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Ryley van der Velde '17 enters her second season as head coach of the Connecticut College field hockey program in 2026.

A graduate of Connecticut College who played four years of field hockey, van der Velde led the Camels to 6-9 overall record in her first season back in New London. The 2025 squad went unbeaten in non-conference action for the first time since 2011, posting a 5-0 record and outscoring opponents by a 20-6 margin. The Camels were competitive in NESCAC action, defeating Colby in overtime while dropping one-goal decisions against four nationally-ranked opponents. The program also produced an NFHCA All-America selection for the first time since 2010.

Prior to rejoining the Camels, van der Velde spent three years as head coach at Virginia Wesleyan University in Virginia Beach, Va. In her final season in 2024 the Marlins posted their highest win total since 2005, finishing the year with a 12-7 overall record that included a 4-4 mark in the competitive Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC). The squad qualified for the ODAC Tournament for the first time since 2016, and garnered an ECAC Championship bid for the first time in school history.

Under van der Velde's watch, Virginia Wesleyan produced six All-ODAC selections over three seasons, including three in 2024. Her final freshmen class included a goalie who earned both ODAC and ECAC Rookie of the Year honors.

Prior to joining the Marlins, van der Velde coached at Rocky Hill Country Day School in East Greenwich, R.I., and served as an assistant coach at Salve Regina University in Newport, R.I. With the Seahawks, she was responsible for individual skills, player development, and academic success, and she was also involved in program operations, formulating practice plans, and planning film breakdown and evaluation sessions. 

A native of Louisville, Ky., van der Velde played four seasons of field hockey as a goalkeeper for the Camels from 2013-16. In 42 career games she recorded 252 saves and posted four shutouts while sporting a 0.689 save percentage. A team captain in both her junior and senior seasons, she was also named to the NESCAC All-Sportsmanship Team three times in her career.   

Van der Velde received a bachelor's degree in Human Development from Connecticut College and a master's degree in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling from Salve Regina University.