Field Hockey
Zelenak, Denise
Denise Zelenak
- Title:
- Head Field Hockey Coach
- Email:
- fieldhockey@drexel.edu
- Phone:
- 215-895-1789
31st Season in Fall 2025
West Chester ‘91
Drexel Record: 301-281
Career Record: 301-281
Denise Zelenak has been a fixture on the Drexel sidelines since 1995. She helped reshape the Drexel field hockey program. When Zelenak took over at Drexel, the Dragons were coming off a winless season and had just one season above .500 since joining the ranks of Division I. Since then, she has led the Dragons to two NCAA Championship appearances and made the program a perennial candidate for a spot in the Coastal Athletic Association Championships.
In her 30th season at the helm, Zelenak led the Dragons to their fourth CAA Regular Season Championship in program history, posting a 14-6 overall mark. Zelenak was named CAA Coach of the Year for the second time in her career as the Dragons earned a perfect 6-0 record against conference opponents in the regular season. This included a win over nationally ranked Monmouth. Zelenak recorded her 300th career win in a come from behind victory against Wagner in double overtime, becoming one of 23 coaches at the DI level to earn this achievement. She also sits top-ten in wins among active coaches in Division I. Valentine Van Hellemont was named a NFHCA Second Team All-American, the eighth in program history to receive this honor and the first since 2012. Van Hellemont also received CAA Player of the Year honors, while Pien Elsen was selected Defensive Player of the Year.
Drexel finished with a 14-6 in 2023, the most wins since 2012. This included a win over No. 20 UAlbany at home, and a victory over Philadelphia rival Villanova. Zelenak helped lead the Dragons to a third consecutive appearance to the CAA Tournament, falling to William & Mary in the Semifinal game. DU had eight All-CAA honorees, with Valentina Van Hellemont taking home CAA Rookie of the Year. Eline Di Leva and Van Hellemont also received All Mid-Atlantic Region awards
In a stellar year, Zelenak led the Dragons to a 12-8 record in 2022 and the team returned to the CAA Finals for their first appearance in a decade. The Dragons defeated top-seeded Monmouth in the semifinals, 3-1. In the finals, Delaware prevailed to claim the conference title. Zelenak had five of her student-athletes named to All-Conference teams and had two NFHCA DI All-Region selections in 2022.
Zelenak has twice been named the NFHCA Mid-Atlantic Region Coach of the Year. She won the award for the first time in 2000 and became a repeat winner in 2009. In 2009, she led the team to a school-record 19 wins, including three against top 20 teams during the regular season. The Dragons started that year with five straight wins including an upset of No. 10 Duke at Buckley Field. The Dragons lost in the CAA title game but were rewarded with an at-large bid. Drexel shocked the field hockey world by defeating nationally-ranked UConn before falling to top-overall-seed Maryland in the NCAA Quarterfinals.
The Dragons would go back to the NCAA Tournament in 2012. Zelenak and her team finished the year with a 15-7 record. Five of those wins came against nationally-ranked teams, highlighted by a 1-0 win against No. 5 Duke. The Dragons were the top seed in the CAA Championships and defeated Northeastern in overtime at Buckley Field to advance to the school's second NCAA Tournament.
Zelenak attended West Chester University where she was a member of a highly successful Golden Rams program that ranked in the top 20 in Division I throughout her playing career in the late 1980s and early 1990s. She earned Regional All-America recognition and was an Olympic Festival participant. In 1989, she played for the U.S. National Reserve Team before graduating in 1991 with a degree in health and physical education. She was inducted into the West Chester University Athletics Hall of Fame as a Class of 2015 member on September 19, 2015.
A former captain of the Puerto Rican National Team, Zelenak represented Puerto Rico multiple times in 2002-2003. In 2003, she was honored with Puerto Rico’s Female Athlete of the Year Award. Additionally, she was a co-captain of the US Women's National Indoor Team from 2004-12 and claimed silver twice at the Pan Ams.
