Abbey Woolley Joins Field Hockey Staff
July 16, 2007 | Field Hockey
July 16, 2007
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - University of Louisville field hockey coach Pam Bustin has announced that Abbey Woolley will join the staff as an assistant coach. Her duties will include assisting with practice and game day preparation while developing the skill and movement of the attack and working with the attack penalty corner strikers. She will also be involved in recruiting and the development of youth field hockey within the community.
"I am pleased and excited to announce the addition of Abbey Woolley to our Louisville Field Hockey coaching staff!" said Bustin. "After extensive research and encouraging references, Abbey Woolley is without question the top choice for this position."
Woolley was a member of the United States National Team from 2002-05, scoring four international goals in 26 caps. Her major international competitions include: the Champions Challenge and Pan American Games team in 2003; and the Olympic Qualifying Tournament and Pan American Cup in 2004. Prior to her time on the national team, Woolley was a member of the U.S. Under 23 team in 2002; and the U21 team from 2000-01, serving as captain of the Junior World Cup Team. In 1999, as a member of the U20 team, she was coached by Bustin during the Argentina Tour.
"Abbey has competed in numerous international tournaments and trained at the elite level for many years before retiring from international hockey at the conclusion of 2005," said Bustin. "Her love for the game and for teaching will only benefit our young student-athletes. Her skills, passion and sharp competitive spirit will help drive our field hockey program to many championships."
"It was always a pleasure for me to coach Abbey throughout her junior national career, and now, many years later, I look forward to working with her side by side. We are excited to welcome Abbey back into the Division I field hockey coaching world and to watch her passion and attacking instinct impact this talented group of athletes."
Woolley also enjoyed a successful career at the University of North Carolina from 1998-2001. During her time there, the Tarheels earned four NCAA tournament bids and finished runner-up in 2000. Woolley was a National Field Hockey Coaches Association second team All-American and earned NFHCA South Region and All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors in 2001. She graduated from North Carolina in 2002 with a Bachelor's degree in communications. In 2004, Woolley returned as a volunteer assistant for the Tarheels and helped guide them to the ACC championship.
"Abbey's collegiate success, both her individual achievements and team accomplishments while competing, and then coaching at the University of North Carolina has provided her with first hand knowledge of the sport at the highest college level," said Bustin.
Woolley is currently a head coach for the International Field Hockey Club of Kentucky. She has been involved in the coaching community since 2003, serving as a coach in the USA Field Hockey Futures Olympic Development Program, providing instruction on basic skills and strategy to young players in several states including: Kentucky, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania.
"I'm really excited to be a part of the flourishing athletics of U of L," said Woolley. "The hockey team is on the brink of greatness and I hope to contribute all that I can to help get them there. Pam Bustin is an amazing coach and full of energy and it will be a wonderful experience to be working with her again, this time from the sidelines."
A native of Ocean City, N.J., Woolley participated in Futures Program and competed in the AAU Junior Olympic Games. She also earned NFHCA High School first team All-America honors at Ocean City High School. In 2001, Woolley was tabbed South Jersey Field Hockey Association Player of the Year.
Woolley replaces associate coach Christy Utter, who recently accepted a position at Brown University.
