National Girls and Women in Sports Day: Rolf van de Kerkhof
2/2/2022
Head coach of the field hockey team and a father of two young girls, Rolf van de Kerkhof knows a thing or two about working with young women and being a girl dad. In honor of National Girls and Women in Sports Day, we asked van de Kerkhof to give insight to his roles on and off the field.
I always enjoyed coaching and as I became a father, I also believe I became a better coach. Now that I have two daughters, I am able to exchange learnings and teachings from my student-athletes to my daughters and vice versa. As I have been enjoying a coaching career for over 24 years, I take joy and pride in seeing how my support in their development as student-athletes and young women while on campus is assisting them now in living their lives as alumni, as professionals, as wives, as mothers and as people.Head Coach Rolf van de Kerkhof
The Netherlands native has built an impressive career, spending over 20 years coaching at the intercollegiate level. Van de Kerkhof has accumulated a 223-108 record as a head coach between his five seasons at Michigan State and 11 seasons with Delaware.
Rolf van de Kerkhof
Title IX has been very important and helpful for the growth of women’s sports, including field hockey. The benefits of (young) people playing sports both at the recreational and competitive levels is key for their personal development such as their maturity, resiliency, confidence and the ability to problem solve. In the NCAA our sport has seen growth at the DII and DIII level…. Lastly, the number of field hockey clubs has grown exponentially, allowing youngsters and their families more access to the benefits sports presents to them.
During his tenure, the Hens have garnered one National Championship (2016), eight Colonial Athletic Association Tournament Championships (2013-17; 2019-21) and five CAA regular season titles (2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019) while appearing in the CAA Tournament and reaching NFHCA National Academic Team status in each of his 10 seasons.
Delaware has also featured 24 All-Americans, 36 All-Region honorees, one CWSA Honda Sport Award selection, one CAA Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year, four CAA Players of the Year, a CAA Defensive Player of the Year, four CAA Rookies of the Year, 51 All-CAA performers, 18 CAA All-Rookie Team picks with 104 NFHCA National Academic Squad members, and 16 NFHCA “Division I Scholars of Distinction”.
As parents, we believe that it is our responsibility to provide them a safe environment in which they can be curious to explore, okay with making mistakes, excited to think and decide for themselves and understand the importance of sharing and caring.Rolf van de Kerkhof
Prior to being named the Michigan State head coach in February 2006, he spent seven seasons as the team's top assistant coach. During his time at MSU, he helped the Spartans put together the most successful era of the program's history and compiled an overall record of 180-80 as both an assistant and head coach.
Being the father of two daughters is amazing, crazy, busy and lots of fun. I am fortunate to have a loving family and together with my wife, Mary, enjoy four beautiful children and the youngest two being daughters.Rolf van de Kerkhof
