Sarah Kurpel begins her 10th season in the fall of 2015 at the helm of the Knights field hockey team. Under Coach Kurpel’s leadership, the Knights have advanced to the CSAC postseason eight out of nine seasons, claiming one CSAC Championship and one NCAA Appearance.
Neumann finished 11-9 in 2014, the first time the program has finished above the .500 mark. The Knights qualified for the postseason, but fell in semifinal action. The squad received the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Team Academic Award. Katie Bauer was named an NFHCA Division III Scholars of Distinction while seven others were named to the Academic Squad. Six players were named All-Conference while 12 were named to the CSAC All-Academic team.
In 2008, the team won the first CSAC title in the program’s history. The team has earned the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Team Academic Award for the in four seasons for having a team GPA of 3.0 or higher. Additionally, many individual players have been named to the Academic Squad for having a GPA of 3.3 or higher.
With more than 10 years’ experience in the field of Education, Kurpel is an Athletic Administrator and a Level I Certified Field Hockey Coach through USA Hockey as well as an English adjunct faculty member at Neumann. Kurpel brings expertise in the areas of student relations at both the secondary and collegiate levels as well as recruiting for collegiate athletics. In the summer 2013, Kurpel was tabbed with oversight of academic mentoring and compliance duties in the athletic department.
Certified as a Secondary Education English teacher in the state of Pennsylvania, she served as an eighth grade teacher for four years. She is working toward her RYT200 through Yoga Life Institute in Devon, Pa. and offers yoga classes at Neumann through the Health and Wellness Center.
A 2002 (Bachelor of Arts in English) and 2010 (Masters of Science in Strategic Leadership) graduate of Neumann, Kurpel was a three-time team captain and four-year starter on both field hockey and lacrosse teams from 1998-2002.
A native of Drexel Hill, Pa., Kurpel graduated from Archbishop Prendergast High School where she lettered in field hockey and lacrosse. Coach Kurpel resides in Aston, Pa. with her husband Todd and three sons Maksim, Royal and Lionel.
