UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Head coach of Penn State field hockey, Hannah Prince, has announced the addition of Mark Wadsley to her inaugural coaching staff. Wadsley will serve as the associate head coach for the Nittany Lions.
“I am incredibly excited to welcome Mark Wadsley to Penn State as our associate head coach,” Prince said. “Mark brings an exceptional wealth of knowledge at both the domestic and international levels, along with extensive experience and a proven ability to develop the growth of student athletes as players and people. We have worked extremely well together, share the same standards, and collaborate seamlessly in how we approach building a program. Mark is driven to succeed, with a championship-focused mindset and an unwavering commitment to excellence that raises the standard every day. His presence will have an immediate and lasting impact on our student-athletes and the culture we are building here at PSU. I am thrilled to welcome Mark and his family to the Penn State community.”
“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be part of such a well-respected academic and athletic institution,” said Wadsley. “Coach Prince and I are aligned in our expectations and vision for this program, and I’m excited to help our student-athletes grow on and off the field. My wife Kerry (née Shea) and I can’t wait to bring our three children to State College and join the Penn State community. We are!”
Wadsley comes to Happy Valley after a three-year tenure at Saint Joseph’s where he served in the same role with Prince. In his first season with the Hawks’, Wadsley helped guide St. Joseph’s to a third consecutive A-10 regular season and tournament titles and their sixth berth in the NCAA Tournament in seven seasons.
In a historic 2024 season for the Hawks’, Wadsley was a part of the NFHCA Mid-Atlantic Region Coaching Staff of the Year that led to the university’s first ever appearance in the NCAA national championship game. Along the way, he helped lead St. Joseph’s to the program’s highest ever national ranking, peaking at no. 3, its fourth consecutive A-10 regular season and tournament title sweep, the team’s first ever win in a NCAA tournament game, including victories over perennial powerhouses Princeton and North Carolina, and first ever Final Four appearance.
In 2025, Wadsley guided the Hawks’ to a fifth straight A-10 tournament title and another NCAA tournament appearance, defeating Drexel in the opening game before falling to North Carolina. In his tenure at St. Joseph’s, Wadsley helped coach forward Manu Ghigliotti to being named regional Player of the Year and multiple First Team All-America honors.
Prior to his stint at St. Joseph’s, Wadsley was the Head of Performance for Repton Hockey Club overseas. He also served as he head coach of Repton’s women’s indoor and outdoor teams, with his indoor squad claiming the Indoor Premier League national championship.
In addition to his coaching experience, Wadsley has an abundance of playing experience too. He made 245 appearances for Beeston Hockey Club and earned eight domestic trophies with the Bees. Wadsley is a native of Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, and holds academic degrees from both the University of Birmingham and the University of Stirling.