Melissa Krempa Mariano has taken the Franklin & Marshall field hockey team to new heights in her four seasons at the helm of the program. With a 43-30 mark over the last four years, Mariano has already become the third winningest coach in F&M field hockey history.

Under the guidance of Mariano, F&M put together one of the finest seasons in school history in 2011. The Diplomats posted a school-record 17 wins, secured the program's first-ever Centennial Conference regular season title and at one point were ranked No. 2 in the country, the highest F&M field hockey ranking ever, by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA). F&M went on to reach the CC title game and the NCAA Sweet 16.

The accolades rolled in for Mariano following the Diplomats' stellar 2011 campaign as she was named the Centennial Conference Coach of the Year, NFHCA South Region Coach of the Year and the Synapse Sports National Coach of the Year. In addition to Mariano's coaching honors, several Diplomats received recognition under her tutelage. Becky Willert became the first F&M player to earn CC Player of the Year honors and was also named an NFHCA First Team All-American, while Maura Hennigan was named a Third Team All-American. The Diplomats also nabbed three spots on the all-region team and six F&M players garnered All-CC recognition.

In Mariano's tenure, she's coached two All-Americans (Becky Willert, 2011 First Team; Maura Hennigan 2011 First Team), three All-Region selections (Becky Willert, 2011 First Team; Maura Hennigan, 2011 First Team; Allison McLaren, 2011 Second Team) and 11 all-conference performers (Becky Willert, 2011 First Team; Maura Hennigan, 2011 First Team; Allison McLaren, 2011 Second Team; Chelsey Talhelm, 2011 Second Team; Kimmy Fisher, 2011 HM; Avery Koep, 2011 HM; Mollie Ruben, 2008 First team; Paulette Cutruzzula, 2009 First Team; Eileen O"Reilly, 2009 Second Team and 2010 First Team; and Valerie Sauers, 2010 Second Team).

Mariano was named Franklin & Marshall's 12th varsity field hockey coach on Thursday, March 13, 2008. She joined 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. Mariano 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, Mariano 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, Mariano 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.

On top of her field hockey accolades, Mariano 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.

In addition to her coaching duties, Mariano is also the department's Senior Woman Administator (SWA). As the SWA, Mariano works as the advisor for Athletic Leadership Council, serves as an administrator at events and has Centennial Conference SWA responsibilities.

A native of Johnstown, N.Y., Mariano 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?"