Devin Kinzel and Sydney Rhodes-James to Join Field Hockey Staff

NEWARK, Del. - University of Delaware field hockey has hired Devin Kinzel as an assistant coach and Sydney Rhodes-James as a volunteer assistant coach for the upcoming 2025 season, head coach Tara Zollinger announced Thursday. Kinzel assumed her role on July 1, while Rhodes-James will join the staff on August 7, 2025.

"We are thrilled to welcome Devin to our coaching staff," Zollinger said. "Devin brings a unique blend of tenacity, fresh perspective, and strong enthusiasm for coaching. Her passion for helping student-athletes pursue their goals through sport perfectly aligns with our staff's philosophies. We are confident her energy and dedication will make an impact on our student-athletes and program."

Kinzel spent four seasons on the Temple University field hockey team and assumed a role as a volunteer assistant with her alma mater beginning in January of 2025.

"I am honored to join the Delaware field hockey program as an assistant coach," Kinzel said. "The University of Delaware is a top academic school, and field hockey is a premier program. I'm so excited to work with and learn from the expertise of Coach Zollinger and Coach Mooney, who have such an incredible background. I deeply appreciate the hard work, resilience, and championship mindset they have and are bringing to this program. I cannot wait to contribute to the tradition of excellence and the development of our student-athletes on and off the field. I'm beyond grateful to all the wonderful athletics staff and administration for this opportunity. I look forward to beginning this new chapter and becoming part of the Blue Hen community."

During her playing career, she was a team captain her senior season and earned All-BIG EAST Second Team honors while helping the Owls achieve their furthest postseason run since 2015.

Her stint as a coach with her former team allowed her to assist with team management and game preparation, as well as mentoring players while encouraging academic and athletic success.

Rhodes-James returns to Newark after graduating in 2019 and making multiple coaching stops along the way.

"We are thrilled to welcome Sydney back to the University of Delaware as a volunteer assistant coach," Zollinger said. "As a member of the 2016 national championship team, Sydney embodies the dedication, resilience, and excellence that defines our Blue Hen field hockey program. Our current student-athletes will undoubtedly benefit from her insights and be inspired by her championship experience."

Rhodes-James started her coaching experience working with Harford Hockey Organization (H20) in Harford County, Md., in 2014, a position she held through 2021.

"I am extremely grateful and excited to be able to come back to the University of Delaware," Rhodes-James said. "I'm looking forward to working with Tara, as she has had tremendous success in her field hockey career. My five seasons as a Blue Hen, including winning the national championship, were truly special. I want to share both that joy and success with the program and its current players."

Her collegiate coaching experience includes time as an assistant coach with the University of Pennsylvania, where she spent four seasons from 2021-24 with a specialized focus in coaching the goalkeepers and organizing team logistics.

During that time, Penn was able to have a goalie earn First Team All-Ivy League under Rhodes-James' tutelage.

After leaving Philadelphia, Rhodes-James reconnected with H20 in January 2025, becoming the program's co-director, head coach, and head goalkeepers coach for players aged 10-19.

Rhodes-James was a five-year goalie for the Blue Hens, who made 50 appearances, including nine during the Hen's run to capturing the 2016 NCAA Division I Championship. She graduated in 2019 with a bachelor's degree in health behavior science from Delaware's College of Health Sciences.

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Devin Kinzel and Sydney Rhodes-James to Join Field Hockey Staff

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