University of Delaware Athletics
Field Hockey
- Title:
- Volunteer Assistant Coach
- Email:
- woodieml@udel.edu
- Phone:
- 302-831-0881
University of Delaware field hockey alumna Missy Arenz completed her fifth season as an assistant coach with the Blue Hens during the 2018 campaign. Arenz returned to the program in the fall 2013 as a volunteer assistant coach before being promoted to an assistant coach during the spring of 2014.
In her role, she served as the program's recruiting coordinator while also being responsible for alumni engagement and the development of the team's defenders.
During her tenure, Arenz helped lead the Blue Hens as a persistent threat on the national stage, both on the field and in the classroom. Additionally, Delaware garnered one National Championship (2016), five straight Colonial Athletic Association Tournament Championships (2013-17) and four CAA regular season titles (2013, 2016, 2017, 2018) while appearing in the CAA Tournament and reaching NFHCA National Academic Team status in each of her six seasons. The Hens also featured 18 All-Americans, 23 All-Region honorees, one CWSA Honda Sport Award selection, one CAA Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year, four CAA Players of the Year, three CAA Rookies of the Year, 33 All-CAA performers, 10 CAA All-Rookie Team picks and 61 NFHCA National Academic Squad members.
During the 2018 campaign, Delaware compiled an overall record of 13-7 while going undefeated (6-0) in CAA play for the third straight year. The Hens led the conference in 12 statistical categories while ranking in the Top 20 of seven NCAA categories (scoring average, goals per game, scoring margin, assists per game, winning percentage, points per game, penalty corners per game).
In 2017, the Blue Hens collected their fifth straight CAA Tournament crown while finishing the year with a 15-5 overall record and going undefeated (5-0) for the second straight season. Delaware ranked in the Top 10 of nine NCAA statistical categories (scoring average, goals per game, goals against average, scoring margin, winning percentage, assists per game, points per game, save percentage, defensive saves) and 15 CAA categories while setting the school-record with 13 defensive saves.Delaware captured the program's first-ever NCAA Division I Championship title in 2016 while the Blue Hens also posted a team-record and nation-best 23 victories and 90.2 winning percentage en route to their fourth straight CAA crown. The Hens posted an outstanding scoring margin of 100-39 and were ranked in the Top 10 of seven total NCAA statistical categories (winning percentage, scoring average, goals per game, points per game, scoring margin, assists per game, defensive saves).
Arenz joined head coach Rolf van de Kerkhof, fellow assistant coach Jordan McKee and volunteer assistant coach Jacki Coveleski in bringing home all of the 2016 coaching honors as the staff earned NFHCA Division I Coach of the Year, CAA Coach of the Year, ECAC Eastern Coach of the Year and NFHCA Mid-Atlantic Region Coach of the Year accolades.
UD picked up the CAA three-peat in 2015 after defeating No. 16 and top-seeded James Madison, 2-1, in overtime in Harrisonburg, Va. In the team's seventh overall trip to NCAA postseason action, Delaware's season ended in a heartbreaking 4-3 overtime loss at No. 4 Virginia, the team's second overtime game against the Cavs in less than a month.
During her first full season as an assistant with the Hens in 2014, the Blue Hens recorded their second consecutive CAA title en route to the sixth NCAA Tournament berth in school history.
Despite losing five talented seniors from the previous year's NCAA team, the 2014 squad finished the year with a mark of 13-9 while going 4-2 in league action. The No. 2 seed in the CAA Tournament, Delaware prevailed for the program's fourth overall CAA Championship and the first of four straight to come.
Arenz rejoined the Blue Hens in 2013 amidst one of their most remarkable seasons in Delaware history and her contributions were immediately present in the areas of practice, scouting, game day operations and alumni networking. The Hens posted a program-record 17 victories in addition to earning both the Colonial Athletic Association regular season and tournament championships en route to the fifth NCAA Tournament berth in school history.
During Arenz's first season as a volunteer assistant coach with the Blue Hens, head coach Rolf van de Kerkhof was named both the NFHCA Mid-Atlantic Coach of the Year and CAA Co-Coach of the Year, both accolades that Van de Kerkhof views as coaching staff awards and not just an individual award.
“I am genuinely excited to be back at my alma mater and be able to make an impact on Delaware student-athletes,” commented Arenz. “To be given an opportunity to learn from such a knowledgeable and passionate coaching staff is a rare treat.”
Arenz was a four-time All-CAA player during her tenure with the Blue Hens from 2007-10. She saw action in 74 games in a Delaware uniform and tied for seventh all-time in UD history with 20 assists.
Prior to returning to the Blue Hens in 2013, Arenz was an assistant coach at West Chester University.
The Fredericksburg, Va. native graduated from Delaware in 2012 with a degree in health and physical education. Following graduation, Arenz served as a graduate assistant coach at Longwood University, where she earned a master's degree in adapted physical education.
The former Missy Woodie was united in marriage with former Delaware football player, Matt Arenz, in December 2014. The pair welcomed a daughter, Harper, in April 2018.
