WEST CHESTER, PA – West Chester University field hockey head coach,
Amy Cohen, and the director of athletics,
Terry Beattie announced the hiring of Kelsi Lykens as the new full-time assistant coach for the program Monday.
Lykens, a 2014 graduate of West Chester University and former All-America field hockey player for Cohen and the Golden Rams, comes back home to her alma mater after four years as the head coach at Lehigh University. Prior to that, "Shemp" as she is affectionately known to friends and family, spent six years as head coach at the University of New Haven in Connecticut. She brings 10 years of experience as a head coach to
Amy Cohen's staff this fall.
"Kelsi will immediately make an impact with recruiting top notch student athletes," Cohen said. "Her passion, leadership and love for the game is what sets her apart from most, and we are all excited she chose us. Welcome home to a one-of-a-kind Golden Ram. Welcome back to West Chester, Shemp!"
Lykens has been instrumental in the success of her athletes on a Patriot League level. Under her leadership, Lykens has helped coach and develop one All-Patriot League first team honoree and three All-Patriot League second team honorees. The 2025 season saw two seniors earn All-Patriot League honors with one becoming a four-time all-league selection while adding NFHCA All-Region honors.
"I want to thank the West Chester University Athletics Department and head coach
Amy Cohen for the opportunity to return home," Lykens said. "This program shaped so much of who I am, and being chosen to help lead the next generation of Golden Rams leaves me feeling incredibly grateful.
"I'm also excited to return to the sideline with Amy (Cohen). We share the same vision while being a great balance for one another. I truly believe our partnership will lead to the program consistently competing for championships at the conference and national level."
Lykens spent six years at the University of New Haven, where she built the program from the ground up for its inaugural season in 2017. Lykens oversaw the growth of a program that culminated in appearances in the Northeast-10 playoffs in both the 2021 and 2022 seasons. The Chargers won 19 games over the last two seasons after just winning seven in their first three years of varsity competition.
In their 2022 campaign, Lykens helped coach and develop New Haven's first two NFHCA All-Americans and the Northeast-10 Defensive Player of the Year. During her tenure, Lykens mentored 14 all-conference players. New Haven also won the NFHCA National Academic Team Award in five straight seasons with 43 student athletes landing on the NFHCA National Academic Squad, including 14 Scholars with Distinction, since 2018.
Following the 2022 season, Lykens was also honored by her peers with the NFHCA's first-ever President's Award, which recognizes non-board members who demonstrate exceptional service to the NFHCA and their fellow coaches through committee service and other initiatives.
Before ascending to the mantle of head coach, Lykens served as an assistant coach at Sacred Heart University and West Chester University, where she helped lead the Golden Rams to the PSAC championship in 2014. She has also served in coaching roles for a local club field hockey team in Connecticut as a U-14, U-16 and U-19 coach.
Lykens was inducted into the West Chester University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2024 in the first year of eligibility following an outstanding college athletic career that culminated in a back-to-back national championships for the Golden Rams in 2011 and 2012. A two-time, first team All-American, Lykens received the Division II Honda Award in the sport of field hockey in 2013 as well as the PSAC player of the year. In 81 career games, she scored 33 goals and posted 95 points. Those goals ranks seventh all-time at WCU during the Division II era and her point total ranks sixth all-time over that same span. The two-time, first team All-PSAC selection dominated the middle of the field in the conference during her four years at West Chester.
Lykens graduated from West Chester University in 2014 with a bachelor's degree in Professional Studies with a minor in Health and Professional Education.
