Three-time Division II national championship winning head coach Tara Zollinger has been named the University of Delaware head field hockey coach, Senior Deputy AD, Revenue Generation & Sport Administration Jordan Skolnick announced Monday. She will assume the role on Wednesday, March 26.

"Tara has a proven track record of winning and competing at the highest levels," Skolnick said. "We are excited to welcome her, her husband Eyoel, and children Isra and Elias to the Blue Hen family. It was clear that she is committed to providing a great student-athlete experience and has a strong vision for player development. We are all looking forward to seeing Tara continue the rich history of success of our field hockey program."

Zollinger comes to Newark after spending the previous eight seasons (2017-24) as the head coach at DII Shippensburg in Pennsylvania where she won national championships in 2017, 2018, and 2021. She also led the Raiders to the 2022 national title game and semifinal appearances in 2023 and 2024.

"I am incredibly honored and excited to join the University of Delaware as the head field hockey coach," Zollinger said. "Delaware field hockey has a rich tradition of excellence, and I am eager to build upon that legacy alongside our talented student-athletes, dedicated staff, and passionate community. My goal is to foster a culture of hard work, resilience, and a championship mindset – both on and off the field. I am grateful for this opportunity and want to thank Jordan Skolnick, Chelsey Burk, Jenn Judy and the entire search committee for believing in my vision for the program and entrusting me with this opportunity to lead the Blue Hen field hockey program."

A Jeannette, Pennsylvania native, Zollinger boasts a 118-25 career record, including 59-8 in conference play, and 10-3 in NCAA Tournaments. She has directed four National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Regional Coaching Staffs of the Year, and a trio of NFHCA National Coaching Staffs of the Year. 

"I want to express my gratitude to Ange Bradley for giving me my first coaching opportunity and for serving as a lifelong mentor," Zollinger said. "Her support and encouragement has been invaluable. I also want to thank Jeff Michaels, Carrie Michaels, and Ashley Grimm for providing me with monumental opportunities to grow as a coach and further my development during my time at Shippensburg University. A special thank you to Missy Meharg for her continued support and insight over the course of my career. Lastly, I am forever grateful to the student-athletes, fellow coaches, and support staff I have had the honor of working with. It is through their dedication, passion, and commitment that I have been able to evolve into the coach I am today."

Over the course of her eight seasons in Shippensburg, Zollinger has produced 41 all-league players, and 23 All-Americans. She's claimed four regular season Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) titles and a pair of conference tournament titles.

Prior to taking the reins for the Raiders, she spent four seasons (2013-16) as an assistant coach at Syracuse where she worked for former Blue Hen and UD Athletics Hall of Fame inductee (2005) Ange Bradley. She helped Bradley and the Orange to a national championship, ACC regular season title, and both NFHCA regional and national coaching staff of the year awards.

At Syracuse, Zollinger was a part of one the school's most successful seasons. She helped instruct a 2015 team that posted a perfect 16-0 regular-season record – the first team in 25 seasons to achieve the feat. The No. 1-ranked Orange also swept the 2015 ACC postseason awards, becoming the first team to do so since North Carolina in 1994.

A two-time PSAC Coach of the Year, Zollinger also serves as a coach with USA Field Hockey. She's held a number of roles including Nexus coach (2021-25), supplemental coach for the women's U21 team (2024), high performance mid-atlantic region coach (2017-19), talent selection (2013-15, 2018, 2021-24), U14 futures national championship coach (2016-17), futures head coach and director (2014-17), and futures assistant coach (2010-14). 

On the national level, Zollinger served a two-year term (2017-18 and 2018-19) as the field hockey representative on the coaches' council for WeCOACH (formerly Alliance of Women Coaches). She was one of 15 coaches from across the country spanning all three NCAA divisions that served on the council, serving as an ambassador in coaching communities and networks. At the completion of her term, Zollinger graduated from WeCOACH Academy 2.0.

She played college field hockey for former Blue Hen and UD Athletics Hall of Famer (1998) Missy Meharg at Maryland. For the Terps, Zollinger was an attacker who won two NCAA Championships (2010, 2011) and two ACC Championships (2009, 2010) – reaching the Final Four in all four of her collegiate seasons. She received Maryland's Kateri Simon Award in 2012, recognizing an athlete that persevered in times of adversity and displayed courage while bringing positive energy to all team sessions.

Zollinger earned her undergraduate degree in sociology in 2013 and was an active member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). She was also a development assistant with the University of Maryland Terrapin Club, coordinating and organizing member and donor events.

She also holds two master's degrees in sport administration (2019) and sport and exercise psychology (2018) from Lock Haven.

Zollinger and her husband Eyoel have two children - Isra and Elias.

For the full story and more information about the University of Delaware field hockey program visit bluehens.com.