Field Hockey
Bernthal, Stephanie
Stephanie Bernthal
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Email:
- sjbernthal@bsu.edu
- Phone:
- 765-285-5138
- Alma Mater:
- Kent State '08
Stephanie Bernthal is in her fourth season as head coach of the Ball State field hockey team. She is the program’s ninth head coach.
This season is a quick turnaround from last spring's nontraditional year due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Bernthal said that if the team has learned anything from the last year, it's how special being able to compete is.
The Cardinals have a lot to look forward to this upcoming season. Ball State continued to improve under Bernthal's guidance last year, driving toward the goal of returning the historic program to prominence.
The Cardinals ended the season with six victories, including wins over fellow Mid-American Conference schools Appalachian State, Ohio, Longwood, Bellarmine and Central Michigan. The team also limited opponents to 1.81 goals per game for its best showing on defense since allowing a 1.78 average in 2002.
Her Cardinals also made program history by placing the entire 24-member squad on the 2020 NFHCA (National Field Hockey College Association) Academic Squad. The total was the second-most amongst all NCAA Division I field hockey programs in 2020.
The awards continued to roll in both on and off the field as senior Audrey Tabor earned post season Second Team All-Mid-American Conference honors while also being tabbed the MAC Defensive Player of the Week.
Six Ball State field hockey players also earned the 2020 Zag Field Hockey/National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division I Scholars of Distinction honor, which was announced by the NFHCA office. Freshman Halle Baisas (Louisville, Ky./Dupont Manual), sophomore Gina Caravaglia (Glen Allen, Va./Glen Allen), sophomore Caitlyn Grodzicki (Lititz, Pa./Warwick), freshman Emma Hilton (Clark N.J./Arthur L Johnson), senior Jenna McKune (Louisville, Ky./Assumption) and junior Callie Rumbaugh(Lancaster, Pa./Conestoga Valley) were the six recipients for the Cardinals.
In 2019, Bernthal guided Ball State’s defense to new heights as the Cardinals registered four shutouts that season; Davidson College (1-0), Saint Louis (3-0), Central Michigan (2-0) and Appalachian State (1-0). The four shutouts rank the most a Ball State team has compiled since the 2004 season. On Oct. 10, the Cardinals were tied for the top spot nationally with Dartmouth in defensive saves with 10 and were also ranked ninth in save percentage (.798).
Bernthal had three players earn Mid-American Conference Player of the Week honors and a postseason All-MAC recipient.
Not only were the Cardinals successful on the field that year, they also achieved greatness in the classroom. After the 2019 season, the Cardinals placed nine members on the 2019 Academic All-Mid-American Conference Team, 16 on the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) squad while freshman Caitlyn Grodzicki, junior Jenna McKune and senior Arantxa Rosainz Caloca earned the 2019 Zag Field Hockey/National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division I Scholars of Distinction honor.
In her first season as head coach for the Cardinals, Bernthal had 10 Academic All-Mid-American Conference honorees, three All-MAC postseason recipients, 15 NFHCA Academic award winners while the team also earned the NFHCA National Academic Award.
Bernthal came to Ball State after spending four seasons at the University of Richmond. She joined the Spiders staff in 2014 as an assistant coach under Gina McCorkle (formerly Lucido). McCorkle played field hockey at Ball State in the mid-1990s and is a member of the Ball State Athletics Hall of Fame. Following the 2016 season, Bernthal was promoted to associate head coach.
Bernthal helped Richmond to 42 wins, two Atlantic 10 championship game appearances, one Atlantic 10 regular season championship, one Atlantic 10 Tournament championship and one NCAA Tournament appearance.
“Stephanie is primed for this leadership opportunity as she exemplified steadfast maturity, passion and wisdom as my right hand at Richmond.” McCorkle said. “She possesses the unique ability to walk out toughness and grace equally well. As a Ball State alum, it’s such a joy to know that Stephanie’s integrity and character will impact the program culture immediately. I have no doubt she will return Ball State back to national prominence.”
Prior to her stint with the Spiders, Bernthal served two seasons as the inaugural head coach at Bethany College in West Virginia. Bernthal coordinated all aspects of the launch of that program without an assistant coach while also running the United States Field Hockey Futures program in Pittsburgh. Bernthal has been active in USA Field Hockey throughout her coaching career. For the past three years, she has run the Level I Training Site at the University of Richmond for the South Region.
“I’m excited to join the Ball State field hockey family,” Bernthal said. “Being from the Midwest, I am thrilled to return to the area and build upon the rich history and tradition of the Ball State program. I would also like to thank [Ball State Deputy Athletics Director] Pat Quinn and Mark Sandy for their professionalism throughout this process.”
Bernthal’s first stop as a collegiate coach was Christopher Newport University as an assistant in 2011. There she helped the Captains pick up 12 wins and earn an at-large berth to the NCAA Division III Tournament. She began her coaching career in 2009 at Stow-Monroe Falls High School in Stow, Ohio.
As a player, Bernthal was a four-year starter at Kent State University. She served as team captain as a senior in 2008 and helped the Golden Flashes to a top-20 national ranking, Mid-American Conference (MAC) regular season championship, MAC Tournament championship, and an NCAA Tournament appearance.
Bernthal, who played defense for Kent State, was named to the 2008 National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) All-West Region team and College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District squad. She twice came away with All-MAC accolades.
Bernthal graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Kent State in 2008. In 2011, she earned a master’s of education in clinical mental health counseling from Kent State. She is a licensed professional counselor in the state of Ohio.
