Roberts Wesleyan Redhawks

Marissa Kocher was hired as Roberts Wesleyan University’s first field hockey coach in March of 2023 and enters her fourth season at the helm in 2026.

The Redhawks, who enjoyed a record-breaking season in 2025, will be playing their first season as a member of the East Coast Conference after playing their first three seasons as an independent.

Roberts opened the 2025 season with three consecutive wins on its way to a 7-8 record. The Redhawks set program records for wins, goals scored in a season (19) and goals scored in a game (six). Roberts also had 12 players win academic honors from the National Field Hockey Coaches Association while compiling a 3.54 team grade-point average and receiving a National Team Academic Award from the NFHCA.

The team won its first varsity game September 19, 2023 with a 3-1 win at Wells. Six players earned spots on the NFHCA Division II National Academic Squad and freshman goalie Avery Richardson led the nation in saves per game. She finished the season with 16.33 saves per game in 12 contests.

In 2024, the team doubled its win total and had 10 players honored for academic excellence.

Kocher graduated from Houghton with a degree in Communications in 2014 and spent two seasons as an assistant coach with the Highlanders before moving on to SUNY Geneseo. She was hired as an assistant coach at Geneseo in 2018 and spent five seasons with the Knights, including the 2019 campaign when Geneseo compiled a 19-3 record, won the SUNYAC championship and qualified for the NCAA Division III Tournament. She was a member of the 2019 and 2022 SUNYAC Coaching Staff of the Year and Geneseo. The staff was also recognized as the 2019 Spiideo/NFHCA Division III North Atlantic Regional Coaching Staff of the Year.

Kocher currently serves as a member of the NCAA Division II Field Hockey committee. Kocher also serves as a coach for the RNY Field Hockey club team and continues to play field hockey in an adult league. Kocher has her USA Field Hockey Level II Coach Certification and her Beginner and Junior Umpire certification.

Kocher signed up for her first rec league team in fifth grade and continued her playing career at South Carroll High School in Sykesville, Md., and Houghton University.

In her spare time, Kocher enjoys cooking and exploring Rochester with her husband, Jake, and dog, Linus.