Member Spotlight – Brittany Vencill
LOUISVILLE, KY — For Bluegrass Field Hockey Club owner and duPont Manual High School varsity head coach Brittany Vencill, the path in coaching has extended beyond the sideline. Built on curiosity and strengthened through connection, Vencill’s journey reflects a commitment to growing and strengthening the game.
A long time Varsity coach at duPont Manual (KY), where she was recently inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame, Vencill has established a standard of excellence within Kentucky field hockey. Her leadership has guided Manual to milestone achievements, including the program’s first state championship and a historic Kentucky Apple Tournament title in 2019, marking the first win by a public school program in the regional tournament’s 50-plus year history.
A Coaching Journey Built on Curiosity and Growth
Vencill’s involvement in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) began with a desire to better understand the systems that shape the sport.
“Curiosity is ultimately what inspired me to get involved in committee service,” Vencill said. “As a varsity head coach and club owner, I always found myself trying to understand the ‘why’ and ‘how’ when it came to policies and procedures.”
That curiosity evolved into meaningful leadership within the NFHCA. Vencill now serves as the Midwest Regional Chair for the NFHCA All-American Committee, playing a key role in recognizing student-athlete excellence across the region and nationally.
Through that work, her perspective on leadership has grown.
“Many view leadership to mean authority within the coaching community,” Vencill said. “What I have learned is that leadership is about facilitating productive conversations, shared goals, and impacting decisions that benefit the broader community.”
Leading Success at duPont Manual High School and Beyond
Vencill’s impact is evident in the sustained success of her program and her influence across the state. A two-time Kentucky Field Hockey Coaches Association Coach of the Year and recipient of the NFHS Kentucky Field Hockey Coach of the Year honor, she has helped elevate the visibility and competitiveness of the sport within the region.
Her leadership extends beyond the high school level. As commissioner of Jefferson County Public Schools middle school field hockey and secretary of the Kentucky High School Field Hockey Coaches Association, Vencill plays a direct role in shaping the sport’s pipeline and future growth.
She also remains committed to her own development, holding a USA Field Hockey Level 2 certification and regularly engaging in coaching education opportunities and networking with collegiate coaches.
Committee Work With Impact
Within the NFHCA, Vencill’s contributions have influenced both process and outcome. Early in her committee experience, she focused on learning how athletes are evaluated and compared across regions. Over time, that understanding allowed her to help ensure fairness and accuracy in recognition.
Experiences like that have shaped how Vencill now supports other coaches, sharing insight and guidance to help more student-athletes earn regional and national recognition.
Mentorship That Shapes Coaching Philosophy
Vencill credits much of her approach to the influence of mentors who helped shape her perspective early in her career.
Wendy Martin, a former coach at Louisville Collegiate School where Vencill served as an assistant coach, instilled the importance of prioritizing people first.
“She always put the well-being of her athletes first,” Vencill said.
That lesson carried forward as Vencill built her own program, emphasizing trust, relationships, and culture. A state championship season reinforced the impact of that foundation, as Martin was among the first to celebrate the moment.
Liz Sanders, long time coach, friend, and current Chief Operating Officer at USA Field Hockey, has provided a steady presence throughout Vencill’s career.
“Liz has an innate way to find the positive in all situations and really helps ground me,” Vencill said.
Together, those influences continue to shape a coaching style rooted in patience, intention, and connection.
Balancing Leadership, Family, and the Game
Balancing coaching, service, and family requires intentional choices.
“I have been selective in what service roles I choose,” Vencill said. “With two small children, I am careful not to overcommit.”
Her approach reflects a clear understanding of where she can make the greatest impact while maintaining balance across responsibilities.
The Future of Field Hockey Is Built Together
Vencill sees the future of field hockey as a shared responsibility.
“Field hockey doesn’t always have the same visibility or resources as bigger sports, so our growth heavily depends on community-driven efforts,” Vencill said.
Mentorship and collective service, in her view, are essential to sustaining that growth. They ensure that knowledge is passed forward and that progress does not rely on a single individual, but on a connected network of coaches and leaders.
A Lasting Impact Beyond the Sideline
From building a championship program to shaping national recognition processes and mentoring fellow coaches, Vencill’s influence reaches across every level of the game. “Strong mentorships create continuity so that knowledge gets passed down rather than lost when coaches step away from the sport. Collective service ensures that growth isn’t dependent on individuals but is shared across a network. Mentorship and collective service are both forces that will help shape success from grassroots programming to elite performance,” shared Vencill.
What began with curiosity has grown into leadership.
And through that leadership, Brittany Vencill continues to help strengthen the future of field hockey.
Serve the Sport. Get Involved with the NFHCA
Inspired by leaders like Vencill, many NFHCA members choose to give back through service to the coaching community. More than 200 coaches currently contribute their time and expertise across the Association’s 13 standing committees, helping shape programs, recognition initiatives, and the future of the sport. Coaches interested in becoming more involved are encouraged to complete the NFHCA Committee Service Application in the NFHCA Member Portal and take part in strengthening the field hockey community.
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