WIDENER UNIVERSITY FIELD HOCKEY

COACHING STAFF

Melissa McCarthy  |  Head Coach

Melissa McCarthy finished her third season as the head coach of the Widener field hockey program and her eighth season with the team overall in 2023-24.

Tapped as the head coach in November 2019, McCarthy led the Pride to a historic campaign in 2021, guiding them to their first MAC Commonwealth Finals appearance in program history and helping them tie the program record for wins in a season with 15. McCarthy also helped Widener reach the semifinals of the ECAC Championship tournament and had six players earn All-MAC Commonwealth honors.

McCarthy brings a wealth of coaching and leadership experience to Widener as a field hockey and track & field instructor. She has most notably been working with the W.C. Eagles Field Hockey Club at the U-10, U-12, U-14, U-16, and U-19 levels as a coach, tournament manager and camp instructor in Spring City, Pa. During her time, McCarthy has helped athletes in the club earn commitments to over 30 different colleges/universities across all NCAA divisions and the W.C. Eagles win three National Indoor Tournament championships (2018, 2019, 2020).

McCarthy also currently coaches with the Nexus program (formerly USA Futures) at the 5A elite site in Downingtown. She is also involved with several Regional Futures Tournament age groups at the USA Field Hockey National Team Training Center, Spooky Nook Sports, in Lancaster. These regional tournaments throughout the country lead to the National Futures Championships and eventually selections to the U-17 and U-19 USA Junior National Teams and is a USA Field Hockey Level 2 accredited coach.  

Furthermore, McCarthy has been an assistant field hockey and track & field coach at Marple Newtown and has also helped at several college field hockey camps and clinics to teach younger players the basics of the sport while also developing teamwork, cooperation and self-esteem. In 2013, she led the Tigers to their first appearance in the PIAA District 1 AA playoffs in more than 10 years. The following year as a volunteer assistant at Merion Mercy, she helped mentor the team to District 1 championship. In track & field, the 2017 season was highlighted for Marple Newtown with top-5 all-time finishes in four events. Several of her players have since gone on to college careers at both the Division II and III levels. 

Prior to coaching, McCarthy excelled on and off the field as a student-athlete at Millersville and Hofstra. At Millersville, she started 38 of 39 games as a midfielder and was named an All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Second Team selection twice as well as a PSAC Scholar-Athlete and NFHCA Scholar-Athlete. In addition, the midfielder made the NFHCA All-America Division II Rookie Team during her freshman season.

After spending two years at Millersville, McCarthy played 36 games on defense as a member of Hofstra’s Division I field hockey program. As an upperclassman, McCarthy was named a CoSIDA Academic All-District Women’s At-Large First Team selection, the Colonial Athletic Association Field Hockey Scholar-Athlete of the Year and the recipient of the Dr. Sylvia J. Giallombardo Hofstra Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award following her senior season while also being named an NFHCA Division I Scholar of Distinction. McCarthy was also an NFHCA Scholar-Athlete and a winner of the CAA Commissioner’s Academic Award.

McCarthy graduated summa cum laude from Hofstra in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, childhood education and psychology. She has completed both her New York and Pennsylvania Teacher Certification examinations. McCarthy is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Organizational Development and Leadership at Widener.

On the field, McCarthy played in the in the Harrow Cup, which was the only draft-based post collegiate field hockey tournament in America. She continues to play field hockey for the Running on Empty club. 

The former Hofstra Pride standout also currently enjoys running as well as watching movies in her free time and currently resides in Havertown.

Jessica McCarthy  |  Assistant Coach

Jessica McCarthy finished her third season as an assistant field hockey coach for the Pride in 2023-2024.

Jessica joins Widener after a successful playing career with Drexel University and the USA National Indoor Team. While at Drexel, she was named All-CAA First Team as a sophomore and senior and received NFHCA All-Region honors in three consecutive seasons. She also earned a spot on the 2016 Field Hockey Championship All-CAA Team. The standout midfielder finished her career for the Dragons with 20 goals (including two game-winners) and 14 assists.

As a member of the of the National Indoor Team, she helped the USA win gold at the 2017 Indoor Pan American Cup.

The Havertown, Pa. native earned her bachelor’s degree in marketing from Drexel in 2017 and currently works as a national promotions manager for Howl at the Moon. She is the younger sister of Widener head field hockey coach Melissa McCarthy.

Olivia Sims | Assistant Coach

Olivia Sims finished her first season as an assistant field hockey coach for the Pride in 2023-2024. Sims recently spent four years with Cabrini University and played midfield for the Cavaliers, with her 2020 season being cut due to COVID-19. In those three seasons, she amassed 14 assists and averaged over 1000 minutes played per season. Named a team captain in her junior and senior year, Sims also received All-Atlantic East team honors for three seasons in 2019, 2021, and 2022. She was also named Atlantic East Conference Rookie of the Year in 2019. Sims earned honors in Division III Field Hockey National Academic Squad and Division III Field Hockey Scholar of Distinction for her success as a student-athlete. 

The Stratford, NJ native earned her Bachelor of Arts in Education Pre-K – 4 with Special Education Certification in May of 2023.