Martu Loncarica - Field Hockey Coach - University of Richmond Athletics

Martu Loncarica

Title:
Head Coach
Email:
martu.loncarica@richmond.edu

Martu Loncarica (MAR-too LON-cah-ree-cah), the 2023 Atlantic 10 Field Hockey Coach of the Year at La Salle University, took over the reigns of the Spiders Field Hockey program in December of 2023.

Loncarica brings more than 10 seasons of collegiate coaching experience to Richmond, including three seasons as the head coach at La Salle from 2021-2023. This fall, she led the Explorers to their most successful season in Division I history as La Salle finished 13-6, its most wins since 1981, and advanced to the Atlantic 10 Championship for the first time since 2011. She was voted A-10 Coach of the Year in November.

“Spider Athletics is thrilled to welcome Martu to Richmond,” said Vice President and Director of Athletics John Hardt. “What her team accomplished in a short time at La Salle is incredibly impressive and shows that she can build championship-caliber programs. She is also passionate about developing the athletic, academic, and leadership abilities of her student-athletes, and I think she is an excellent fit for Richmond Athletics.”

“I am truly honored to lead the University of Richmond’s Field Hockey team. This program has an incredible history of success in the A-10 and I am committed to restoring that legacy,” said Loncarica. “My aim is to mentor student-athletes in becoming their best selves, and this institution perfectly aligns with my vision and values. I am enthusiastic about honoring the past and building a long lasting, successful future. Thank you to John Hardt and the Richmond family for this wonderful opportunity.”

Loncarica arrived at La Salle in July 2021 following a two-year stint as an Assistant Coach and Associate Head Coach at Saint Joseph’s. The Hawks won the 2019 Atlantic 10 Championship in Loncarica’s first season, defeating Richmond 1-0 in the final. SJU finished the season with a 17-4 record and reached the top 10 in the NFHCA Coaches Poll.

Loncarica also served on the Saint Joseph’s staff from 2015-17 as an Assistant Coach, helping the 2016 Hawks to a runner-up finish in the Atlantic 10 and their first appearance in the A-10 title game since 2007. In between stints at Saint Joseph’s she served as an Assistant Coach at William & Mary. In 2018, the Tribe won the CAA Championship for the first time in program history and won an opening round game vs Monmouth for their first-ever NCAA Tournament win.

Loncarica entered the coaching ranks in 2013 at Syracuse as the team’s Director of Operations, a position she held for two years. In 2014, Loncarica helped the Orange to a runner-up finish in the NCAA Tournament, the first national championship game appearance in program history.

As a player, Loncarica was a three-time All-American and a three-time Big East champion at Syracuse. She is second on Syracuse’s career points list, with 139 points from 37 goals and 65 assists.

Loncarica is a graduate of Syracuse University where she earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nutrition science. Her thesis explored how student-athletes understand and adhere to gender-specific nutritional requirements. She later graduated from Saint Joseph’s University with an MBA.

In Richmond, she will be joined by her husband, Nemo, a former captain of the Syracuse Men's soccer team, their two-year old son Oliver, and three-month-old identical twin girls, Mila & Frannie.