Dan Hussong, the husband of Head Coach Lori Hussong, announced his retirement following his 23rd season on the Rider staff in 2022 as an assistant coach. Dan's main area on the field is goaltending and off the field is recruiting.
In 2022, Hussong and the Broncs earned both the NEC Regular Season and Tournament Championship, advancing to the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. Kaitlyn Tomas was named NEC Defensive Player and Goalie of the Year before being named the NEC Tournament MVP. Indy Zoontjens was selected as NEC Rookie of the Year. Fellow First-Team All-NEC selection Valeria Perales earned Second Team NFHCA All-Region honors after finishing fourth in the country in points per game. Sierra Giuliano was also named First-Team All-NEC. Kiki van Ommeren, Lyric Scott, and Maeve Riehman each earned Second-Team All-NEC honors.
The Broncs fought to the four-seed in the NEC Tournament during the 2021 season. Julia Divorra was named NEC Offensive Player of the Year for the third consecutive season, leading the post-season honors for the Broncs. Divorra also earned NFHCA All-Region honors and was named to the NFHCA Senior All-Star Team. Joining Divorra on the First-Team All-NEC was forward Carly Brosious, midfielder Tess van Ommeren, and defender Kiki van Ommeren. Sierra Giuliano was a Second-Team All-NEC selection.
In the 2020-21 season, the Broncs won both the NEC Regular Season and Tournament titles, advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. Six players earned All-NEC honors, led by NEC Player of the Year and NEC Offensive Player of the Year Julia Divorra. Divorra would go on to earn NFHCA First-Team All-Region honors. Tess van Ommeren also earned All-Region honors after being named to the second team. Hussong and the rest of the staff capped the season by being named the NFHCA Mid-Atlantic Coaching Staff of the Year.
In 2019, Rider went 13-7 and earned the No. 2 seed in the NEC Field Hockey Tournament thanks to posting a mark of 5-1 in conference action. The Bronc defense posted three shutouts during and Hussong saw five players earn All-NEC honors. Julia Divorra was tabbed as the NEC Offensive Player. Divorra, Carly Brosious, Tess Coorens and Tess van Ommeren all earned First Team All-NEC honors, while Kaitlyn Flemming landed on the All-NEC Second Team. For their play in the NEC Tournament, Tess van Ommeren, Lena Vandam and Brittany Romanczuk were named to the NEC All-Tournament Team.
Rider advanced to their 12th NEC Championship Game after blanking LIU, 3-0, in the NEC Semifinals.
In 2018, Rider went 11-8 and qualified for the MAAC Tournament as the No. 2 seed thanks to posting a 4-1 mark in league play. The Bronc defense posted four shutouts during the year. Rider saw sophomore Lena Vandam tabbed as the MAAC Goalkeeper of the Year for the second year in a row. Vandam, freshman Carly Brosious and junior Tess Coorens all earned First Team All-MAAC honors, while freshman Tess van Ommeren, senior Jessica Randazzo and sophomore Kaitlyn Flemming all earned Second Team All-MAAC distinction. For their play at the MAAC Tournament, both Vandam and senior Alison Amen were named to the MAAC All-Championship Team.
During the regular season in 2018, Rider had the MAAC Defensive Player of the Week five times, the MAAC Rookie of the Week three times and one player recognized as the MAAC Offensive Player of the Week. The Broncs had freshman Carly Brosious named the Synapse Sports Division I National Rookie of the Week, Tess Coorens was once named to the Synapse Sports Division I Weekly Honor Roll and Lena Vandam was once named to the Longsteth/NFHCA Division I Weekly Honor Roll.
In 2017, Rider finished 8-11 and qualified for the MAAC Tournament for the 18th consecutive season. The Bronc defensive back line posted five shutouts and surrendered just over 1.50 goals per game. During the season, four different Rider freshmen were honored by the league with weekly awards. Freshman goalkeeper Lena Vandam was named the MAAC Defensive Player of the Week three times throughout the campaign and following the year she landed on the All-MAAC First Team as well as earning MAAC Co-Goalkeeper of the Year honors. Two other Broncs earned First Team All-MAAC recognition and two other Rider players were named to the All-MAAC Second Team.
In 2016, Rider (10-9) won four of their last five conference games to secure their 17th straight conference playoff appearance. An untimed goal by freshman Alice Otterson sent the game to overtime against nationally-recognized Monmouth, who had beaten the Broncs 3-2 in Lawrenceville just three weeks prior. A goal in the second overtime for the Hawks gave Monmouth a 3-2 win again, eventually sending them to the NCAA tournament. Nevertheless, the play of rookie Daane Koch earned her All-MAAC 1st Team and MAAC Rookie of the Year. Five more players earned All-MAAC 1st or 2nd Team berths, making it 24 times a Rider athlete has earned a spot in four seasons of MAAC field hockey. Eight student-athletes also earned spots on the MAAC All-Academic Team.
