Oberlin, Ohio – On Tuesday afternoon, Delta Lodge Director of Athletics William Roth announced that Deb Ranieri had left her position as the College's Head Field Hockey Coach after 10 years at the helm of the program. Roth has named Assistant Coach Emma Sanford to the position of Acting Head Coach.
“It is an critical time for our field hockey program, Roth said. “This transition offers an exciting opportunity for a new, positive course to be set. Our new direction will aggressively promote the personal and competitive success of our student-athletes. The initial step in our process will begin with an exhaustive national search for a head coach who will bring energy, optimism, competency, core values, and a fierce competitive fire to the position. I am confident that Emma Sanford will diligently lead our program towards the heightened goals we have for Oberlin Field Hockey, as we search for our new head coach.”
Sanford, a native of Colchester, England has an intensive background coaching and playing the game of field hockey in her home country.
From 2007-2010, Sanford coached at the Colchester Hockey Club where she worked with players from U7-U14. In addition, she also served as a player-coach for the ladies 3rd team. In the 1999-2000 season, Sanford was the team captain of the U19 team that won the state championship and a berth into the regional tournament.
Prior to her tenure with the Colchester Club, Sanford's work with Merton Sports and Leisure Development helped two U14 teams (one boys, one girls) earn bids into the London Youth Games. In 2006 the girls' team reached the final stages of the tournament and won the Fair Play Award, while in the 2007 her efforts helped the boys' team finish fifth overall, marking their highest finish ever.
“I am looking to develop a squad that will be a force to be reckoned with in the NCAC, Sanford said. “I will expect from our players a baseline of excellence, hard work, motivation and an attitude that says 'we will be the best.' There is no doubt in my mind that Oberlin Field Hockey will be producing winning results for the College both on the field and in the classroom.”
Sanford's collegiate playing career started at Miami University (Ohio) in 2000, where she started her very first game as a freshman. She later transferred back to her home country and completed her degree in classical civilizations at Roehampton University Of Surrey. While there she served as team captain of the coed field hockey team for two seasons and the women's team during her senior year. In her second year with the women's squad, she played in the national finals.
Off of the field hockey pitch, Sanford has a deep passion for archeology as she has 10 years of experience working in the field in her hometown of Colchester. This summer she will be working with the College's archaeological department in Italy on the Sangro Valley Project.
A national search for Oberlin's next head coach will begin immediately.
