Bucknell University Athletics
Michelle Marks Named Assistant Field Hockey Coach at Bucknell
5/31/2005 8:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
May 31, 2005
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Michelle Marks has been named the assistant field hockey coach at Bucknell, announced by the Department of Athletics and Recreation on Tuesday. After an extensive search, Marks will join head coach Heather Lewis and graduate assistant Annie Zinkavich for the upcoming 2005 fall season.
"This was a very difficult search process in that we interviewed a number of quality candidates," said Lewis. "Each of them brought to the table considerable and diverse strengths. In looking at the long term goals of the program, I think Michelle will complement me in a number of ways as we move this program in the direction of national recognition."
Marks, a 2003 Syracuse graduate, comes to Lewisburg after serving as the assistant coach at Washington and Jefferson College since 2003. While at Washington and Jefferson, Marks assisted in coaching a 2004 team that broke school records for games won, shots taken, and goals scored in a season.
"I am excited to be a part of Bucknell Athletics and the field hockey program," said Marks on her new position. "I think this is a great opportunity for me and I look forward to working with Coach Lewis and the team this fall."
Marks has been involved in various field hockey camps and coaching venues for nearly 10 years, starting as a camp counselor at Warwick Junior Field Hockey Camp in 1996. She has also participated as a coach at camps at Penn State, Cornell and Northwestern, among many others. Last spring, she served as the head coach of an Under 16 FUTURES Elite team.
Marks was a standout player during her time at Syracuse and was a first-team Mid-East Regional All-American as well as a first-team All-Big East selection in 2002. Marks served as a team co-captain in 2002 and was a contributor to Syracuse's Big East title run in 2001. She also helped her team to an appearance in the Elite 8 of the NCAA Tournament during the 2001 season.
Bucknell finished the 2004 campaign at 6-13 overall, 1-4 in the Patriot League. With her current coaching staff, Lewis feels the team is poised for improvement during the upcoming fall season.
"With Michelle and Annie, I have two great assistants that will help bring this program back into contention for a Patriot League championship very quickly," Lewis explained. "I think with Michelle's experience on the attacking end and Annie's experience in goal and on the defensive end, we have a remarkable balance of experience and knowledge in our assistant coaches."
Bucknell is a highly-selective, privately endowed liberal arts institution with an enrollment of approximately 3,550 undergraduate students. Bucknell competes in NCAA Division I and competes in 23 sports as a member of the Patriot League with full membership along with American, Army, Colgate, Holy Cross, Lafayette, Lehigh and Navy. Bucknell has won the Presidents' Cup, signifying the Patriot League's all-sports champion, in 11 of 15 years.
Bucknell has finished in the top 10 nationally in the graduation rates of its student athletes in each year the NCAA has conducted such a survey. Three times in that span Bucknell ranked FIRST in the nation in graduation rates, including 2004. In addition, Bucknell ranks third in Division I in the total number of ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America selections, with 109 national honorees since 1970.
