MADISON, N.J. - Summer Washburn has been named as the new head field hockey coach at Drew University, Director of Athletics Christa Racine has announced.

Washburn comes to the Forest from Babson College, where she has helped the Beavers to a successful four-year run that included a conference title and a pair of trips to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. She also served as an assistant for both field hockey and lacrosse at Trinity (Conn.) College for three seasons (2015-17) and helped the Bantams to multiple NCAA Division III tournament appearances.

Washburn becomes the 12th field hockey head coach in the program's 54-year history and replaces Sally Dreyer C'88, who served as interim head coach during the fall of 2021.

"I am extremely honored and excited for the opportunity to join the Drew University community and lead the field hockey program as the head coach," said Washburn. "I want to thank Athletic Director Christa Racine, Assistant Athletic Director Brian Hirschberg, and the entire search committee for their time and faith in me to lead this program. I also want to thank Babson Head Coach Julie Ryan, Assistant Coach Lindsey O'Coin, all the players in the Babson field hockey and Trinity field hockey programs, Trinity Head Coach Anne Parmenter, and Salisbury Head Coach Dawn Chamberlin for all the support and mentorship they have provided to allow me to grow and develop as a person and a coach."

From 2018-21, Washburn helped Babson to an outstanding record of 55-11, including an unblemished 24-0 mark in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) regular-season play. The Beavers went 19-5 and reached the second round of NCAAs in 2019 before posting a tremendous season this past fall, going 21-2, winning the NEWMAC title, and advancing to the NCAA quarterfinals. 

At Babson, Washburn coached an NFHCA DIII New England East Region Player of the Year, two NFHCA Division III First Team All-Americans, 13 All-NEWMAC selections, 10 NFHCA All-Region selections, a NEWMAC Defensive Player of the Year, and a NEWMAC Rookie of the Year.

Washburn started her collegiate coaching career at Trinity. In field hockey, the Bantams followed up a 2016 NCAA tournament appearance with a trip to the 2017 national quarterfinals, while the women's lacrosse team made three straight trips to the NCAA tournament, which included reaching the 2016 national championship game and the 2017 final four.
 
In her tenure as the assistant field hockey coach at Trinity, Washburn helped coach eight All-New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) selections, two NESCAC Players of the Year, eight all-region honorees, two regional players of the year, and an NCAA Division III National Player of the Year.

As an assistant women's lacrosse coach at Trinity, Washburn helped coach five All-NESCAC selections, two NESCAC Players of the Year, 15 all-region selections, 8 All-American selections, a National Attacker of the Year, a National Midfielder of the Year, and a National Goalie of the Year.

In addition to her collegiate coaching experience, Washburn has also served as a coach or manager for numerous club teams, clinics, and recruiting showcases at various levels and age groups.

As a student-athlete, Washburn was a field hockey standout at Salisbury University, where she finished with 23 goals and 30 assists for 76 points in 80 career starts. She was an NCAA Division III First-Team All-American, the Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) Player of the Year, and a three-time All-CAC selection. A two-year team captain, she helped lead the Sea Gulls to the NCAA championship game in 2013 and to the national semifinals in 2014. She also competed for Salisbury's women's lacrosse team for two years and was part of its 2013 undefeated national championship squad.

Washburn earned a bachelor's degree in exercise science from Salisbury in 2015. She also received a master's degree in public policy from Trinity in 2017 as well as an MBA from Babson in 2021.