A native of Warminster, Pa., Denise and her husband, James, reside in Wilmington, Del. They have three sons, Paul, Gray and Jack and two grandson, Hayes and Lee.
Coaching Career
- Drexel University Head Coach (1995 to present, 31 seasons)
- West Chester University Assistant Coach (1993 to 1994, two seasons)
- Drexel University Assistant Coach (1991 to 1992, two seasons)
- University of Pennsylvania Assistant Coach (1990, one season)
College Coaching Highlights
- 2-time NFHCA Mid-Atlantic Region Coach of the Year: 2000, 2009
- 2 NCAA Appearances: 2009, 2012
- 10 CAA Championship Appearances: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024
- 1 CAA Championship: 2012
- 20 NFHCA Academic Team Awards: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024
- Seven-year member of the All-America Committee (Chairperson in 2003 and 2004)
- ECAC Committee member from 1999 to 2002 (Chairperson in 2000 and 2001)
- Seven-year member of the Regional Ranking All-America Committee member
U.S. Field Hockey Credentials
- Former coach of the USA Field Hockey Women’s National Indoor Team
- Former coach of the USA Field Hockey Junior Women’s National Indoor Team
- Former member of the USA Field Hockey Women’s Indoor Field Hockey Team
- Former coach of Men’s East Coast Juniors (6 years, 5 championships)
- High Performance Head Coach (Pa.)
U.S. Women’s National Indoor Team Members
Rachael Bloemaker
Susan Ciufo
Amanda Fleischut
Allyson Fuller
Lauren Hibshman
Jenna Knouse
Lindsay McArdle
Jessica McCarthy
Meghan Plank
Sandra Soslau Cook
Kim Tunell
High Performance Team Participants
Delaney Baxendale
Susan Ciufo
Christina Conrad
Elisa DiDonato
Reilly Finegan
Amanda Fleischut
Danielle Grassi
Lauren Hibshman
Jenna Knouse
Layne Litsinger
Lindsay McArdle
Jessica McCarthy
Chandler McFeeley
Katie Pappas
Meghan Plank
Rachel Sumfest
Kim Tunell
NFHCA All-Americans
Eight women named ten times
All-Mid-Atlantic Region Selections
32 women selected 56 total times
Six selected three times
20 selected at least twice
USA Women’s Masters Committee: 2013 – Current
USA Masters Teams
2014 – World Cup – Rotterdam, Netherlands
2016 – World Cup – Canberra, Australia (Player/Coach)
2017 – Indoor World Cup – Krefeld, Germany
2018 – World Cup – Barcelona, Spain
2019 – Indoor World Cup – Hong Kong, China
2022 – Indoor World Cup – VA Beach, USA (Canceled)
West Chester ‘91
Drexel Record: 301-281
Career Record: 301-281
Denise Zelenak has been a fixture on the Drexel sidelines since 1995. She helped reshape the Drexel field hockey program. When Zelenak took over at Drexel, the Dragons were coming off a winless season and had just one season above .500 since joining the ranks of Division I. Since then, she has led the Dragons to two NCAA Championship appearances and made the program a perennial candidate for a spot in the Coastal Athletic Association Championships.
In her 30th season at the helm, Zelenak led the Dragons to their fourth CAA Regular Season Championship in program history, posting a 14-6 overall mark. Zelenak was named CAA Coach of the Year for the second time in her career as the Dragons earned a perfect 6-0 record against conference opponents in the regular season. This included a win over nationally ranked Monmouth. Zelenak recorded her 300th career win in a come from behind victory against Wagner in double overtime, becoming one of 23 coaches at the DI level to earn this achievement. She also sits top-ten in wins among active coaches in Division I. Valentine Van Hellemont was named a NFHCA Second Team All-American, the eighth in program history to receive this honor and the first since 2012. Van Hellemont also received CAA Player of the Year honors, while Pien Elsen was selected Defensive Player of the Year.
