Since owning Virginia Beach Field Hockey, the league has continued its tradition of being an integral part of the Hampton Roads Sports community and a leader in youth field hockey development and training. In 2013, VBFH expanded into a year round program under the guidence of Dena. Her community outreach efforts include putting sticks in the hands of more than 5,000 elementary students in 2012-13 through 30 free clinics (continues through the 2013-14 school year,) and scholarships into the league. In 2013, the Virginia Beach Field Hockey Booster Club was formed to support both VB Field Hockey and the local club teams efforts to assist all families by offering fundraising opportunities to support their expenses year round. Scholarships are awarded to graduating seniors who have volunteered and or worked in VBFH, and plan to continue as student-athletes at the collegiate level. VBFH works with many National Ranked Club Teams in the surranding area to foster growth, develop players to an elite level, and provide a platform of competition in our sport for athletes at a younger age.
Field hockey, Basketball and Softball, Kempsville High School
Club Field Hockey two years, Sacred Heart University
Studied Business and Marketing at Sacred Heart University
25 years corporate experience in business development, operations, sales and marketing.
Began work with VBFH 2001
Assisted Regional Director USA Field Hockey Futures program Region 8 2005-2006
USA Field Hockey Futures Elite Site Director Region 8 2007-2008
General Manager VBFH 2010-2012
Owner/General Manager 2012 VBFH to present
Owner/Director 757 FHC 2013 to 2018
Owner/Director - Virginia Beach Sand Hockey - 2010-Present
Owner Vault Athletics & Fitness
Level 1 Certification USA Field Hockey
Ashleigh Thomas, On-site Director
Ashleigh has been with Virginia Beach Field Hockey since 2018 and recently stepped in the role of On-Site Director in 2020. Along with overseeing all of our programming, Ashleigh helps with administrative work in the office and coaches a variety of teams along with Beyond the Net Training programing. Ashleigh is from Mountain Top, Pennsylvania where she was Pennsylvania State Champion at Creastwood High School prior to attending Old Dominion University. A four-year starter at ODU on the forward line, Ashleigh graduated in May 2020 with a B.S. in Marine Biology. Ashleigh coached with Focus Field Hockey Club from 2016-2021.
Nicole has been a staff member with Virginia Beach Field Hockey 2012. While she now oversees all marketing and programming for VBFH and Beyond the Net Training, Nicole started with VBFH back in 2005 as an assistant coach when she was in high school. Nicole is a Virginia Beach native, graduating from Salem High School in 2007 prior to attending Appalachian State University. A four-year starter at App State in the midfield, Nicole graduated in May 2011 with a B.A. in Health Psychology.
Nicole is the current head coach at Kellam High School and Princess Anne Middle School and is a Coach and Club Manager of TCOYO Hockey Club. She previously worked for 2 seasons at Princess Anne High School and Lynnhaven Middle School and 5 seasons at Virginia Wesleyan College where she served as the program tactical director and strength and conditioning coach.
Nicole received her U.S. Field Hockey Association Level II Coaching Certification in 2015, is the current RTC Site Director for the USA Nexus program (previously Futures) in Region 8 and has been selected to coach at National Futures Championships and Junior Olympics multiple times.
In addition to our core staff, Virginia Beach Field Hockey uses many coaches from the regions top high schools and clubs teams as well can current college and high school players to instruct in our clinics & leagues. All coaches of our coaches have multiple years of field hockey experience.
Kylie Levine - Current Longwood University player, Former Frank W. Cox player
Marley McClendon - Current Old Dominion University player, Former First Colonial player
Evelyn Murray - Current Old Dominion University player, Former First Colonial player
Mallory Lamb - Current Princess Anne High School player
Ashley Pappas - Current Floyd E. Kellam High School player
Caroline Porter - Current Floyd E. Kellam High School player
