Field Hockey Added as 25th Varsity Sport at John Carroll University

Content Courtesy of JCU Athletics

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS – For the second time in three years, John Carroll University Athletics is adding another avenue for women to compete for the Blue Streaks.

Field Hockey is set to become the 25th varsity sport at John Carroll. 

John Carroll's Field Hockey team will begin competition as a club sport in August 2025, transitioning to a varsity sport in August 2026.

"I am proud to announce the addition of Field Hockey as the 25th sport in the John Carroll Department of Athletics. We believe that this is a positive development for a number of reasons," said Brian Polian '97, Vice President, Athletics and National Engagement. "We are creating increased opportunities for female student-athletes, we are able to compete against our partners in the NCAC, and we are going to use field hockey as a vehicle to introduce JCU to prospective students in our national markets."

John Carroll, set to join the North Coast Athletic Conference next fall, will become the 12th NCAC school to sponsor a field hockey program. This connection will help to immediately elevate JCU's program and provide a conference schedule from the get-go. 

"I am thrilled that John Carroll is sponsoring field hockey. One of our founding principles was equity between men's sports and women's sports," said Keri Luchowski, the Executive Director of the NCAC. "This addition by John Carroll highlights a commitment to equity shared by all members of the NCAC. It's a commitment from President Al Miciak and Brian Polian to adding opportunities for more women to achieve their athletic goals alongside their academic pursuits as they build their futures."

John Carroll conducted research over the summer and fall to evaluate the feasibility of field hockey at JCU, utilizing resources from across the country. Approval from President Al Miciak and John Carroll's Board of Directors followed in early December.

Field hockey is a growing, well-established women's sport at the collegiate and Olympic levels. Nearly 300 institutions sponsor NCAA field hockey, including 164 schools in NCAA Division III. Established as an NCAA sport in 1981, field hockey has been an Olympic sport since 1980. 

According to the NCAA, nearly 50% of college field hockey student-athletes hold a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher and earn annual academic honors, with a 95% academic success rate across Division II and Division III from 2019-23. 

Field hockey is a very prevalent sport across the country. According to the NFHCA (National Field Hockey Coaches Association), over 60,000 girls play high school field hockey in the U.S. Over 1,800 high schools offer field hockey across 24 states. Collegiate field hockey is a fall sport. 

With a wide recruiting base, John Carroll Field Hockey will look to hit the ground running quickly. Current students who are interested in Field Hockey are encouraged to join the program.

"We will begin a search for a coach immediately with hopes of having a leader in place by the spring," Polian said. "We will operate as a club sport for the 2025-26 school year in preparation for a Fall 2026 launch as a varsity sport."=

The Blue Streaks will compete on the newly created multi-purpose turf space adjoining Schweickert and Bracken Fields, completed this past fall. The beautiful turf will provide a wonderful home for JCU Field Hockey. 

"I am grateful to our board, the athletics committee, and President Miciak for their support through this process," said Polian. "This is an exciting time to be a Blue Streak."

Cate Clark, National Field Hockey Coaches Association Executive Director

"John Carroll University's addition of field hockey is a testament to the institution's commitment to empowering student-athletes through a sport with a rich tradition of excellence. Field hockey is a well-established women's sport, known for attracting high-performing student-athletes who excel both on the field and in the classroom. We are excited to support and celebrate this meaningful expansion in the Midwest."

Keri Luchowski, NCAC Executive Director

"This reinforces what a seamless addition John Carroll is to the NCAC family. This brings our conference sponsorship to 12 teams with the Blue Streaks joining all seven other co-educational conference teams, along with four affiliate members. We can't wait to welcome our newest field hockey program to the fold."
Sally Goggin, USA Field Hockey’s National Development Director
"Congratulations to John Carroll University on their decision to add field hockey! USA Field Hockey and the NFHCA are excited to welcome another NCAA Collegiate Field Hockey program and look forward to supporting and celebrating their success."

Dr. Kerry Bebie '91, '95G, Deputy Director of Athletics & Senior Woman Administrator 

"We are pleased to announce the addition of Women's Field Hockey to the John Carroll Athletics family. We are committed to continued growth in our department and are excited to add our competitive edge to the NCAC with this new program. There is great value in providing a new opportunity for our women to compete on the national platform. We will be able to expand our recruiting and athletic footprint to states who have a rich tradition in high school field hockey, bringing the spotlight to Cleveland. This is an all-around win!"