NEW PALTZ – — Former Providence College head field hockey coach William Davidson has been named the new field hockey coach at SUNY New Paltz.
In four seasons as the Friars head coach, Davidson guided the program to the Big East Tournament semifinals in 1998 and the Big East Tournament finals in 2000. Last season, his team went 11-8 and reached the semifinals of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Tournament.
His coaching resume also includes a 10-year run as a member of the coaching staff with the Men’s United States Field Hockey Association. During that time, he assisted with the Men’s National and Junior National Teams and coached at US Olympic Festivals, US Hockey Festivals, and Super Camps.
Davidson has also served as the head field hockey coach of club teams at the University of California-Santa Barbara (1993-95) and at California Polytechnic State University (1996).
In 1992 he founded East West Field Hockey Camps and currently serves as the Director and Head Coach. The camp enrolls 500 players and is annually held in New England and California during the summer months.
A 1988 graduate of the University of Massachusetts, Davidson began playing on the National under-21 team in 1978 and then competed on the National Teams for a total of 10 years while participating in the Pan American Games as well as Olympic Festivals. During his career, he traveled to more than 25 countries and several continents.
He also holds a teaching license in physical and health education from California State Polytechnic University and has held teaching positions at Manchester Elementary-Middle School in Manchester, Vermont (1996-97) and Montessori Center School in Santa Barbara, California (1992-94).
The SUNY New Paltz field hockey team will begin its third season of varsity play in the Manhattanville Tournament on August 31 in Purchase, NY.
