La Salle University Vice President for Athletics Ashwin Puri announced Michael Warari, who has over a decade of head coaching experience and most recently helped Appalachian State to the first regular-season conference championship in program history, as head field hockey coach on January 16, 2024.
"It became clear throughout the interview process that Michael was the right person to lead our field hockey program," Puri said. "He has a tremendous ability to connect with student-athletes and the championship pedigree he brings will help us build on an historic 2023 season."
Warari spent 10 seasons as head coach at Vassar College in New York, where he became the all-time winningest coach in program history with a record of 118-50 (.702). Prior to his arrival, Vassar had posted 12 consecutive losing seasons but enjoyed a winning record in every season with him at the helm.
"I'm honored to be joining the La Salle athletics family and thrilled by the opportunity to lead the field hockey program," Warari said. "Thank you to Ash Puri and Christine Pereira for believing in me and the future of the program. I'm looking forward to seeing what the future holds for La Salle Field Hockey, let's go Explorers!"
Vassar won two Liberty League championships under Warari's direction, and subsequently advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament in each of those years, advancing to the Sweet 16 in 2018. Warari and his assistants were awarded the Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year three times, while he individually picked up North Atlantic Regional Coach of the Year and ECAC Coach of the Year accolades in 2018. He also produced the only two All-Americans in the history of Vassar's field hockey program.
In Warari's first season as an assistant coach with App State in 2023, the Mountaineers posted incredible numbers on both the offensive and defensive ends, leading to a MAC regular season title for the first time in program history. Under Warari's tutelage, the Mountaineers scored 2.3 goals a game, which was the second-highest mark in the MAC.
Before his successful tenures at Appalachian State and Vassar, Warari served as an assistant coach at Dickinson College for one year after spending three seasons as an assistant at Messiah College. Coaching under legendary coach Jan Trapp, the all-time wins leader in Division III, Warari helped the Falcons to a combined 72-10 record, including 31-0 against conference foes. During that time, Messiah appeared twice in the NCAA Division III Championship Game with Warari on the sidelines.
Additionally, Warari served as the head coach for the club field hockey team while at Messiah, where he led his squads to a 27-12-1 record over four years at the helm. He also served as an assistant basketball coach for the Falcons from 2006-2009.
Warari served a term as director of Key State Field Hockey, while also leading the Harrisburg site of the USAFH Futures Hockey program. Warari has attained his USAFH Level 1 Futures Coaching Certification, and his USAFH Level 2 High Performance Coaching Accreditation and Certification.
Before his coaching career, Warari started for the Kenyan Junior National Field Hockey Team and was voted MVP for the Aga Khan Club Field Hockey Tournament in 1996. He then transitioned from field hockey to track, where he starred for the Cornerstone University track and field team from 1999-2002.
A 2002 graduate of Cornerstone with a degree in religion and business administration, Warari also earned his masters of divinity from Cornerstone in 2006.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT MICHAEL WARARI
"Words cannot express how grateful we are to have had Michael a part of our program. He has been a great addition to our coaching staff and has helped us grow as a team in his time here at App State. We are excited for him to step into this new role as Head Coach of La Salle University. Michael is the perfect person for the job and we know he will do great things!"
- Emily Dinsmore, Head Field Hockey Coach, Appalachian State University
2023 MAC Field Hockey Coach of the Year
"Michael is a proven champion on and off the field. His hockey intelligence combined with his management of human behavior sets him apart from many others in our profession. I wish him continued success with this new chapter in his already successful career."
- Jen Averill, Head Field Hockey Coach, Wake Forest
Eight-Time ACC Coach of the Year, Three-Time National Champion, 18 NCAA Tournament Appearances
"Congratulations to La Salle Field Hockey and Michael Warari and his family. The Explorers are welcoming an amazing, passionate and successful new leader for their program. I have had the privilege working with Michael in many different field hockey settings for over a decade. One thing always stood and stands out; he is a class act person, a great and passionate teacher, and an experienced coach. As the Explorers new head coach, he will have a direct positive impact at both the individual student-athlete and overall team levels. All the best to La Salle Field Hockey!"
- Rolf van de Kerkhof, Head Field Hockey Coach, University of Delaware
2016 NCAA National Champion; Four-Time CAA Conference Tournament Champion & NCAA Tournament Participant
"Michael has a proven track record of developing teams with a unified vision and common values that result in his teams being highly competitive on the field. For Michael it's not simply about success on the field, he cares about the holistic student-athlete experience and his student athletes are well prepared for life beyond the game. He is a student of the game, is an exceptional teacher and mentor who leads with passion and integrity".
- Dr. Rob Pepper, Executive Director/Assistant to the President for Innovation and University Partnerships, Messiah University
"Success has followed Michael throughout his coaching career and there is no doubt his time at La Salle will be any different. He understands how to connect with his student-athletes and lead all who are in his presence to excellence. La Salle's hire of Michael is not only a win for the team, program and school but also for the Atlantic 10 Conference. Michael joins a group of high-caliber coaches in the A-10 who will continue to enhance the national competitiveness of the conference."
- Danielle Baumgardner, Owner of the Collab Field Hockey Organization; Former Head Coach at Saint Louis University
"Michael Warari is a coach that has an incredible intangible quality that draws people to him. He cares. Not only does he care, but Coach Warari is invested in those around him. He is knowledgeable, focused, driven, and intentional in his creation of a winning, collaborative team environment. Coach Warari carries a special grace with him as a competitor and colleague, and he models that grace his athletes. He brings to the sport a rare combination of collaboration, grace, and competition. Coach Warari is an excellent choice as a head coach to lead his players to the next level of success as athletes and people."
- Valerie Jackson Lohr, JD, WeCoach 2.0 Academy, Ceclie Reynaud Coaching Mastery Award, Dickinson College Hall of Fame Coach
"Coach Warari's success speaks for itself. Within just my four-year career, Vassar Field Hockey became a nationally ranked, top-performing team," said Monica Feeley, a 2019 Vassar grad, two-time field hockey captain and the program's first ever All-American. He also cares deeply about team chemistry and seemingly has a sixth sense for recruiting players who work exceedingly well together, facilitating an unmatched dynamic."
- Monica Feeley, Vassar College Field Hockey Student-Athlete, 2018 All American First Team, NFHCA North Atlantic Region Player of the Year, Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year
