USA Field Hockey Names New High Performance Staff

COLORADO SPRING, Colo. – USA Field Hockey is pleased to name David Passmore as the new U.S. Women’s National Team Head Coach. Tracey Fuchs will also join the USWNT’s staff as an assistant coach. The High Performance Team will also include Craig Parnham, who will step into the role of High Performance Director, effective October 1.

“I am thrilled to have David, Tracey and Craig join the High Performance Staff,” said Simon Hoskins, USA Field Hockey’s Executive Director. “They bring a wealth of experience in international hockey and are passionate in helping us achieve success.”

“David combines a broad understanding of international hockey with a depth of knowledge in managing high performing international hockey teams.”

“I am absolutely delighted to have accepted this role with USA Field Hockey and can’t wait to start working with this talented group of players who showed their potential at times during the 2022 [FIH Hockey] Pro League,” commented Passmore. “The appointment of Craig, whom I worked with in the United Kingdom and who knows the USA coaching and playing landscape intimately, and Tracey as an assistant coach were huge factors for me.  Tracey is obviously a legend of the game and will be an amazing support in terms of her knowledge of world and Olympic Hockey as a player, in addition to her unique understanding of the players and NCAA structures. I will be seeking to build good relationships with the college community and look forward to meeting each athlete individually over the coming fortnight.”

“My aim is to provide a clear vision and playing philosophy which will provide the basis for quickly elevating the team back to the top table and building towards Paris 2024 qualification.”

With more than 20 years of coaching international field hockey under his belt, Passmore has worked with men, women and junior teams as well as regional and club programs. He joins Team USA after serving as the assistant coach for Ireland’s Women’s National Team, since 2017, and Ireland’s National Development and U-21 Head Coach, since 2014. During this period the majority of the current senior Ireland athletes transitioned from his tenure and the junior team had their most successful period including a first-ever appearance at the Junior World Cup in Potchefstroom, South Africa where they finished ninth. Passmore combined his hockey coaching roles with being an Assistant Professor in Sports Science at Dublin City University, where he specializes in coaching science and talent development.

Prior to that, Passmore was the assistant coach for Great Britain and England from 1999 to 2005. In that time, he was the assistant coach at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, where the team finished eighth. In 2001, he was the assistant coach for the England’s Men’s Team that claimed fifth at the Champions Trophy. He was at the helm of the Ireland’s Men’s National Team from 2004 to 2009, where he increased their world ranking from 25 to 18, a role he performed simultaneously with that of Performance Director.

Passmore has a lengthy resume involved with junior international play, having served as an assistant and head coach, on top of his involvement with development. From 1998 to 2000, he was the England U-18 Head Coach, where he led them to gold and bronze medals in the Euros. He became England’s U-21 Women’s Assistant Coach, where the team claimed eighth at the 2001 FIH Junior World Cup in Buenos Aires, Argentina and transitioned to the head coach of from 2001 to 2004 and led them to both silver and bronze medals in the Europeans.

The Kent native also coached England’s Women’s National Indoor Team to silver at the 1999 European Nations, and has been highly successfully as a club coach winning numerous titles during his involvement with the Maidstone Hockey Club Ladies 1st XI (2001-2005), Cork Harlequins Men’s 1st XI (2003-2005), Coach Catholic Institute Hockey Club Women’s 1st XI (2009-2012 & 2022-2021) and Pembroke Wanderers Men’s 1st XI (2014-2016).

Fuchs, who will remain in her role as Northwestern’s Head Coach, will also serve as an assistant coach for the USWNT, outside of the NCAA season. A focus of her role will be seen managing the college athletes on the national team and their development by working with their coaches and respective programs. The Wildcats’ head coach since 2009, Fuchs turned the program around and has made them into a national powerhouse. In 2021, she led Northwestern to the program’s first-ever National Title and through her years has propelled them to five NCC Tournament appearances, 2013 regular season Big Ten Title and 2014 Big Ten Tournament Crown.

Fuchs is a legendary figure as both an athlete and coach for USA Field Hockey and served as a leader on the USWNT for nearly two decades. She was on staff as an assistant coach for the women’s Team USA squad that captured their first-ever Pan American Games gold medal in 2011 and earned an automatic bid to the London 2012 Olympic Games. During the summer of 2013, she was an assistant coach for the Junior World Cup team in Germany. In April 2014, Fuchs received the ultimate honor in the sport as she was elected to the USA Field Hockey Hall of Fame. She will also continue as an integral part to the Olympic Development Pathway program, Nexus, as a selector and liaison.

After spending 6 years as the Director of Coach Education and Learning, Parnham will move to the role of High Performance Director, effective October 1. In this position, which is largely supported by the women’s Shelly Fund, he will work with the USWNT as well as support the U.S. Men’s National Team. In addition, he will continue to oversee the Coach Education and Learning Program.

Parnham was appointed the head coach of the USWNT in January 2013. He guided the team to their best FIH World Ranking in USWNT history of 5th and propelled the squad to a fifth-place finish at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, a vast improvement from landing last at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Other noteworthy accomplishments include gold medals at the 2015 Pan American Games and 2014 Champions Challenge and fourth place at the 2014 Rabobank World Cup. In January 2017, he transitioned to the role of Director of Coach Education and Learning.

USA Field Hockey would like to recognize the elite support for the USWNT by the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, as well as the sport specific United States Performance Center in Charlotte, N.C. who provides strength and conditioning coaches, athletic trainers, nutritionists and sport psychologists, which are all key components for the USWNT’s preparation.

USA Field Hockey will be recruiting a full-time assistant coach for the USWNT and a Pathway Director in the near future.

Join USA Field Hockey in welcoming Passmore, effective following visa approval, and Fuchs and congratulating Parnham on their new roles!

Photo Credit: World Sport Pics/Rodrigo Jaramillo, Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics