Skidmore College announced this week that Lili Dickey will step onto its varsity staff as the new assistant field hockey coach, a move that promises to reshape the program ahead of the 2026 campaign.
A trajectory built on winning
Dickey’s journey to Skidmore spans several institutions in Connecticut, where she honed her craft as both a player and a mentor. After graduating from Western Connecticut State University in 2020, she served as an assistant coach at Western Connecticut State and Vassar College before taking the helm of the Union College club team.
Under her leadership, the Union College club squad reached the semifinals of the NYSCFHL in its inaugural competitive season, a testament to her ability to translate talent into results quickly.
Dickey’s playing résumé is equally impressive. As a defender and midfielder for the Western Connecticut State Wolves, she earned First Team All-Little East Conference honors, NFHCA Division III All-Region recognition and three Little East Defensive Player of the Week awards, capping a career that included a Little East Defensive Player of the Week trio in 2018.
Beyond the field, Dickey holds a master’s degree in counselor education from Western Connecticut State and currently manages a home-health care operation while also serving as a school counselor. Her dual background in mental-health support and athletic development adds a unique dimension to her coaching philosophy.
Her professional network extends to AIM Athletes Club, Saratoga Youth Field Hockey and a variety of summer camp programs, giving her a broad recruiting footprint and a deep well of instructional resources to draw from.
A fresh vision under new leadership
Dickey will join a Skidmore program that is already undergoing transformation under head coach Kate Lenox. Together, they aim to build on the college’s recent momentum and prepare a competitive roster for the upcoming 2026 season.
Athletic leadership at Skidmore has voiced confidence that Dickey’s blend of on-field expertise and player-wellbeing focus will elevate the program’s profile and foster sustained growth.