BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Caitlin Dallmeyer, who oversaw the growth and development of the Lehigh field hockey program over the last seven seasons, will be stepping away from her head coaching position to pursue a professional opportunity outside of coaching.
 
Dallmeyer's seven-year run was highlighted by sustainable growth for the Mountain Hawks, culminating in the 2022 Patriot League Tournament championship, the first for the program since 1994, and Lehigh field hockey's first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.
 
"I am so proud of the success achieved by this program, and I am grateful for the role that I was able to play within it," Dallmeyer said. "I want to thank Joe Sterrett and Stacy Shiffert for believing that I was the right person to move the program forward seven years ago and supporting me on my journey to complete that mission. It has been an incredibly rewarding ride, because of all the phenomenal young women I have had the privilege of working with along the way."
 
Under Dallmeyer's leadership, the 2022 Mountain Hawks went 13-8, matching the 1984 Lehigh field hockey team for the third-most wins in program history. The 13 victories included a six-game winning streak which was the program's longest since 1986. With a 4-2 Patriot League mark, Lehigh reached the Patriot League Tournament for the second straight season. As the No. 3 seed, Lehigh defeated host American in a shootout in the Patriot League semifinals and then knocked off top-seed Boston University 2-1 in overtime to claim the program's second Patriot League title and first in 28 years.
 
Lehigh went on to battle Delaware in Chapel Hill, N.C. in the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance. Four Mountain Hawks earned All-Patriot League honors, while three: seniors Sarah Bonthuis and Maddie Kahn and junior Julia Gatelein, were recognized as NFHCA All-Region performers. Lehigh's goalkeeper Kahn was also named Most Valuable Player of the Patriot League Tournament, while Bonthuis set a program single-season record with 11 assists.
 
Prior to the 2022 championship, Dallmeyer guided Lehigh to a memorable 2021 campaign that resulted in the program's first Patriot League Tournament appearance in 10 years. Lehigh went 11-7 and posted its most victories and first overall winning record since 1994. Lenke Havas, who in 2017 began of a pipeline of student-athletes to join the program from the Netherlands, capped an illustrious career as a five-time All-Patriot League honoree, the 2021 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year and became Lehigh field hockey's first NFHCA All-American in 38 years with her third team selection.
 
In 2016, Dallmeyer took over a Lehigh program that had totaled 21 wins over the previous five seasons and won 47 games in her seven seasons in charge, an increase of 2.5 wins per season over the previous five-year stretch.
 
Other highlights include a 29-19 home record for the Mountain Hawks over the last six seasons, multiple shutout victories in six of the seven seasons, and a winning record (4-3) in seven outings against Lafayette, including three consecutive victories in the Rivalry.
 
In addition to leading Lehigh to the top of the Patriot League, Dallmeyer has set the program up for sustained success. Seven of Lehigh's top nine scorers from 2022 are expected back as are nine of the 13 student-athletes that started nine or more games this past season.
 
"Thank you to all the LUFH athletes and coaches who have come through the program and loyally believed in the work we have done here, your commitment to the vision we created for the program has been truly inspiring," Dallmeyer said. "Thank you to my husband and sons, who have sacrificed most in allowing me to pursue my dreams of college coaching, your support has been selfless and endless. I am fortunate to be afforded a new opportunity at The Social Institute that will allow me continued professional growth in new ways, while still allowing me the opportunity to positively impact young students in key phases of their personal development. This is a company that has a strong and powerful mission, one that I have always been supporting as an observer in the stands. This past week brought about an unexpected, and amazing opportunity, to get out of the stands and onto the TSI team. Although a full career change was unforeseen, and departing the program will be tremendously difficult, it is not an opportunity I could pass on.
 
"I look forward to continuing to support the Lehigh Field Hockey Program as a loyal fan."
 
Dallmeyer will officially depart Lehigh in late January.
 
A search for Lehigh's next head field hockey coach will begin shortly.
 
Like Lehigh field hockey on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.