ITHACA, N.Y. – First-year head coach Kaitlyn Wahila finalized two exciting additions to fill out her coaching staff in advance of the upcoming 2017 season on Thursday afternoon. The new head of the Ithaca College field hockey program formally announced that Elizabeth Leh and Jim Schutt would be joining her staff as volunteer assistant coaches for the upcoming season.
 
"We are looking forward to adding Liz and Jim to our Ithaca College field hockey family and coaching staff," Wahila said. "Their passion as well as their technical knowledge of the game will be extremely beneficial in helping us implement a new strategical game plan for our players this season."
 
Leh joins the IC staff after recently completing her undergraduate coursework at the University of Iowa. She graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Communications with a minor in Business Administration in the May of 2016. She was also a four-year member of the Hawkeyes' varsity field hockey program.
 
Leh appeared in 44 contests for Iowa over her collegiate career, earning varsity letters in all four seasons. Stalwart in defense for the Hawkeyes, she made 18 starts her senior season, making one defensive save in nearly 1,100 minutes of action. She was an NFHCA Academic Squad honoree in both her freshman and sophomore seasons, while she earned Dean's List placement in both her freshman and senior years. Additionally, she was the recipient of the Nancy McLinden Carr Award in 2013 and 2014, while she was named Female Hawkeye of the Year in 2016.
 
Leh was involved in many programs while in Iowa City, which included the role of Social Chair on the Hawkeyes' Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) during her final three years. She organized several SAAC-sponsored events during her three years in the role. Leh also served as a Research Assistant and Social Marketing Campaign organizer.
 
Leh graduated from Stroudsburg High School in Northeast Pennsylvania in 2012. She was named her high school's team MVP in each of her final two seasons, leading the team to two conference titles during her prep career. Leh was a two-time All-Conference honoree, while she was named to the Lehigh Valley All-Area team, Stroudsburg High School Female Athlete of the Year and Stroudburg's Player's Player Award following her senior season.
 
Schutt has been a well-respected coach in the Central New York area for many seasons. Most recently, he has served as an assistant coach for Vestal High School's varsity field hockey program for the past four seasons. He helped lead Vestal to New York State Regional Championships in 2013 and 2014, advancing to the New York State Semifinals in both years. For the past year, he has also been a licensed private coach, as well as the assistant coach of the Southern Tier Storm club field hockey team. He is USA Field Hockey Level Two certified.
 
Schutt has been involved in coaching field hockey for over 10 seasons, originally getting into the sport through supporting his two daughters. His oldest daughter, Emily, is a sophomore member of the varsity field hockey program at NCAA Division I James Madison University. His younger daughter, Erika, is a senior at Vestal.
 
"Liz will primarily work with our defenders, while Jim will work closely with our strikers and attacking midfielders," Wahila explained. "We are lucky to have local talented coaches who are willing to help us provide the best possible experience for our student-athletes at Ithaca."
 
The Bombers will begin preseason camp this coming weekend. Ithaca opens the season at Susquehanna's Connie Harnum Classic over Labor Day Weekend. IC's first contest will be Saturday, September 2, at 1:00 p.m. against Kean University.