UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; August 28, 2018 – Former Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey player Amanda Dinunzio has returned to Happy Valley to join the coaching staff of her alma mater. DiNunzio is now a volunteer assistant on the Penn State staff, joining her former mentor, head coach Char Morett-Curtiss and an already outstanding staff of coaches that features Associate Head Coach Lisa Bervinchak-Love and assistant coach Stuart Smith.
Dinunzio competed for Penn State from the 2011-12 academic year through the 2014-15 campaign and was part of two Big Ten regular season championship squads and two Big Ten Tournament champions. She was a four-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree (2012-2015), a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar (2012-2015) and a four-time member of the NFHCA National All-Academic Team (2011-2014). Dinunzio lettered all four years at Penn State and played in nearly 60 games, starting over 20.
A State College native who played at State College High School, Dinunzio joined the U.S. National Team in 2016 and retired from international play in 2018 with 11 international caps. She also played for HC Rotterdam Dames First Team in The Netherlands.
"We are thrilled to have Amanda join our coaching staff this fall," said Morett-Curtiss. "Amanda is just coming off playing for the U.S. National Team at their training camp in Lancaster, Pa., last spring. Her experience with them in training and international matches truly brings a knowledge of advanced skills and creative styles of play. As a competitor at Penn State, Amanda was a truly skillful player who was versatile at many positions."
"She has already had a very positive impact on our attacking strategies," Morett-Curtiss continued. "The players have really enjoyed their interactions and practice time with her. Amanda has always had an incredible passion for the sport of field hockey and Penn State and now she has transformed that passion into a coaching position for her alma mater."
Penn State will return to action next weekend, visiting Temple on Friday, Aug. 31, for a 6 p.m. contest. The Nittany Lions host two home games the following week, welcoming Princeton on Tuesday, Sept. 4, at 7:30 p.m. and Kent State on Friday, Sept. 7, at 4 p.m. A three-game week will conclude back at Temple where Penn State will face Duke at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 9, in a neutral site battle.
Fans are encouraged to follow the Nittany Lion field hockey team online at www.GoPSUsports.com (click teams, click field hockey), on twitter @pennstateFH and on facebook at www.facebook.com/pennstatefieldhockey.
