A Legacy of Excellence: The History of University of Delaware Field Hockey
The University of Delaware (UD) boasts a rich athletic tradition, and its field hockey program stands as a testament to this legacy. Known as the Fightin' Blue Hens, the university's athletic teams have garnered national recognition, and the field hockey team is no exception. This article explores the history of the UD field hockey program, highlighting its achievements, key figures, and its place within the university's broader athletic landscape.
Early Years and Conference Affiliations
The Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens compete in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA). UD joined the CAA in 2001, marking a significant chapter in its athletic history. Before that, from 1991 to 2001, the university was a member of the America East Conference. Since joining the CAA, the Blue Hens have won 35 conference team titles, demonstrating their consistent competitiveness across various sports.
Recent Successes: CAA Dominance
The UD field hockey team has experienced considerable success in the CAA. In the fall, the team celebrated its second consecutive Colonial Athletic Association Championship with a 2-1 victory over James Madison University. This achievement marked the first time a conference team had won consecutive CAA trophies since Old Dominion University accomplished the feat from 2010-11. The title was UD’s fourth since joining the league in 2002.
Head Coach Rolf van de Kerkhof noted, "It was a true conference championship game. Two great teams competed, and it could have gone either way. We played great defense in the second half, which was truly the difference maker." Blue Hens junior midfielder Allie Mikelson was named the Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.
The championship win earned UD the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, where they lost to Kent State University in the first round.
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Looking Ahead: Ambitions for the Future
The Blue Hens have high hopes for the future. "The last two championships have created a great excitement and a positive energy for the team. Everyone came back from winter break ready to go with a lot of motivation, and I think as a team we are ready to take the next step and achieve bigger goals. This spring we will work a lot on our individual development and become even closer as a team. The UD field hockey team will kick off the 2015 season this summer."
University-Wide Athletic Achievements
The University of Delaware's athletic prowess extends beyond field hockey. The Fighting Blue Hens football teams have won six national titles, including the 2003 NCAA Division I Football Championship. In 2007, the Delaware Blue Hens returned to the championship game but were defeated by defending champion Appalachian State. Former head football coaches Bill Murray, Dave Nelson, and Harold "Tubby" Raymond are College Football Hall of Fame inductees.
The women's basketball team also boasts a history of success. The 2000-01 Delaware team finished 26-5 overall and 17-1 in the America East Conference, winning the conference tournament to qualify for their first NCAA bid. The 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons were particularly remarkable, with the team going undefeated in CAA play under head coach Tina Martin and All-American Elena Delle Donne.
Expansion and Title IX Considerations
In recent years, UD has made significant decisions regarding its athletic programs. On November 28, 2023, UD and Conference USA (CUSA) jointly announced that UD would start a transition to the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) in 2024 and join CUSA in 2025. UD continued to compete in both sides of the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) in 2024-25; it was ineligible for the FCS playoffs due to NCAA rules for transitioning programs but was eligible for all non-football CAA championships. Upon joining CUSA, UD has become eligible for all conference championship events except the football championship game; it will become eligible for that event upon completing the FBS transition in 2026.
At the same time, UD also announced it would add one women's sport due to Title IX considerations and would also be seeking conference homes for the seven sports that UD sponsors but CUSA does not. The new women's sport would later be announced as ice hockey, and Delaware was initially announced to be joining College Hockey America (CHA) for its first season of varsity play in 2025-26.
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Other Notable Sports Programs
The University of Delaware also supports a variety of other sports programs, including men's ice hockey (a club-level program), men's club crew, and rugby. The men's club crew team has achieved prominence, winning the Dad Vail Regatta lightweight freshmen eight event multiple times. The University of Delaware Rugby Football Club, founded in 1972, competes in the East Conference of Division 1-A.
Mascot and School Spirit
The athletic teams at Delaware are known as the Fightin' Blue Hens with a mascot named YoUDee. YoUDee is a Blue Hen Chicken, after the team names and the state bird of Delaware. YoUDee was elected into the mascot hall of fame in 2006 and is a seven-time UCA Open Division Mascot National Champion.
"The Delaware Fight Song"
"The Delaware Fight Song" first appeared in the Student Handbook in 1933. It was composed by alumnus George F.
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