Zinn
YORK, Pa. – York (Pa.) Assistant Dean for Athletics and Recreation Paul Saikia announced that Carly Zinn has been selected as the Spartans’ new field hockey head coach after a national search.
Zinn replaces Jamie Swartz, who resigned her position in the spring. Swartz had guided the Spartan program for the last five seasons as she accumulated a record of 52-49.
Zinn is happy to take the reigns of the Spartan program.
“I would like to thank Paul Saikia, Dean Joe Merkle and Dr. Waldner for the great opportunity to lead the York College field hockey program,” Zinn said. “I am excited to take the next step in my coaching career. I feel very prepared to take over the program. I want to make York College a place for a field hockey student-athlete to come and have great experience.”
Zinn comes to the Spartan program after serving the last three years as the lead assistant coach at Dickinson, including a four-month stint as the acting head coach while the Red Devils were in the midst of a search.
Saikia believes Zinn will be a strong leader for the field hockey program.
“We were fortunate to have a very favorable response to our coaching search, with several strong candidates showing interest in the position. Ultimately, we felt Carly [Zinn] was an excellent fit for our program. She brings great enthusiasm for the sport of field hockey and relevant collegiate experience, especially in the realm of recruiting. We were looking for someone with a sincere drive for excellence, and the prospect of longevity with York College. Carly rose to the top of our list.”
Zinn was a three-year member of the Lock Haven field hockey team, missing her sophomore year due to a medical redshirt. She helped lead the Eagles to a stellar mark of 54-14 (79.4 percent) during her career. She has a definite idea of what type of player she wants to recruit to York.
“Accountability is high on my list of what makes a successful team and program,” Zinn said. “Players need to hold themselves accountable and they should be able to hold their teammates accountable for what they do both on and off the field. Having those types of people will lead us to success. I want athletes who are willing to work hard and put in the time to be successful. I also want student-athletes who are mentally tough and willing to compete at a high level.”
Zinn also feels that York is an attractive option for Division III athletes.
“We will recruit student-athletes who will make a difference in our program,” Zinn said. “We want to create a family atmosphere where there is support from the coaching staff and the squad. We have great facilities that are some of the best in Division III. I feel we can attract a talented group of kids that will enable us to build a successful program.”
Saikia looks for great things from the Spartan field hockey program.
“We’ve won conference championships in ten different sports at YCP,” Saikia said. “My ambition is for us to be performing at that level, consistently, with all of our teams. With the proper commitment, we can get there. My goal is to have the right coaches in place and to provide those coaches with the necessary resources. Several of our programs are there, several are on the verge of breaking though, and some, like field hockey, are taking their first steps on a new path. I believe that adding Coach Zinn to our staff is significant, and I’m excited to watch her and her program grow.”
Zinn assumes her duties immediately as the Spartans will open their 2013 campaign on August 30 at home against Randolph-Macon. She is the seventh coach in the history of the 45-year field hockey program. York has an overall program record of 327-302-33.
