SUNY Cortland Athletics

Jessica Welsh enters her fifth season on the coaching staff for the Cortland field hockey program in 2025, and has served as associate head coach since April 2024. She was previously an assistant coach with the Red Dragons for the 2021-23 seasons. In her four seasons on the coaching staff, Cortland has won three SUNYAC tournament titles, in 2022, 2023, and 2024, and has made four straight appearances in the NCAA Div. III playoffs. Welsh was also a member of the Cortland staff that garnered both SUNYAC and National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Region 3 Coaching Staff of the Year honors in both 2023 and 2024. 

A standout forward/midfielder for the Red Dragons from 2015-18, Welsh registered 47 goals and 25 assists for 119 points in 74 games played. She graduated ranked eighth at Cortland in career goals and ninth in points. Welsh earned first team All-America honors during her junior season, was a three-time All-North Atlantic Region selection, and was named All-SUNYAC four times, including SUNYAC Offensive Player of the Year as a junior. She also was named 2017 SUNYAC Tournament MVP and to the all-tournament team in 2018. Welsh was chosen to the SUNYAC's Field Hockey All-Decade Team (2010-19) in January of 2021.

During her four seasons as a player at Cortland, Welsh helped the Red Dragons post a combined record of 59-19. During her junior year in 2017 the Red Dragons finished 18-4, won the SUNYAC title and tied for ninth place in the NCAA Div. III playoffs.
 
A native of Hamilton, N.Y., Welsh graduated from Hamilton High School in 2015. She was a six-year starter in field hockey at Morrisville-Eaton and Hamilton, earning all-league honors five times and all-state recognition in her sophomore, junior and senior seasons. She also played basketball for four seasons, earning three all-league awards, and was a five-year softball starter who was chosen to the all-state team in her junior and senior years.