Jena Cacciatore is in her third season as an assistant coach for the Colgate Field Hockey program under head coach Cathy Foto.
During her time with the Raider program, Cacciatore has played a key role in the development of the team’s forwards and midfielders. She has mentored a quartet of All-Patriot League performers, including two-time First-Team All-League pick Eliana Brown. She was also instrumental in helping Colgate make a return to the Patriot League Championship in 2014.
As a four-year starter at Ohio State, Cacciatore has a wealth of experience on the field with over 50 career points with the Buckeyes. During her time in Columbus, Cacciatore helped guide Ohio State to a Big Ten Regular Season Championship and NCAA Final Four appearance, the program’s first in school history, in 2010 and a Sweet 16 berth as a junior in 2009.
During that title run in 2010, Cacciatore recorded career-highs with 13 goals and 28 points, which were third best on the Buckeyes. She had four game-winning goals that season and finished her career with 10 winners, putting her in fifth place on Ohio State’s all-time list. She was named to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association All-West Region Second Team following her senior season.
“Jena has been a great addition to our staff,” Foto said. ”She was an outstanding player at Ohio State and an accomplished player in the Big Ten and on a national level. She brings with her an extensive coaching and business background and has quickly proven to be an outstanding recruiter and coach at the collegiate level.”
No stranger to the club circuit, Cacciatore worked for multiple club teams and camps in Columbus and also spent four seasons as a member of the XCaliber club program in her hometown of Allentown, Pa.
Cacciatore came to Colgate after a stint as an associate head coach with the Columbus Coyotes Field Hockey Club, where she taught girls from age 6 to 18 with tournaments from November to August. In addition to working with the Coyotes, Cacciatore spent four years with the USA Futures Programs as coach with Under 16 and 19 teams. She tutored athletes into possible U.S. National and collegiate players.
Cacciatore spent many years working the Ohio State Summer Field Hockey Camp, teaching athletes from the middle school and high school levels.
“Jena is a tough competitor and she instills her strong work ethic and sense of commitment in our young athletes,” Foto said. “She has competed for a Big Ten Championship, the NCAA Final Four and has found success where ever she has been.”
Cacciatore earned her Bachelor’s in Communications at Ohio State in 2011.
