On February 7, 2022, Adelphi University Director of Athletics and Campus Recreation Danny McCabe announced that Jess Mulhern '12 will return to her alma mater as the third head coach in the program's history.Â
Through her first three seasons with the program, Mulhern has amassed over 30 wins and coached 11 All-Conference athletes. She also mentored two NFHCA All-Americans in Bianca Bachisin and Kaylee Deleva. Additionally in 2024, she oversaw two program all-time records be set, with Amanda Lee in goals (47) and Kylie Peregoy in defensive saves (27). Â
In just her first year as head coach, she guided the Panthers to win the Northeast-10 Championship for the first time in program history. She also led the program to the NCAA Division II Tournament Quarterfinals in the same year, only the third time since the program emerged back in 2008.
Following up her championship season in 2023, the Brown and Gold secured another season with double digit wins. This included a double-overtime win on the road against in-state rival and nationally ranked Pace University. After winning five of their final six regular season games, the Panthers also won their fourth consecutive conference tournament game at third-seeded Bentley in the NE10 Quarterfinals.Â
2024 saw the 'Cats match their nine-win mark in the conference from 2022, which included a stellar October where the team took seven victories in eight games. With the team's strong finish, the Panthers earned hosting rights for their first conference tournament game since the 2022 NE10 Championship. Adelphi also won another nationally-ranked game against No. 9 and eventual national champion Saint Anselm on Sep. 20.Â
Mulhern excelled as a two-sport athlete at Adelphi from 2008-12. Not only was she a four-year starter on the field hockey team, Mulhern also was a three-time NE10 All-Conference runner in indoor track and field.Â
She tallied 21 career points as a midfielder for the Panthers and earned inclusion on the 2009 and 2010 NFHCA National Academic Squad. Mulhern also helped to set school-record relay times in the 4x800 indoor and outdoor event during her track tenure.
Mulhern spent the last eight years at fellow Division II school Limestone University in Gaffney, S.C.
She first worked as an assistant for the Saints, before being elevated to head coach in 2017. Mulhern served at the helm for five seasons, and led the program to a 58-23 record. She helped Limestone to back-to-back South Atlantic Conference Carolinas Tournament Championships in 2018 and 2019.
Additionally, the Saints won a South Atlantic Conference Carolinas regular-season championship in 2018, and finished as runner-ups to the Eastern College Athletic Conference Division II title in 2017, under Mulhern.
"I am beyond excited to return to Adelphi University as the field hockey program's head coach. This institution gave me the chance to continue on in athletics at the collegiate level and made me want to become a coach," commented Mulhern.
Mulhern attained her first coaching position in 2016 with the USA Field Hockey Futures Program, and attended the NCAA Women's Coaches Academy the same year.
"We are thrilled to welcome Jess Mulhern back to Adelphi as the head field hockey coach. Throughout her career, Jess has shown an ability to recruit and lead a team with great success," said McCabe.
"As an Adelphi alum, Jess is very familiar with our program and shares the same values of providing a high-quality student-athlete experience. Welcome home, Jess."
"Thank you to Danny McCabe, Jess Roque and the rest of the search committee for selecting me for this opportunity and entrusting my ability to run this program. I look forward to starting my next chapter with Adelphi and stepping onto Motamed Field as the head coach of a program I hold close to my heart. Go Panthers!"
Mulhern's Year-by-Year Coaching Record
2022 - 13-9 (9-4) : NE10 Champions; NCAA Quarterfinals
2023 - 10-9 (8-5) : NE10 Semifinals
2024 - 9-10 (9-4) : NE10 Quarterfinals
TOTAL: 32-28 ; 3 Seasons; 1Â NE10 Title; 1Â NCAA Appearance
