ITHACA, N.Y. -- Carissa Tambroni, a rising star in the coaching ranks following an all-league collegiate playing career, has joined the Cornell field hockey coaching staff it was announced today by head coach Andy Smith. She replaces Kellie Joyce, who accepted the head coaching position at Bryant University earlier this spring.
"I'm delighted to welcome Carissa to our staff," Smith said. It was very clear from our first meeting that Carissa was the person we wanted. She is incredibly mature, experienced and brings something different to our program that will help us achieve our goals. We look forward to working with her and watching her grow."
Tambroni has served as the head coach of the Blue Stripe Field Hockey Club's U19 team since graduating this past winter following her playing career at James Madison. She is an experienced camp clinician, working at both Penn State and James Madison events. She also interned with the JMU lacrosse team in the spring of 2024, helping cut and break down film for the coaches, and the athletic department later that spring in student-athlete leadership and support.
A 2024 graduate of JMU with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Coaching, Tambroni was an all-league selection while splitting time in the midfield and the back for the Dukes. She earned time in 57 career games with 39 starts, scoring nine goals with 10 assists for 28 points. Most of her scoring came as a fifth-year captain when she scored nine goals and added six assists for 24 points for the regular season Mid-American Conference champions following her move to midfield from the defense.
Off the field, Tambroni served as vice-president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC). She was selected to participate in the RISE Women's Leadership Academy in 2024. She was a multi-year Dean's and President's List as a student, earning academic accolades from the NFHCA and the CAA along the way.
Tambroni has a long family history at Cornell, spending much of her childhood on the Schoellkopf Field turf. Her mother, Michelle, served as the head field hockey coach for the Big Red from 1997-2003 and her 47 career wins ranks third all-time in program history. Her father, Jeff, was the head men's lacrosse coach for 10 years (2000-10) and guided Cornell to three Final Four appearances and a national runner-up finish in 2009. He was twice named national coach of the Year. He has been the head men's lacrosse coach at Penn State since 2011.
