Chestnut Hill College adds sports teams, coaches

The 2003-2004 academic year was memorable for Chestnut Hill College’s athletic program. History was made when the women’s soccer team captured the college’s first Atlantic Women’s College Conference (ASCC) title and advanced to the NCAA tournament and the men’s basketball team stepped onto the court to become the first male team to represent the school in competitive sports.

In 2004-2005, the college is continuing to build on its success in the NCAA Division III with the introduction of six varsity athletic teams, a new athletic director to lead the program’s growth and three new coaches to guide the student-athletes.

Four men’s sports and two new women’s teams will be added to the upcoming school year’s athletic schedule. The men’s soccer team, which competed at the club level in 2003, will join the North Easter Athletic Conference (NEAC). As will the men’s tennis, golf and cross-country teams. A women’s gold and cross-country team also will compete in the NEAC for the first time.

In addition to the appointment of new athletic director Bill Stiles (profiled in last week's Local Sports), three new coaches will be added to the college’s coaching staff.

Michele Mocarsky, who served as the assistant coach of the women’s soccer team during its 2003 championship run, will take over as head coach. Mocarsky brings more than 15 years playing experience and extensive coaching experience to the tea, serving as assistant coach at her alma mater, Arcadia University, before joining the Chestnut hill College coaching staff.

Matt Kerr will take over the reins of the women’s volleyball team. He has been the assistant coach of Temple’s women’s volleyball team since 2001. During that time, the team won an Atlantic 10 championship and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen round of the NCAA Division I Tournament. Kerr was a member of the Penn State Abington men’s volleyball team and the Temple University men’s volleyball club.

This winter the women’s basketball team also will have a new coach. Jackie deMarteleire comes to Chestnut Hill College from Philadelphia University, where she served as the assistant coach of the women’s basketball team. deMarteleire also played for Philadelphia University, leading her team to a berth in the NCAA Division II Tournament and two Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) championships.