MIDDLETOWN, Pa. - Penn State Harrisburg has announced it will add field hockey as its newest varsity athletic program. 

With the addition of field hockey, Penn State Harrisburg will sponsor 17 intercollegiate varsity sports. Once established, the program will operate at the club level before beginning NCAA Division III competition in the fall of 2024. The program will compete as a member of the conference established from the future merge of the United East and Colonial States Athletic Conferences (CSAC). 

"We've had a strong interest level in the sport of field hockey from prospective students for many years, as well as students currently enrolled." said Penn State Harrisburg Director of Athletics Rahsaan Carlton. "It's an immensely popular sport locally and in the greater Mid-Atlantic region. With the recent addition of our multi-sport turf facility and new competitive opportunities due to our conference merger, we're very excited to add it to our current list of varsity sport programs."  

The team will practice and contest its home games at the college's multipurpose turf field. Plans are underway to expand the complex to include permanent bleachers, public restrooms, a press box, team storage, and a concession stand. The renovations will be funded by the Penn State Harrisburg student facility fee.  

A national search for a full-time head coach will begin immediately. Once hired, the program's head coach will begin to recruit the first class of field hockey student-athletes. The team will field a roster of 25 to 30 players.  

Penn State Harrisburg will continue to assess the interest level and overall viability of future varsity athletic programs, with no specific timeline set for new additions.