In 2015, Rider (12-7) opened the season 4-0. The Broncs overcame a 1-2 start in conference play and won three straight including the last two games on the road by identical 1-0 scores to clinch a playoff berth for the 16th year in a row. The Broncs advanced to the MAAC semifinals, losing to Quinnipiac 3-2 on a penalty corner with no time left on the clock. Five players earned All-MAAC First or Second Team honors and the Broncs continued their strong work in the classroom with nine recognized with MAAC All-Academic honors and 15 recognized by the NFHCA for their high grade point average while Rider was one of 63 teams nationally to earn team academic recognition.
In 2014, Rider (11-9) advanced to the MAAC Title Game losing at Monmouth after qualifying for the conference playoffs for the 15th year in a row. During the season, the Broncs enjoyed a five-game winning streak which culminated in the number two seed in the MAAC playoffs. Rider claimed MAAC Co-Goalie of the Year honors (Joelle Prettyman) and a total of six players earned All-MAAC honors.
In 2013, Rider (13-7) won the inaugural MAAC Regular Season Title with a 5-1 record before the Broncs lost in the conference semifinals 1-0. The Broncs also claimed the MAAC Player of the Year (Sandra Penas) and MAAC Rookie of the Year (Nicole Hareau).
In 2012, Rider (15-6) won its fourth NEC Regular Season Title in a row and its third NEC Championship, advancing to the NCAA Play-In game at Massachusetts where the Broncs lost in overtime 2-1.
In 2011, Rider opened the season 4-0 before losing at Hofstra. The Broncs did not lose again until the NCAA Play-In game at Princeton as Rider won 15 straight times enroute to both the NEC Regular Season Title and NEC Championship. Rider was also recognized for the third year in a row for having the lowest goals against average (0.85) in NCAA Division I with goalie Rebecca Lotito leading the nation with a 0.73 goals against average.
In 2010, after a 3-3 start, Rider realed off 13 straight wins enroute to a 16-4 record and won the Northeast Conference championship game 1-0 over Monmouth after going undefeated in NEC play for the second year in a row. The Broncs advanced to their fourth NCAA Play-In game under Hussong, losing in the snow at Albany 2-1. For the third season in a row, Rider took home NEC Rookie of the Year Honors and for the second year in a row, NEC Player of the Year honors. Just as important was how Rider played enroute to the championships with the team earning the NEC Sportsmanship Award for field hockey. Rider was also recognized for the second year in a row for having the lowest goals against average (0.94) in NCAA Division I with goalie Rebecca Lotito leading the nation with a 0.68 goals against average.
In 2009, Rider, the NEC regular Season champion, opened the season 13-0 enroute to a 17-2 record and went 8-0 in Northeast Conference play, advancing to the NEC semifinals while leading the nation in goals against average (0.65).
With wife Lori as the Bronc head coach, the Hussongs have proven to be quite a team. Dan compiled a 247-120 record as head coach of the West Windsor-Plainsboro High School girl's varsity basketball team, with Lori as his assistant. While Lori was compiling a 192-57-11 record as head coach of the WW-P field hockey team, Dan was serving as her assistant. The Hussongs have continued their winning ways here at Rider. "Dan has played a very important role in the development of our goaltending," said Lori, "and is instrumental in the recruitment and signing of what we feel is extremely talented recruits."
In 12 of his 16 seasons as goaltending coach, Rider goalies have posted the best goals against average in the Northeast Conference and for 2013 and 2015 the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. Rider has ended in the Top 20 in GAA in 11 of his 16 seasons inclduing the ninth best team goals against average in 2013. The Broncs were ranked seventh in 2008 before leading the nation in 2009, 2010 and 2011.
Dan coached the NEC Goalie of the Year in 2007 grad Jen LoCastro and worked with 2006 graduate Krysta Bearish for four years who broke the all-time single season victory total (18) in 2004 and the career wins record (58). In 2006, Bearish was eighth in save percentage (.792) after placing fifth in the nation in GAA (1.16) and 12th in save percentage in 2005. In 2004, Bearish finished in the NFHCA Top 10 in both goals against (9th at 1.005) and save percentage (3rd at .820). Bearish graduated with a career GAA of 1.29.
In Dan's other role as head recruiter, Rider has enjoyed having the NEC or MAAC Rookie of the Year eight times with Virginia Egusquiza winning the award in 2008, Marlaine Schneider earning the award in 2009, Sandra Penas winning rookie honors in 2010, Nicole Hareau earning the MAAC Rookie of the Year honor in 2013, and Daane Koch the newest recipient of MAAC Rookie of the Year in 2016.
After the 2016 season, Rider has received the conference Rookie of the Week award 58 times.
Dan is a 1977 graduate of State University of New York at Brockport, where he twice captained the Brockport basketball team. At WWP, Dan has also coached football, boy's basketball and ice hockey, and has been named the Mercer County Coach of the Year three times (1983, 1985, 1997), has earned Colonial Valley Conference Coach of the Year honors (1995) and was named the Coach of the Decade (1999) by the Princeton Packet newspaper.
Dan and Lori are the parents of three children; Michael, Colby and Tommy.
