for the recently retired Char Morett-Curtiss, is the sixth head coach in school history.
Bervinchak-Love will begin her first season as the head coach in what will be her 30th year on the Penn State staff. She began her Penn State coaching career in 1994, joining Morett-Curtiss’ staff as an assistant coach, was eventually promoted to associate head coach, and has remained a fixture in the Penn State community since.
“We are excited to have Lisa take over the reins of the Penn State field hockey program,” said Kraft. “Lisa has been a huge part of the program’s success for the last 29 years, working alongside the legendary Char Morett-Curtiss. Lisa’s fingerprints are all over this program and she is more than ready to take on the challenge of being a head coach. Her love for Penn State, this program and these student-athletes is evident when you talk to her and her passion shines through in every aspect of her coaching.”
“I am truly blessed and honored to be the next head coach for Penn State Field Hockey,” said Bervinchak-Love. “I want to thank Pat Kraft for giving me this opportunity and Char for all her support, mentoring and the friendship she has given me over the years. Char has been the heart and soul of this program for a long time, and I am truly grateful to have been by her side for 29 of those years. I will do my best to honor Char’s legacy and the traditions of Penn State Field Hockey. We will continue to play with heart and strive to be the best both on and off the field. We Are!”
During Bervinchak-Love’s time on the Penn State staff, the Nittany Lion program cemented itself as a national powerhouse. Since her arrival as an assistant coach, Penn State has achieved national success:
- 23 NCAA appearances, including three trips to the national semifinals and two to the NCAA title game
- Seven Big Ten Regular-Season Championships
- Six Big Ten Tournament Championships
Penn State’s student-athletes have achieved heralded success during Bervinchak-Love’s tenure as an assistant:
- 30 NFHCA first-team All-Americans, 31 second team All-Americans, 25 third team All-Americans
- 70 first-team All-Big Ten selections
- 6 Big Ten Players of the Year, 9 Big Ten Offensive Players of the Year, 9 Big Ten Defensive Players of the Year
- Over 300 Academic All-Big Ten selections
- Nearly 300 NFHCA National All-Academic honorees
“When I returned to Penn State in 1987 Lisa was a talented right wing,” said retiring coach Char Morett-Curtiss. “She could weave through a defense with skill and speed and make it look easy. More importantly she displayed a love for the game, a fierce competitive spirit, a motivational work ethic and was highly respected by her teammates. She became a humble captain her senior year and a first-team All-American.”
“A few years later, searching for an assistant in 1993, I reached out to Lisa,” Morett-Curtiss continued. “She always embodied the traditions, values, and pride of Penn State Field Hockey as a player and alum and I knew that she would be an outstanding coach. Twenty-nine years, as a leader by my side, she has exceeded those expectations and has become a coach who has led Penn State to years of consistent success in the classroom and on the field. She values every aspect of a player’s collegiate life, coaches with a keen knowledge of the game, and an understanding to prepare weekly for game day decisions and success. Lisa is a proud representative of Penn State University, who is highly respected in the coaching community and amongst her coaching peers on campus. Our years together were successful, fun and special. With Lisa at the helm, Penn State Field Hockey is primed for success.”
As a player, Bervinchak-Love played there years at Penn State after transferring from Villanova at the conclusion of her freshman year. A three-year letterwinner (1986-88), Bervinchak-Love earned a lengthy list of honors during her playing career:
- First-team NFHCA All-American
- First-team All-Atlantic 10
- Atlantic-10 All-Tournament Team
- Atlantic-10 Player of the Week
- 28 career goals in three seasons at Penn State
- Team captain as a senior
Following her graduation from Penn State in 1989, Bervinchak-Love continued to play field hockey at the national level. In 1991, she helped guide her team to a Silver Medal at the Olympic Sports Festival in Los Angeles. Bervinchak-Love graduated from Penn State with a degree in health policy and administration. She began her professional career as an elementary school teacher in Penn Manor School District and assisted head coaches in field hockey and basketball. She continued teaching in a number of elementary schools before coming to Penn State as an assistant coach.
She is married to Steve Love, a Penn State alum and senior graphic designer in Penn State Athletics. They have two daughters, Taylor and Kelsey (a junior on this year’s Nittany Lion team).