Drexel finished with a 14-6 in 2023, the most wins since 2012. This included a win over No. 20 UAlbany at home, and a victory over Philadelphia rival Villanova. Zelenak helped lead the Dragons to a third consecutive appearance to the CAA Tournament, falling to William & Mary in the Semifinal game. DU had eight All-CAA honorees, with Valentina Van Hellemont taking home CAA Rookie of the Year. Eline Di Leva and Van Hellemont also received All Mid-Atlantic Region awards
In a stellar year, Zelenak led the Dragons to a 12-8 record in 2022 and the team returned to the CAA Finals for their first appearance in a decade. The Dragons defeated top-seeded Monmouth in the semifinals, 3-1. In the finals, Delaware prevailed to claim the conference title. Zelenak had five of her student-athletes named to All-Conference teams and had two NFHCA DI All-Region selections in 2022.
Zelenak has twice been named the NFHCA Mid-Atlantic Region Coach of the Year. She won the award for the first time in 2000 and became a repeat winner in 2009. In 2009, she led the team to a school-record 19 wins, including three against top 20 teams during the regular season. The Dragons started that year with five straight wins including an upset of No. 10 Duke at Buckley Field. The Dragons lost in the CAA title game but were rewarded with an at-large bid. Drexel shocked the field hockey world by defeating nationally-ranked UConn before falling to top-overall-seed Maryland in the NCAA Quarterfinals.
The Dragons would go back to the NCAA Tournament in 2012. Zelenak and her team finished the year with a 15-7 record. Five of those wins came against nationally-ranked teams, highlighted by a 1-0 win against No. 5 Duke. The Dragons were the top seed in the CAA Championships and defeated Northeastern in overtime at Buckley Field to advance to the school's second NCAA Tournament.
Zelenak attended West Chester University where she was a member of a highly successful Golden Rams program that ranked in the top 20 in Division I throughout her playing career in the late 1980s and early 1990s. She earned Regional All-America recognition and was an Olympic Festival participant. In 1989, she played for the U.S. National Reserve Team before graduating in 1991 with a degree in health and physical education. She was inducted into the West Chester University Athletics Hall of Fame as a Class of 2015 member on September 19, 2015.
A former captain of the Puerto Rican National Team, Zelenak represented Puerto Rico multiple times in 2002-2003. In 2003, she was honored with Puerto Rico’s Female Athlete of the Year Award. Additionally, she was a co-captain of the US Women's National Indoor Team from 2004-12 and claimed silver twice at the Pan Ams.
A native of Warminster, Pa., Denise and her husband, James, reside in Wilmington, Del. They have three sons, Paul, Gray and Jack and two grandson, Hayes and Lee.
Coaching Career
- Drexel University Head Coach (1995 to present, 31 seasons)
- West Chester University Assistant Coach (1993 to 1994, two seasons)
- Drexel University Assistant Coach (1991 to 1992, two seasons)
- University of Pennsylvania Assistant Coach (1990, one season)
College Coaching Highlights
- 2-time NFHCA Mid-Atlantic Region Coach of the Year: 2000, 2009
- 2 NCAA Appearances: 2009, 2012
- 10 CAA Championship Appearances: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024
- 1 CAA Championship: 2012
- 20 NFHCA Academic Team Awards: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024
- Seven-year member of the All-America Committee (Chairperson in 2003 and 2004)
- ECAC Committee member from 1999 to 2002 (Chairperson in 2000 and 2001)
- Seven-year member of the Regional Ranking All-America Committee member
U.S. Field Hockey Credentials
- Former coach of the USA Field Hockey Women’s National Indoor Team
- Former coach of the USA Field Hockey Junior Women’s National Indoor Team
- Former member of the USA Field Hockey Women’s Indoor Field Hockey Team
- Former coach of Men’s East Coast Juniors (6 years, 5 championships)
- High Performance Head Coach (Pa.)
