Sharon Kuntz-Herlocher returns for her seventh year as the Nittany Lions[apos] volunteer assistant coach. Kuntz-Herlocher works mainly with the defense.
Her work with the defense has been instrumental in Penn State[apos]s great success over the past few seasons. In 2006, the Nittany Lions finished fifth in the country in goals against average followed in 2007 when Penn State finished second in the Big Ten and 13th in the country, while last year finishing tops in the conference and second in the nation.
A former Penn State player from 1990-94, Kuntz-Herlocher brings additional on-field experience to the staff. Kuntz-Herlocher currently plays for the perennial club powerhouse and three-time defending national champion (indoor and outdoor) Red Rose Field Hockey Team. While at Penn State, Kuntz-Herlocher appeared in three NCAA Semifinals. She was also the team captain in 1994, an NCAA Third Team All-American in 1994, First Team All-Big Ten in 1994, and Second Team All Big-Ten in 1993. She made the All Mid-East Regional Teams from 1992 to 1994, and received the NCAA Academic-Athletic Achievement Award in 1993 and 1994. Kuntz-Herlocher was part of Penn State[apos]s first Big Ten Title in 1993 and won the gold medal in the 1993 U.S. Olympic Festival. Her love for field hockey comes from learning the game through the eyes of two of the greatest and most passionate coaches, Linda Kreiser at Lower Dauphin High School and Charlene Morett at Penn State.
Kuntz-Herlocher graduated in 1995 with a major in health & human development and a minor in business administration. She was an assistant coach at Penn State in 1995 when she helped lead the Lions to their second Big Ten Championship. In 1996, Kuntz-Herlocher left for Boston University, serving as assistant coach from 1996-98 and helped lead the Terriers to two America East Championships and NCAA appearances during her tenure there.
Kuntz-Herlocher returned to State College where she married Neil Herlocher in 1999. The couple has three children, Charlie (7), Phebe (5), and Helena (2). She currently owns and operates Solutions Marketing in State College and is a marketing consultant for Nittany Bank and (her husband[apos]s company) Herlocher Foods, the makers of Herlocher[apos]s Penn State Dipping Mustard.
GETTING TO KNOW COACH KUNTZ-HERLOCHER
Nickname: Sharon
Favorite Food: Herlocher[apos]s Dipping Mustard & cheese
Favorite Color: Violet
Favorite Musical Artist: Van Morisson
Favorite Movie: Shawshank Redemption
Favorite TV Show: Divine Design
Favorite Website: www.herlocherfoods.com
Favorite Sports Broadcaster: Bob Costas
Favorite Pro Teams: State College Spikes, Penguins
Favorite Athlete: Todd Rucci
Childhood Idol: Ed (Too Tall) Jones, Mary Lou Retton
Hobbies: Yoga, laughing with my kids & dogs, shopping with L.B. & Char
Biggest Fear: Making a parenting mistake
Teams I[apos]d Like To See Added To The Schedule: Stanford, Boston University (both for travel reasons)
Best Player I Ever Played With: Chris McGinley
Magazine Cover I[apos]d Like To Be On: The Penn Stater
Most Prized Possession: My health
Place I[apos]d Like To Visit: Greece (and eat unlimited fresh fruits and veggies)
If I Didn[apos]t Coach Field Hockey, I Would: Watch PSU Field Hockey
If I Had $1 Billion, I Would: Invest it in a major marketing campaign for Herlocher[apos]s Dipping Mustard, build a hotel in downtown State College
After Penn State, I Would Like To: Grow the sport of field hockey and keep every Penn Stater playing for years to come. College sports are just the beginning.