Field Hockey | 3/9/2022 12:26:00 PM
ELMIRA, NY – Elmira College Director of Athletics
Rhonda Faunce is pleased to announce former Elmira College field hockey player Lauren Thomas was selected from a nationwide search to lead the Soaring Eagle field hockey program. Thomas becomes the ninth head coach of the Soaring Eagles in its 23-year history. She takes over following the departure of Cassidy Rourke, who served as head coach during the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season, along with the 2021 campaign.
"I am beyond thrilled to have someone with Lauren's experience be the next leader of the field hockey team", said Faunce. "The fact that she is an alum is icing on the cake. I think that it speaks highly of the institution and the experience that Lauren had during her time here that she wants to return and take this group over. She is entering into this next challenge in her career with great energy and a true belief she can take ECFH to the next level. The team and our staff cannot wait to get her on campus so she can begin her work".
"I am beyond excited to be returning to Elmira as the newly appointed head field hockey coach", said Thomas. "My pride and love runs deep for this program and I look forward to taking the program to new heights. I am thankful to
Rhonda Faunce for granting me this opportunity to return and I look forward to hitting the ground running to develop the program, recruit stellar student-athletes and to coach/mentor the current student-athletes in the program."
Originally from Marshfield, Massachusetts, Thomas returns to Elmira after spending the last four years as the head coach at Depauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. In her tenure, Thomas guided the Tigers to a 24-30 mark in three seasons (excluding the COVID-19 shortened season of 2020-21), with fourteen of the Tigers' losses being decided by just one goal. During her time at Depauw, Thomas had 11 players selected to All-NCAC Field Hockey teams, as well as over 30 members earning Zig Zag Field Hockey/NFHCA DIII National Academic Squad recognition.
A goalkeeper during her time donning the Purple & Gold, Thomas' defensive mind helped the Tigers to the 8
th highest defensive saves mark (17), as well as the 11
th highest save percentage (.813) in Division III during the 2021 season. Additionally, Thomas helped guide Depauw to an NCAC Tournament semifinal appearance during the 2019 season.
Before Depauw, Thomas served three seasons as an assistant at fellow NCAC school, Ohio Wesleyan University (2015-17). Thomas arrived at Ohio Wesleyan from DePauw, where she served as an assistant coach for one season during 2014. She helped the Tigers to a 16-3 overall record during 2014 while working with all facets of the program, including recruiting, academic check-ins, scheduling, and game management.
Thomas has also served as a skill instructor for the USA Futures Field Hockey Program in Dublin, Ohio, in addition to coaching at camps hosted by the University of Connecticut, Boston College, and Washington and Lee University.
The Marshfield, Mass., native is a graduate of Elmira College where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. On the field, Thomas served as the Soaring Eagles' starting goalkeeper for four years (2010-13) and twice earned All-Empire 8 Athletic Conference honors. She finished her career ranked second in school history for saves (652) and minutes played (3,500), and is 4
th all-time in saves percentage (.781). Thomas also holds four of the top-ten single-season save marks in program history, recording at least 150 saves in each of her four seasons. In all, Thomas' name appears in the top-ten, single-season, and career record books for goalkeepers at Elmira College an astonishing 16 times.
During her time, Thomas additionally served as the president of Elmira's Student-Athlete Advisory Board (SAAC) and was a student-athlete representative at the 2013 NCAA Leadership Forum. Thomas served as a representative for the Empire 8 Leadership Summit and acted as the Class of 2014 Fundraising Committee Chair.