PHILADELPHIA – Sam Brown has been selected as the next head coach of the Saint Joseph's field hockey program, Vice President and Director of Athletics Jill Bodensteiner announced on Tuesday.
 
"We are absolutely thrilled to bring Sam Brown to Hawk Hill to lead our field hockey program," Bodensteiner said.  "Sam is an outstanding coach, and an even better person, who will fit perfectly with the culture of Saint Joseph's Athletics.  I am confident that Sam will lead our nationally-prominent field hockey program to new heights, and will continue our strong tradition of developing our student-athletes on and off the field."
 
"It is truly an honor and a privilege to be named head coach of the Saint Joseph's University field hockey program," Brown said.  "This program has built an incredible legacy over the past decade, and I have great respect for the sustained success and high standards that have been established here.  I'm excited for this opportunity and want to thank Jill and [Senior Associate Athletics Director for Student Experience and field hockey program administrator] Renie Shields for believing in me and my vision for the future of the program."
 
Brown comes to Hawk Hill from Syracuse, where he spent the previous three seasons as associate head coach under former Saint Joseph's head coach Lynn Farquhar.  Syracuse reached the NCAA Tournament in each of those three seasons, reaching the quarterfinals in both 2023 and 2025.
 
During his time with the Orange, he has helped develop six NFHCA All-America selections, including 2025 First Team honoree and Honda Award finalist Bo van Kempen, who was also named the NFHCA Mid-East Region Player of the Year.  Brown also helped guide 15 student-athletes to All-Region honors and saw players earn eight All-ACC accolades and four ACC All-Tournament laurels.  In his role, he also oversaw the attacking penalty corner unit as well as scheduling and data analysis for the Orange.
 
Prior to his stint at Syracuse, Brown was the associate head coach at James Madison for four seasons under USA Field Hockey and Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame inductee Christy Morgan, where he was part of both the 2020 and 2021 CAA Coaching Staff of the Year as the Dukes claimed a pair of CAA regular season championships.  While at JMU, he coached two All-Americans, eight All-Region selections, two CAA Players of the Year, 12 All-CAA honorees, six CAA All-Rookie selections, and eight CAA All-Championship honorees.
 
Brown brings copious international coaching experience to his first collegiate head coaching position, having coached for both men's and women's programs in the United States, England, and his native New Zealand.  After serving as a coach at the New Zealand U21 selection camp for three years, he later worked as a regional talent center coach for the North Region of England's U16/U18 boys and girls programs.  Upon moving to the United States, Brown was the head coach of the U18 boys team in 2021 and served as an assistant with the U22 women's team for a four-match series against Chile in 2022 in which the United States won three of the four games.
 
At the club level, Brown was the head performance coach for Wakefield HC and the head coach of both the men's and women's first teams.  He led both teams to promotion to the National League Conference in 2019; his men's team claimed the North Premier League title that season for the first time in two decades.  Prior to his time in England, Brown worked with the Southern Storms and Midlands Hockey club teams in New Zealand.
 
"I am especially grateful for the mentorship of former SJU head coach Lynn Farquhar, whose leadership and impact on both this program and Syracuse field hockey have been instrumental to both programs' successes," Brown said.  "I've learned so much from her, and I'm thankful for the opportunity and guidance she's provided through the last three years of working together."
 
"Sam has made a tremendous impact on the Syracuse program over the past three years," Farquhar said.  "Because of his leadership, we're in a strong cultural position: talented, driven, and hungry for more.  Sam will leave a lasting mark on what we define as our Orange legacy.  Sam's ready to lead Saint Joseph's, and I'm genuinely excited for both him and the program as they continue to embody the 'The Hawk Will Never Die' spirit."
 
"I'm incredibly excited to get to work with such a talented and driven group of student-athletes," Brown said.  "Together, it is our mission to continue to build on this strong foundation and propel Saint Joseph's field hockey forward with pride and purpose."
 
A 2011 graduate of Otago University, Brown originally hails from Christchurch, New Zealand.  He and his wife Anna and their dog Kirby will officially join the Hawk family next month.
 
What They're Saying about Coach Brown:
 
"In addition to his coaching experience and success, Sam is authentic, kind, passionate, and driven – in other words, Renie [Shields] and I are confident he will fit right into our culture on Hawk Hill.  We are excited to welcome Sam and his wife Anna to St. Joe's!"
– Saint Joseph's Vice President and Director of Athletics Jill Bodensteiner
 
"Sam's drive for this opportunity was evident: his passion, commitment, and determination set him apart.  He aligns seamlessly with the standards and vision of the program he's set to lead.  [He is] deeply committed to development, technically and tactically exceptional, and has a genuine heart for people.  We'll miss you, Coach Sam.  Go lead, inspire, and shape your legacy!"
– Lynn Farquhar, former Saint Joseph's head coach and current head coach at Syracuse
 
"As a club director, I am excited about the hiring of Sam Brown at St. Joe's.  Sam possesses a discerning eye for talent identification and recruitment, consistently attracting high-caliber student-athletes who will align with the program's academic and athletic standards. Sam will continue to cultivate a culture of accountability, perseverance, and resilience for his players. Sam's leadership style, his integrity and professionalism, his coaching style, and his recruitment style will continue the excellence for which St. Joe's field hockey has been recognized across the country."
– Jaime Pollock, Director, PA Revs FHC