Coaching Staff
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Shanna Vitale
Head Coach
Shanna Vitale begins her first season as the Head Coach for the Hawks in 2009.
Prior to New Paltz, Vitale served as the assistant coach for Lock Haven University’s program for six years. She was responsible for assisting in all phases of the program, including game plans, scouting, academic monitoring and recruiting. During her time at Lock Haven, Vitale helped guide the program to a 106-25 record, including three North East Conference Championships.
Vitale is a 2002 graduate of Lock Haven University, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Health and Physical Education with a concentration in Sports Administration and Coaching. Vital was a forward on the Lady Eagles field hockey program from 1998-2000; she spent the 1997 year on the field for Mansfield University. In 2000, she achieved recognition as the NCAA Division II Field Hockey Athlete of the Year and Honda Broderick nominee. She is a three-time All-American (2000, 1998, 1997), a three-time Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) first team selection (2000, 1998, 1997) and the PSAC Athlete of the Year in 2000.
Over the span of her career at Lock Haven, Vitale recorded a total of 39 goals, including 17 during her senior season, to rank ninth on the Lady Eagles’ all-time goals list. She was a member of the 2000 national championship squad and two PSAC championship teams (1998, 2000).
Prior to her return to Lock Haven, Vitale served as an assistant coach at Wooster College, working with the field hockey and lacrosse teams.
Contact Shanna Vitale at ext. 3929 or vitales@newpaltz.edu.
Heather Semelmacher
Assistant Field Hockey Coach
Heather Semelmacher will begin her second season as the assistant field hockey coach. Semelmacher also serves as the head women's lacrosse coach in which the program completed its first season in 2009.
Semelmacher came to SUNY New Paltz from John A. Coleman Catholic High School in Hurley, New York where she served as head coach of the field hockey team. In 2007 she was named Coach of the Year.
From 2001-2008 Semelmacher was a member on the United States Field Hockey Marketing Development Committee and is an active US Field Hockey member.
Semelmacher is a 1999 graduate of Lynchburg College with a degree in Sports Medicine and Sports Marketing with a minor in Business Administration. While at Lynchburg College, Semelmacher played three years of field hockey and three years of lacrosse before suffering a season ending injury. She played in the Scholastic Division from 1994-1996 and in the Open Division from 2003-2006 at the National Field Hockey Festival.
Semelmacher stays active in the community working several field hockey camps including SUNY New Paltz, White Mountain, and STX.
Contact Heather Semelmacher at ext. 3925 or semelmah@newpaltz.edu.