Hempstead, NY – Hofstra Head Field Hockey Coach Hillary Fitts announces today the addition of Alicia Govannicci to her staff for the upcoming 2025 season of Hofstra field hockey.

“We’re thrilled to add someone as accomplished as Alicia to our staff,” says Fitts, who will be entering her second season as the Pride’s head coach in 2025. “She has a terrific history of developing student-athletes into all-conference honorees. We look forward to having her dedication, passion, and knowledge of the game on our staff.”

“I’m incredibly excited to join the Hofstra University field hockey program as an assistant coach,” said Govannicci. “Hofstra has a tradition of athletic and academic excellence , and I’m honored to be part of a program that values both. Thank you to Hofstra’s Athletic Administration and Head Coach Hillary Fitts for this opportunity, and I look forward to working alongside her to help the student-athletes develop their skills, compete at the highest level, and grow as individuals. I’m grateful for this opportunity and can’t wait to get started!””

Govannicci joins the Pride after a two-season stint as the head field hockey coach at Rider from 2023 through the 2024 season. She won 17 games at the helm of the Broncs, and she was named the 2024 NEC Coach of the Year after going 10-8 overall and 6-2 in the conference and clinching the two-seed in the NEC Tournament. She coached NEC Offensive Player and Rookie of the Year Olivia Machiavelli, as well as NEC Midfielder of the Year Lyric Scott, in 2024, and a total of seven players received All-NEC honors during her time as head coach. Govannicci’s squad led the conference this past season in goals scored with 51 – a 24-goal improvement from 2023 – and in points per game with 7.05, and they finished top 15 nationally in scoring average, points per game, and penalty corners per game.

Prior to her time as a head coach, Govannicci spent two seasons as an assistant coach at LIU from 2021 through 2023. In her time with the Sharks, LIU advanced to the NEC Championship in 2021 and she helped coach five players to All-NEC honors. At LIU, Govannicci was responsible for assisting in player and team development, as well as collaborating with the LIU coaching staff on development and implementation of practice plans and game strategies, recruiting, and organizing and running camps and clinics for youth teams and prospective student-athletes.

Govannicci also spent time on coaching staffs at La Salle (assistant coach, 2020-21), Central Michigan (graduate assistant coach, 2019-20), and Immaculata (assistant coach, 2018-19), as well as at the high school and club levels.

Govannicci received her bachelor’s degree in psychology and elementary education in May 2014 from Rider, where she was a four-year starter for the Broncs and was a two-time captain as a junior and a senior. During her time as a student-athlete, Govannicci won three NEC Championships, three NEC regular season titles, and the 2013 MAAC regular season title. Additionally, she was named All-MAAC First Team in 2013 and All-NEC Second in 2011 and 2012.

Govannicci received her master’s degree in sport administration from Central Michigan in November 2020.