Melissa Krempa was named Franklin & Marshall's 12th varsity field hockey coach on Thursday, March 13, 2008. She joins the Diplomat staff after spending four years as the assistant field hockey coach, and strength and conditioning coordinator at William Smith College. During her tenure, she led the Herons to four consecutive Liberty League championships and four trips to the NCAA tournament, including the Final Four one year.

Krempa also coached four First-Team All-Americans, and two Liberty League Rookies of the Year, along with numerous regional All-Americans and first team all-league selections. A 2004 graduate of Middlebury College, Krempa enjoyed an exceptional career as a four-year starter on the field hockey squad. She was named a First-Team All-American and Academic All-American her senior year, leading the Panthers to the NESCAC title and the NCAA tournament championship game. That year, she scored six goals and assisted on four others, finishing third on the team with 16 points. Krempa's efforts in the NCAA Tournament earned her a spot on the All-Tournament Team and she was also named the womensfieldhockey.com Player of the Year.

In 2003, Krempa was a part of a team that set Middlebury records for wins (19), winning percentage (.950), winning streak (19), and goals in a season (71), while tying the school mark with seven shutouts. In 2004, she was named the Deborah Parton Memorial Award winner, presented to the Middlebury female athlete who exemplifies spirit and dedication, as well as the 2003 Panther Contribution Award for efforts on and off the hockey field and the 2002 Unsung Hero Award.

In addition to field hockey, Krempa also was a member of the Middlebury Division I Alpine ski team for two seasons, and spent another season as a member of the varsity golf team. From 1999-2001, she spent her summers facilitating groups through team building exercises such as indoor rock climbing, outdoor high and low ropes and various other challenges at the Adirondack Center in St. Johnsville, NY.

"I am thrilled to begin my head coaching career at Franklin & Marshall," said Krempa. "I am eager to start working with the team and continuing the strong field hockey tradition at such a wonderful athletic and academic institution."

In addition to her work with the field hockey squad, Krempa will serve as the assistant women's golf coach.

A native of Johnstown, NY, Krempa graduated cum laude from Middlebury in 2004 with bachelor's degrees in history and psychology. She presented an Honors Thesis in History, "The 'Woman Question': Exploring the Havoc it Wreaked on the Antebellum Abolition Movement" and presented advanced research in Psychology, "Looking Beyond the Lab: How Does Alcohol Myopia Manifest Itself in the Real World?"

Melissa Shultz will enter her second season as an assistant coach of the Franklin and Marshall field hockey team in 2008.

Shultz patrols the sidelines after ending her playing career at Lebanon Valley College in `04. A three-year letterwinner, she helped the Dutchmen to three appearances in the Commonwealth Conference playoffs and to win the 2004 ECAC Mid-Atlantic region championship.

Since graduating in '06, Shultz was a volunteer coach at J.P. McCaskey High School and for the '07 spring season with F&M. She has coached camps or clinics at Mid-Atlantic Field Hockey Camp, Franklin and Marshall College and for the Lancaster Recreation Committee. Shultz has also been a fitness instructor, as well as an AFFA Certified Personal Trainer.

Shultz works as a Human Resources Consultant with Lancaster General Medical Group and resides in Lancaster, Pa.

Rhiannon Nolt is in her first season as the assisant coach with the Franklin & Marshall field hockey team.

Nolt, a native of Lancaster, graduated magna cum laude from the University of Richmond in 2007 with a B.A. in music with concentrations in art management and vocal performance and a dual minors in theatre & women, gender & sexuality studies. She played two seasons on the nationally-ranked Richmond Spiders, leading the team to two A-10 Championships and back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances. Nolt's playing experience also includes five years with the East Coast field hockey club team and one year on the Manhattan club squad in 2007-08.  

Although only graduating a year ago, she is not short on coaching experience. Nolt was the Co-Head Coach of the Richmond club field hockey team from 2006-07. She also was an assistant coach for the East Coast club team, coaching various top international players at elite and team camps for three seasons. Locally, Nolt coached the Lancaster Recreational Summer field hockey camps from 2002-03.

Academically, Nolt was named to the A-10 Commissioner's Honor Roll from 2003-05 and was a president of the Phi Kappa Mu music honor society. She also was a member of the Alpha Psi Omega (theatre), Omicron Delta Kappa (Leadership), Mortar Board (Senior Society), Phi Eta Sigma, WGSS Honorary and Golden Key honor socieities.