U.S. Women’s National Indoor Team Members
Rachael Bloemaker
Susan Ciufo
Amanda Fleischut
Allyson Fuller
Lauren Hibshman
Jenna Knouse
Lindsay McArdle
Jessica McCarthy
Meghan Plank
Sandra Soslau Cook
Kim Tunell
High Performance Team Participants
Delaney Baxendale
Susan Ciufo
Christina Conrad
Elisa DiDonato
Reilly Finegan
Amanda Fleischut
Danielle Grassi
Lauren Hibshman
Jenna Knouse
Layne Litsinger
Lindsay McArdle
Jessica McCarthy
Chandler McFeeley
Katie Pappas
Meghan Plank
Rachel Sumfest
Kim Tunell
NFHCA All-Americans
Eight women named ten times
| Pamie Zukowski | 2000 (3rd), 2001 (2nd) |
| Rachel Bloemker | 2005 (3rd) |
| Sarah Gostomski | 2007 (3rd) |
| Susan Ciufo | 2008 (3rd) |
| Carolina Gibernau | 2009 (3rd) |
| Christina Mastropaolo | 2009 (2nd), 2010 (2nd) |
| Amanda Fleischut | 2012 (2nd) |
| Valentine Van Hellemont | 2025 (2nd) |
All-Mid-Atlantic Region Selections
32 women selected 56 total times
Six selected three times
20 selected at least twice
| Adrianne Richards | 1998 (2nd) |
| Kelly O’Donnell | 1999 (2nd) |
| Pamie Zukowski | 1999 (1st), 2000 (1st), 2001 (1st) |
| Kristina Backenstose | 2000 (2nd) 2001 (2nd) |
| Lauren Zukowski | 2001 (2nd) |
| Kristina Backenstose | 2002 (1st) |
| Amanda Mouser | 2002 (2nd), 2004 (2nd) |
| Karie Walton | 2003 (1st), 2004 (2nd) |
| Rachael Bloemker | 2005 (1st) |
| Sarah Gostomski | 2006 (2nd), 2007 (1st) |
| Carolina Gibernau | 2007 (1st), 2008 (1st), 2009 (1st) |
| Colleen McAndrew | 2008 (1st) |
| Susan Ciufo | 2008 (1st), 2009 (1st), 2010 (1st) |
| Christina Mastropaolo | 2009 (1st), 2010 (1st) |
| Kim Tunell | 2009 (2nd), 2010 (2nd) |
| Amanda Fleischut | 2010 (2nd), 2011 (1st), 2012 (1st) |
| Sofia Sanguinetti | 2009 (2nd), 2011 (2nd) |
| Monica Baick | 2011 (2nd) |
| Lindsay McArdle | 2012 (1st), 2013 (1st) |
| Christina Conrad | 2012 (2nd), 2013 (2nd) |
| Jantien Gunter | 2012 (2nd), 2014 (2nd) |
| Lauren Hibshman | 2012 (2nd), 2013 (1st), 2015 (1st) |
| Jenna Knouse | 2014 (2nd) |
| Jessica McCarthy | 2014 (1st), 2015 (2nd), 2016 (2nd) |
| Megan Wiest | 2016 (2nd) |
| Tess Bernheimer | 2017 (2nd), 2018 (2nd) |
| Eline Di Leva | 2020 (1st) |
| Isabel Jacobs | 2020 (2nd) |
| Eline Di Leva | 2020 (1st), 2022 (2nd), 2023 (3rd) |
| Taylor Mason | 2022 (2nd) |
| Valentine Van Hellemont | 2023 (1st) |
| Valentine Van Hellemont | 2024 (1st) |
| Anna Castaldo | 2024 (2nd) |
| Pien Elsen | 2024 (2nd) |
USA Women’s Masters Committee: 2013 – Current
USA Masters Teams
2014 – World Cup – Rotterdam, Netherlands
2016 – World Cup – Canberra, Australia (Player/Coach)
2017 – Indoor World Cup – Krefeld, Germany
2018 – World Cup – Barcelona, Spain
2019 – Indoor World Cup – Hong Kong, China
2022 – Indoor World Cup – VA Beach, USA (Canceled)
Drexel's Autocomplete With Field Hockey Coach Denise Zelenak.
Tuesday, March 18
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Thursday, September 22
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Tuesday, February 18
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Thursday, May 23
