Shellie Onstead, a 2008 U.S. Olympic assistant coach and California Hall of Fame inductee, has made a lasting impact on collegiate and national field hockey in the United States.
As the Donna Fong Director of Field Hockey at Cal, Onstead—only the second head coach in program history—is entering her 31st season leading the Golden Bears, having amassed over 300 career wins, 14 conference titles, and 6 NCAA Tournament appearances, including a the America East Conference Championship in 2023.
The first All-American player at Cal, Onstead became the program's first endowed head coach Thanks to a pair of $1 million gifts from Tom Shaffer and his mother, Abby, and Emily Risberg and her husband, Jeff. She is widely credited with transforming Cal into a West Coast contender in a traditionally East Coast-dominated sport.
Nationally and internationally, Onstead has served in numerous roles with USA Field Hockey, including assistant coach of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team, head coach of the U.S. Men's U-16 National Team (the first woman to hold that position), and video analyst for the U.S. Women’s National Team at the 2002 World Cup in Perth, Australia. She has also led multiple U.S. men’s and women’s youth national teams at international tournaments across Europe, South America, and Asia, earning USA Field Hockey National Coach of the Year honors in 1999.
Onstead has developed numerous elite players, including Megan Rodgers, a 2024 U.S. Olympian; Valentina Godfrid, a two-time NorPac Player of the Year and Cal Hall of Famer; Katrina Carter, U.S. Developmental Team and U21 National Team, Brynn Zorilla, U.S. U21 National Team, and Liz Klompmaker, the 2024 ACC Freshman of the Year.
Beyond the field, Onstead is a passionate advocate for women’s sports and gender equity, using her platform to advance the principles of Title IX and expand opportunities for female athletes and coaches at all levels.
As a player, Onstead helped lead Cal to national prominence in the early 1980s, finishing her career among the program’s all-time leaders in goals, assists, and points. Named an All-American in 1982, Onstead contributed to top finishes in both the AIAW and NCAA national tournaments. She was elected into the California Hall of Fame in 2008. Prior to taking the head coach position, she served as assistant coach for 11 seasons to program founder, Donna Fong.Â
She remains a pioneer, mentor, and nationally respected voice in collegiate and international field hockey.
