Ball State University Athletics
Northcroft Announces Field Hockey Coaching Staff
July 25, 2015 | Field Hockey
MUNCIE, Ind. – Ball State head field hockey coach Sally Northcroft announced today that Christy Longacre will continue to serve as an assistant coach this fall and Baillie Versfeld will join the staff as a graduate assistant coach.
Longacre, a two-time All-American at Old Dominion, originally joined the Ball State staff as a volunteer assistant in February 2014 before taking on a full-time role later that spring. Longacre is now in her second season as a full-time assistant coach.
“Christy is not only an outstanding athlete and field hockey player, but she reads the game well and has shown great potential to coach the members of our team,” Northcroft said. “She has demonstrated great maturity and excellent leadership, and I am so thrilled that she has remained as the assistant coach.”
Longacre was named to the 2013 National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) All-America first team as a senior and was a second-team selection as a junior in 2012. She was twice honored as the conference defensive player of the year, earning the award in the Colonial Athletic Association as a junior and in the Big East as a senior.
Longacre scored 20 goals as a four-year letterwinner for Old Dominion. She helped the Monarchs to four NCAA Tournament appearances, including a trip to the national semifinals in 2011. In addition to her time at Old Dominion, Longacre competed on the Mid-Atlantic team at the 2010 and 2011 Junior Women's National Championships.
Before arriving at Ball State, Versfeld spent two years as a graduate assistant at Stevenson University where she helped the Mustangs capture the 2014 ECAC Division III Mid-Atlantic championship.
“I am proud to have Baillie join our coaching staff,” Northcroft said. “She was an impact player at James Madison University and has demonstrated her passion and knowledge for the game on many occasions in her coaching roles over the years. Baillie has extensive playing and coaching experience not only as a field player, but also in coaching goalkeepers. She will be able to make a difference immediately with the team and we are excited to welcome her to the program!”
Versfeld has also worked four years as an assistant coach at James Madison (2009-12) and two more at Miami (Ohio) (2007-08). The 2009 James Madison team finished the year ranked 11th nationally and just missed out on the NCAA Tournament. In 2007, Miami (Ohio) reached the MAC championship game before falling in overtime, 3-2.
As a collegiate player at James Madison (2003-06), Versfeld was a two-time All-American, four-time All-South honoree, and four-time All-CAA member. She finished her career with 72 points on 27 goals and 18 assists. Versfeld's best statistical season came as a junior in 2005 when she totaled 26 points on 10 goals and six assists. She was named a second team All-American and shared the JMU Female Athlete of the Year honor.
In 2006, Versfeld posted 16 points (five goals, six assists) while leading the Dukes to the first of three consecutive CAA championships. She was named CAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player and again was named a second team All-American by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association while earning first team honors from Womensfieldhockey.com.
During her final semester at JMU, Versfeld completed a coaching internship with the Dukes where she got her first glimpse behind the scenes while assisting with the spring non-traditional season. She graduated from JMU in 2007 with a bachelor of science in kinesiology with a concentration in sport management.
In 2009, Versfeld was named to the CAA Silver Anniversary Team as one of the top 25 field hockey student-athletes in league history.
A native of Zimbabwe, Versfeld competed for the Zimbabwean Under-16 and Under-18 national squads while serving as captain of the U-18 squad for one year. She continues to be active with the national hockey program in Zimbabwe.
For the most up-to-date news on the field hockey team, please follow @BallStateSports and @BallStateFH.
TRANSACTIONS
Ball State University – Announced the hiring of Baillie Versfeld as a graduate assistant field hockey coach.