This season is a quick turnaround from last spring's nontraditional year due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Bernthal said that if the team has learned anything from the last year, it's how special being able to compete is.
The Cardinals have a lot to look forward to this upcoming season. Ball State continued to improve under Bernthal's guidance last year, driving toward the goal of returning the historic program to prominence.
The Cardinals ended the season with six victories, including wins over fellow Mid-American Conference schools Appalachian State, Ohio, Longwood, Bellarmine and Central Michigan. The team also limited opponents to 1.81 goals per game for its best showing on defense since allowing a 1.78 average in 2002.
Her Cardinals also made program history by placing the entire 24-member squad on the 2020 NFHCA (National Field Hockey College Association) Academic Squad. The total was the second-most amongst all NCAA Division I field hockey programs in 2020.
The awards continued to roll in both on and off the field as senior Audrey Tabor earned post season Second Team All-Mid-American Conference honors while also being tabbed the MAC Defensive Player of the Week.
Six Ball State field hockey players also earned the 2020 Zag Field Hockey/National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division I Scholars of Distinction honor, which was announced by the NFHCA office. Freshman Halle Baisas (Louisville, Ky./Dupont Manual), sophomore Gina Caravaglia (Glen Allen, Va./Glen Allen), sophomore Caitlyn Grodzicki (Lititz, Pa./Warwick), freshman Emma Hilton (Clark N.J./Arthur L Johnson), senior Jenna McKune (Louisville, Ky./Assumption) and junior Callie Rumbaugh(Lancaster, Pa./Conestoga Valley) were the six recipients for the Cardinals.
In 2019, Bernthal guided Ball State’s defense to new heights as the Cardinals registered four shutouts that season; Davidson College (1-0), Saint Louis (3-0), Central Michigan (2-0) and Appalachian State (1-0). The four shutouts rank the most a Ball State team has compiled since the 2004 season. On Oct. 10, the Cardinals were tied for the top spot nationally with Dartmouth in defensive saves with 10 and were also ranked ninth in save percentage (.798).
Bernthal had three players earn Mid-American Conference Player of the Week honors and a postseason All-MAC recipient.
Not only were the Cardinals successful on the field that year, they also achieved greatness in the classroom. After the 2019 season, the Cardinals placed nine members on the 2019 Academic All-Mid-American Conference Team, 16 on the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) squad while freshman Caitlyn Grodzicki, junior Jenna McKune and senior Arantxa Rosainz Caloca earned the 2019 Zag Field Hockey/National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division I Scholars of Distinction honor.
In her first season as head coach for the Cardinals, Bernthal had 10 Academic All-Mid-American Conference honorees, three All-MAC postseason recipients, 15 NFHCA Academic award winners while the team also earned the NFHCA National Academic Award.
Bernthal came to Ball State after spending four seasons at the University of Richmond. She joined the Spiders staff in 2014 as an assistant coach under Gina McCorkle (formerly Lucido). McCorkle played field hockey at Ball State in the mid-1990s and is a member of the Ball State Athletics Hall of Fame. Following the 2016 season, Bernthal was promoted to associate head coach.
Bernthal helped Richmond to 42 wins, two Atlantic 10 championship game appearances, one Atlantic 10 regular season championship, one Atlantic 10 Tournament championship and one NCAA Tournament appearance.
“Stephanie is primed for this leadership opportunity as she exemplified steadfast maturity, passion and wisdom as my right hand at Richmond.” McCorkle said. “She possesses the unique ability to walk out toughness and grace equally well. As a Ball State alum, it’s such a joy to know that Stephanie’s integrity and character will impact the program culture immediately. I have no doubt she will return Ball State back to national prominence.”
Prior to her stint with the Spiders, Bernthal served two seasons as the inaugural head coach at Bethany College in West Virginia. Bernthal coordinated all aspects of the launch of that program without an assistant coach while also running the United States Field Hockey Futures program in Pittsburgh. Bernthal has been active in USA Field Hockey throughout her coaching career. For the past three years, she has run the Level I Training Site at the University of Richmond for the South Region.
“I’m excited to join the Ball State field hockey family,” Bernthal said. “Being from the Midwest, I am thrilled to return to the area and build upon the rich history and tradition of the Ball State program. I would also like to thank [Ball State Deputy Athletics Director] Pat Quinn and Mark Sandy for their professionalism throughout this process.”
Bernthal’s first stop as a collegiate coach was Christopher Newport University as an assistant in 2011. There she helped the Captains pick up 12 wins and earn an at-large berth to the NCAA Division III Tournament. She began her coaching career in 2009 at Stow-Monroe Falls High School in Stow, Ohio.
As a player, Bernthal was a four-year starter at Kent State University. She served as team captain as a senior in 2008 and helped the Golden Flashes to a top-20 national ranking, Mid-American Conference (MAC) regular season championship, MAC Tournament championship, and an NCAA Tournament appearance.
Bernthal, who played defense for Kent State, was named to the 2008 National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) All-West Region team and College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District squad. She twice came away with All-MAC accolades.
Bernthal graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Kent State in 2008. In 2011, she earned a master’s of education in clinical mental health counseling from Kent State. She is a licensed professional counselor in the state of Ohio.
Field Hockey // Win vs. Lock Haven
Wednesday, September 17
Field Hockey vs. Lock Haven
Sunday, September 14
Field Hockey vs. St. Francis
Friday, September 12
Field Hockey // Season Preview
Thursday, August 28
