TROY, N.Y. - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Vice President and Director of Athletics
Dr. Lee McElroy has announced the hiring of Bre Lowe to the position of head field hockey coach. She comes to the Engineers from Hamilton College, where she was a full-time assistant coach since 2016.
"We are pleased to welcome Bre to Rensselaer and look forward to her continuing the success she has had in developing and mentoring students," McElroy said. "With the Institute and the world continuously adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bre obviously joins the department under unique circumstances. Regardless, we are confident she and our student-athletes will be resilient in building those vital relationships that are essential to maximizing performance academically, athletically and socially."
"I look forward to this new journey and the incredible opportunity at Rensselaer," said Lowe. "I am excited about the potential of the program and the ability to mentor student-athletes both on and off the field. I am thankful to be entrusted with the future of the program and incredibly grateful to the mentors I have had over my coaching career."
Lowe joined the Hamilton staff in May 2016 and helped the team to an average of 10 wins per season (40-25) with 23 victories in New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) play (23-17) under two different head coaches.
Her responsibilities, in addition to managing the program during the transition between head coaches, included leading the team's defensive unit and overall daily operations, such as practice planning, video breakdown, recruiting, alumnae relations and social media. She also handled game management responsibilities for five other programs, participated as a staff liaison to the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and taught physical education.
Lowe was on staff for the most successful season in Hamilton's NESCAC history when the 2016 team was 7-2 in the league and 12-5 overall. During her four-year tenure, she coached three All-Americans, a league Rookie of the Year, a conference Defensive Player of the Year and 13 All-Region honorees and a dozen All-NESCAC selections.
Prior to joining the Continentals, Lowe was an assistant coach at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn., for three season (2013-15), helping the Lynx to a 42-18 mark, including 20-4 in the Southern Athletic Association (SAA). The team was an SAA Championship finalist all three years and won two titles. The 2015 squad advanced to the NCAA Tournament Second Round for the first time in school history.
A native of Suffolk, Va., Lowe was a two-year starter at midfield at Christopher Newport University from 2009 to 2012. She finished her 67-game career with four goals, five assists and seven defensive saves, helping the Captains to a 60-16 record and four NCAA Tournament appearances. As a senior she helped the team to a then-program record 17 wins. She was the team's Most Valuable Player in 2011 and chosen for the 2012 All-State team by Virginia's sports information directors.
A four-time member of the National Field Hockey Coaches Association's National Academic Squad, Lowe began her collegiate coaching career as an intern at her alma mater during her final semester as an undergraduate. In that role, she helped recruit, develop drills and coach practices.
She has since worked for the Stick Power Field Hockey Club as an U12/U14 head coach and U16/U19 assistant, was an assistant coach with USA Futures Elite, a field hockey Olympic development program, and coached a region Futures Tournament team. Lowe served as an assistant coach for Heritage High School in Newport News, Va., from 2010 to 2012.
She graduated from Christopher Newport with a degree in psychology and minors in sociology and leadership studies.