WESTMINSTER, Md. - McDaniel College Director of Athletics Jeremy Shepherd announced Tuesday that Blaine Donnelly has been hired as the new Head Field Hockey Coach at McDaniel College.

Donnelly arrives on the Hill with six seasons of experience as an assistant coach in Division III, including the last four at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Va.
 
"Donnelly brings a clear vision for our field hockey program, one that focuses on building a strong program culture and a commitment to create an environment where our student-athletes can thrive competitively while excelling academically," said Shepherd. "Her experience, attention to detail and emphasis on developing interpersonal relationships elevated her to the top during the search process."
 
At Washington and Lee, Donnelly assisted with managing the daily aspects of the field hockey program including the design and implementation of practice plans, preparing scouting reports and supporting student-athlete academic success for a team that posted an overall record of 54-22 during her four seasons, including a mark of 26-7 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC). The Generals finished the 2025 season ranked at No. 21 in the final National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) National Coaches Poll with a record of 14-5.
 
In 2022, Donnelly helped lead W&L to the ODAC championship with 17 wins, one win shy of the school record. The team was ranked as high as No. 13 nationally and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship. She was also a part of the host committee for the 2024 NCAA semifinals and national championship hosted by Washington and Lee.
 
Donnelly also coordinated all recruiting visits for the Generals who totaled 26 all-conference selections, including the 2022 ODAC Rookie of the Year, 16 all-region honorees, and two All-Americans over her four years with the team. In 2025, W&L had eight all-conference and six all-region selections.
 
Off the field during Donnelly's tenure, the Generals had two ODAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year selections, one Academic All-American, and one Marjorie Berkley Award winner given to a student who exhibits the highest athletic, academic, and extracurricular achievements. The program also had a player chosen as national Top 30 honoree for the 2023 NCAA Woman of the Year Award.
 
"I am incredibly honored to serve as the next head coach of the McDaniel field hockey program," said Donnelly. "I would like to thank Jeremy Shepherd and the entire search committee for their confidence and support throughout the process."
 
Prior to Washington and Lee, Donnelly spent three years at Oberlin College in Ohio where she helped secure one of the program's largest recruiting classes with seven commitments in 2022.
 
"I am excited to get to work with our student-athletes and build a program that reflects the values and competitiveness of McDaniel Athletics."
 
In addition to her coaching experience, Donnelly is a graduate of the NFHCA Aspire Coaches Academy and served on the departmental Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee and taught two semesters of Physical Education class at Washington and Lee.
 
A 2019 graduate of Wittenberg University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sports Management, Donnelly was a four-time All-North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) and two-time all-region selection. A two-time team captain, she finished her career ranked sixth in program history with 46 goals and sixth with 103 points.
 
Donnelly is a native of Hanover, Md. who attended nearby Archbishop Spalding where she played field hockey and girls' lacrosse for the Cavaliers in the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland "A" Conference.