A Distinguished Coaching Career
Old Dominion University announced this week that Daan Polders will join its field hockey program as an assistant coach, bringing a wealth of experience that spans three decades.
Born in the Netherlands and a former player for both the Dutch National League and the Dutch National Army Team, Polders transitioned to coaching and quickly established himself as a strategic mind and mentor for developing talent.
During his five‑year stint at Mount Olive College, he captured three conference championships and earned coach‑of‑the‑year honors twice, highlighting his ability to build winning programs from the ground up.
At Villa Maria Academy in Pennsylvania, his teams secured two state titles and finished as runners‑up on another occasion, underscoring his knack for maximizing high‑school talent.
Four years at Colorado Academy in Denver saw his program go undefeated in two separate seasons, posting a combined record of 35‑0 and cementing his reputation as a transformational leader.
His coaching journey also includes stints at Division I powerhouses Wake Forest and Michigan State, where he helped the teams to multiple Big Ten regular‑season titles and guided the Spartans to two NCAA Final Four appearances.
Beyond the collegiate arena, Polders served as the director of the U.S. U‑17 Women’s National Field Hockey Team and has been a consistent presence in the USA Field Hockey organization since 2003, bringing an international perspective to domestic competition.
Expressing enthusiasm about the new role, Polders said he looks forward to collaborating with the ODU staff and helping the program reach new heights.