British Columbia native and Maine graduate to lead Skyhawks into Division I era after three years as Kent State assistant
EASTON, Mass. (July 8, 2022) – Stonehill College has named Danielle Aviani as its seventh field hockey head coach, replacing Annie Hansbury, who resigned to pursue other professional opportunities last month. The announcement was made today by Dean O'Keefe, '94, Director of Athletics at the College.
"We are thrilled to announce that Danielle Aviani will lead the Stonehill field hockey program during this exciting time as we begin our transition to Division I status in the Northeast Conference," said O'Keefe. "Coach Aviani brings a wealth of experience at the highest level of college athletics as both a coach and student-athlete. She will provide our student-athletes a mentor who will foster a culture of personal growth and continued development in the pursuit of academic and athletic excellence."
Aviani brings five years of Division I coaching experience to Stonehill, the last three years as assistant field hockey coach at Kent State University under head coach Kyle DeSandes-Moyer, serving as goalkeeping specialist. Aviani assisted the Golden Flashes to a 34-18 record over her three seasons, with two Mid-American Conference (MAC) regular season championships. She helped Kent State record four wins over Power-5 programs, coached four National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) All-West Region selections and 15 All-MAC picks, including the program's first MAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2021. Aviani was also in charge of offensive coordination of attack line substitutions and small group skills.
"It is truly an honor to be named the next Stonehill head field hockey coach," said Aviani. "I am beyond grateful for this opportunity to guide the program into Division I and demonstrate competitiveness and holistic excellence at the highest level. I am so excited to lead such a motivated group of student-athletes and see how I can be a part of their impact on our world.
I would like to thank Dean O'Keefe, Cindy MacDonald (Senior Associate Director of Athletics) and the entire hiring committee for making me feel so welcomed and believing in me to lead Stonehill field hockey into Division I."
Kent State improved each of Aviani's three years with the program, winning MAC regular season titles in 2019 (with a 5-1 mark) and the 2021 fall season (6-1). The Golden Flashes posted a 12-6 mark last fall, including the 6-1 MAC record, was ranked in the Penn Monto/NFHCA Division I coaches poll for eight consecutive weeks and posted three wins over nationally ranked opponents, producing the first MAC Defensive Player of the Year in program history. Kent State outscored opponents 46-16 during its 2021 spring season in which it posted an 11-3 record, including 9-3 in the MAC, ranking third nationally in goals per game and scoring average, while ranking fourth in assists and scoring margin.
Additionally, Aviani completed an internship in the Kent State athletics department within Student-Athlete Academic Services as well as International Student and Scholar Services within the Office of Global Education at Kent State.
Prior to joining the coaching staff at Kent State, Aviani spent the 2018-19 academic year at Wagner College, an NEC member, assisting in recruiting and preparing for the Seahawks inaugural varsity season in 2019. She got her collegiate coaching career started with one year at Hofstra University under coach Kathy De Angelis. She completed practice plans, drill setup and student-athlete development, while conducting individual tactical skill sessions, coordinated team travel arrangements and assisted in recruiting for the Pride. Aviani has coached with the USA Futures Program at Columbia University's Level I site and the Level II site at Kent State. She also gained coaching experience at the club level with Long Island United.
Aviani is a 2017 graduate of the University of Maine, earning a Bachelor of Science degree, and was a four-year member of the Black Bears field hockey program. She earned NFHCA All-Northeast Region honors in 2015 and was selected to the NFHCA Division I Senior All-Star Game in 2016. The two-time All-America East performer also earned a spot on the America East All-Championship team twice. The midfielder finished her collegiate career with 96 points with 38 goals and 20 assists over her 83 career games. She was named to the America East Academic Honor Roll and was a Maine Scholar-Athlete Silver Medalist over her career.
Aviani, who received her Master of Education Degree from Kent State in May, is a native of Surrey, British Columbia.
Stonehill finished the 2021 season with a 13-5 record overall, including 11-3 in its final season in the Northeast-10 Conference. The Skyhawks were ranked No. 10 in the final NFHCA Division II poll after making a Conference record matching 22nd appearance in the NE10 Tournament as the No. 3 seed and were ranked No. 4 in the final regular season NCAA Division II East Regional rankings. Sophomore Raegan Hickey earned All-America honors from the NFHCA and Synapse Sports and was among five to earn NE10 postseason honors.
Stonehill currently offers 23 varsity intercollegiate athletic programs set to begin competition at the NCAA Division I level for the 2022-23 season. Stonehill accepted an invitation to the Northeast Conference (NEC) in April, after 42 years as a charter member of the Northeast-10 Conference, winning the NE10 Presidents' Cup six times, finishing in the top three in the final standings 15 of the last 17 years. Stonehill is one of just ten institutions nationwide to receive the NCAA Presidents' Award for Academic Achievement, recognizing athletic departments with an Academic Success rating of 90-percent or better, each of the first ten years of the program's existence.
Stonehill teams have earned 119 NCAA Tournament bids over its history, also regularly sending student-athletes to compete at the NCAA Championships in men's and women's track & field. Stonehill has won 131 NE10 Championships and 192 student-athletes have earned All-America honors over its history. Women's lacrosse has won two NCAA National Championships in 2003 and 2005, and Corey Thomas, '13 won the indoor high jump national title at the 2011 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships. Equestrian captured the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) Hunter Seat National Championship in 2003 and collected several individual national championships over the course of its history as well.
Stonehill will begin competition in the NEC this fall and be incorporated into NEC athletic schedules beginning with the 2022-23 seasons and participate in NEC Championships in NCAA non-automatic qualifier sports (men's and women's cross country and indoor and outdoor track & field, as well as women's swimming). Stonehill women's ice hockey will commence its inaugural season as a member of the New England Women's Hockey Alliance (NEWHA) this winter as well.
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