University of North Carolina Athletics
Van Sickle Returns To Chapel Hill
January 11, 2022 | Field Hockey
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – A Tar Heel great is returning to Chapel Hill, UNC field hockey coach Karen Shelton announced Tuesday. Caitlin Van Sickle, a three-time Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year, will join the Carolina staff as an assistant coach, effective immediately. Van Sickle, a starting defender on UNC's 2009 NCAA Championship team, brings to Chapel Hill experience in college and club coaching in addition to her collegiate and international playing background.
"I am thrilled to welcome Caitlin Van Sickle back to Chapel Hill," Shelton said. "She's one of the greatest Tar Heels to ever wear the uniform and she'll bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to our team. Poppy is a consummate competitor, a student of the game and a players' coach. She will undoubtedly inspire our current players and we're so excited to have her join our staff."
She comes to UNC after spending last season as an assistant coach at Princeton.
Van Sickle played for the Tar Heels from 2009-12, starting all four years and earning first-team All-America, All-Atlantic Coast Conference and All-ACC Tournament honors in her sophomore, junior and senior seasons. She helped the Tar Heels to ACC titles in 2011 and 2012 and was the ACC Tournament MVP in 2012 as a senior. She assisted on the game-winning goal in the 2009 NCAA Championship and played in the title game all four years.
The program's Defensive Player of the Year Award is named in her honor.
After graduating from UNC in 2013, Van Sickle played six years as part of the U.S. National Team. That stint included 148 international caps and appearances at the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil and the 2019 Pan American Games in Peru, where the U.S. won a bronze medal. Van Sickle, known as Poppy, was one of five Tar Heels on that Pam Am Games team, along with alums Ashley Hoffman, Lauren Moyer and Julia Young, and current Carolina player Erin Matson.
Van Sickle retired from playing in 2019 and served as Director of Coaching at Powerhouse Field Hockey Club in Wayne, Pa., before joining the Princeton staff in 2021.
She replaces Robbert Schenk, who was named the head coach at Lander University after three seasons as a UNC assistant coach.
"I first wanted to thank Coach Shelton, Grant Fulton and the entire athletic department for the opportunity to return to the University of North Carolina," Van Sickle said. "There is no greater honor than returning to my alma mater, a place that has always held a special place in my heart. I look forward to meeting the team and getting started with our spring training. I am beyond grateful to return 'home' and am excited to start working with such a talented group of student-athletes, and to give back to a place that has given so much to me."
"I am thrilled to welcome Caitlin Van Sickle back to Chapel Hill," Shelton said. "She's one of the greatest Tar Heels to ever wear the uniform and she'll bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to our team. Poppy is a consummate competitor, a student of the game and a players' coach. She will undoubtedly inspire our current players and we're so excited to have her join our staff."
So excited to welcome a Tar Heel legend back to Chapel Hill! 💥🏑
3x All-America and ACC Defensive Player of the Year Caitlin Van Sickle is back in Carolina blue as an assistant coach ➡️ https://t.co/MnFWiZK2zl@poppatweett #GoHeels pic.twitter.com/7bodFgf7sH
— UNC Field Hockey (@UNCFieldHockey) January 11, 2022
She comes to UNC after spending last season as an assistant coach at Princeton.
Van Sickle played for the Tar Heels from 2009-12, starting all four years and earning first-team All-America, All-Atlantic Coast Conference and All-ACC Tournament honors in her sophomore, junior and senior seasons. She helped the Tar Heels to ACC titles in 2011 and 2012 and was the ACC Tournament MVP in 2012 as a senior. She assisted on the game-winning goal in the 2009 NCAA Championship and played in the title game all four years.
The program's Defensive Player of the Year Award is named in her honor.
After graduating from UNC in 2013, Van Sickle played six years as part of the U.S. National Team. That stint included 148 international caps and appearances at the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil and the 2019 Pan American Games in Peru, where the U.S. won a bronze medal. Van Sickle, known as Poppy, was one of five Tar Heels on that Pam Am Games team, along with alums Ashley Hoffman, Lauren Moyer and Julia Young, and current Carolina player Erin Matson.
Van Sickle retired from playing in 2019 and served as Director of Coaching at Powerhouse Field Hockey Club in Wayne, Pa., before joining the Princeton staff in 2021.
She replaces Robbert Schenk, who was named the head coach at Lander University after three seasons as a UNC assistant coach.
"I first wanted to thank Coach Shelton, Grant Fulton and the entire athletic department for the opportunity to return to the University of North Carolina," Van Sickle said. "There is no greater honor than returning to my alma mater, a place that has always held a special place in my heart. I look forward to meeting the team and getting started with our spring training. I am beyond grateful to return 'home' and am excited to start working with such a talented group of student-athletes, and to give back to a place that has given so much to me."
Players Mentioned
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