Field hockey: Roncoroni takes on 'dream' job at WC

Kathryn Roncoroni has the rare opportunity to enjoy the best of both worlds. The former Voorhees High School served as the head coach at her alma mater for one season in 2021, and now has returned to her collegiate home at West Chester University.

Roncoroni led Voorhees to a division title in 2021.

Roncoroni recently joined the Golden Rams' staff as a full-time assistant, where she will serve alongside her college head coach Amy Cohen. Roncoroni, who is Voorhees' all-time leading scorer, helped West Chester win a Division II national championship her senior year in 2019. She ranked fourth in the nation with 19 goals and 49 points as well as fifth with 11 assists.

"I'm very excited," said Roncoroni, who met the players on Wednesday and moved into her new apartment on Friday. "My dream starting in college, and at the end of high school, was to be a college coach. I love it here."

Roncoroni transferred to West Chester from American University for her senior season. She was part of a formidable forward line that helped the Golden Rams set a school record for goals scored in a single season. Roncoroni graduated Summa Cum Laude from West Chester in May 2020 with her bachelor of science in Professional Studies and minors in Elementary Education and Art Studio.
 
"Welcome home to Kat," Cohen said in release on the school's field hockey page. "It's always exciting to welcome back one of our own and in particular a high-caliber person and player. Days like this are truly great days to be a Golden Ram."

Following her graduation from West Chester, Roncoroni attended Swansea University in the United Kingdom, where she pursued her master's in Childhood Studies while also serving as a member of both the Swansea Hockey Club Premiere Team and Swansea University field hockey team. Additionally, Roncoroni became certified as a level one UK Coach and helped coach teams ranging from U13 through collegiate level field hockey for Swansea Club and University.

"We knew that was on the table [when we hired her]," Voorhees athletic director Brian Baumann said of Roncoroni's move to West Chester. "It was good experience for her if it ever got to that point."

Roncoroni, who was named the ninth head coach at Voorhees last spring, guided the Vikings (8-12) to a Skyland Conference Valley Division title. But the Vikes, who finished under .500 for the first time since going 6-9-1 in 2004, dropped seven of their last eight games, including a season-ending 2-0 loss to Madison in the opening round of the North 2, Group 2 sectional playoffs. 

The program, which is sitting on 690 victories, also lost to Group 3 champion North Hunterdon for the second straight season -- the first time in series history since North won five-in-a-row in 1985-86. Voorhees still owns a 55-15-7 edge all-time dating to 1975.

"It was a little disappointing. I didn't want to leave on that note," Roncoroni said when asked how tough it was to leave the Vikes after just one season. "It was exciting, but also upsetting. It was a win, lose, win. It was a big learning experience."

Roncoroni holds 4 Voorhees scoring marks.

Despite a losing record and pending graduation losses of several senior starters, including standout midfielder and leading scorer Sadie Eichlin (13 goals), who is headed to Montclair State, Roncoroni feels the program is in good shape moving forward.

"I believe it is," Roncoroni said. "I think we had some great freshmen this year. We had a lot of injuries and concussions so I think they can do amazing [next year]."

Baumann is now tasked with finding the program's third head coach since Taylor Webb stepped down following the 2017 season. Shannon Hughes, a former star at South Plainfield, led the program to a 47-13-1 mark, two Skyland Conference division titles (2018 and '20) and the Central West A regional championship in 2020 over the past three seasons.

"I'm just starting to talk to people," Baumann, who cited a lack of internal candidates and was unsure of any teaching positions that may become available, said during a recent interview.

In her final high school game, Roncoroni scored both of Voorhees' goals in a 3-2 loss to Madison in the 2015 North 2, Group 2 sectional final. She finished that season with a school record 51 goals to go with 14 assists.

Roncoroni claimed all but one offensive record in Voorhees' fine field hockey history -- owning single-season records for goals (51) and points (116), along with career marks for goals (140) and points (319). Webb still owns the Vikes' record for career assists (58 from 1999-02).