BERKELEY — California Director of Field Hockey Shellie Onstead has announced her retirement after 31 seasons as head coach, Co-Directors of Athletics Jay Larson and Jenny Simon-O'Neill announced Friday.

"Shellie is not only a Golden Bear icon, she is an icon in the sport of field hockey," Larson and O'Neill said. "It's hard to quantify the imprint she has left on our program, our athletic department and our University. We can't thank Shellie enough for her contributions to Cal, and we are excited to watch her enjoy her well-deserved retirement."

Onstead retires as the architect of Cal's rise from a regional contender to a nationally respected program, leaving a legacy defined by competitive excellence, innovation, and transformative leadership that extended far beyond wins and losses.

"Coaching at Cal has been the honor of my life," Onstead said. "I am deeply grateful for every student-athlete who wore the Blue and Gold with heart and integrity, and to the countless colleagues and supporters who championed this program, this sport, and the principle that athletics can change lives. Watching the players grow into leaders - on the field and in life - has been the greatest reward.

A Cal alumna, Onstead was the program's first-ever First-Team All-American in 1982 and helped lead the Bears to historic postseason success, including a 1980 AIAW runner-up finish and top-five national finishes in 1981 and 1982. She graduated in 1983 and returned to Berkeley as an assistant coach for 11 seasons under Donna Fong before being named the program's second head coach ever in 1995.

During her tenure, Onstead guided the Golden Bears through multiple conference affiliations and competitive eras and became just the 23rd coach in NCAA field hockey history to reach 300 career wins. Her teams earned six NCAA Tournament berths, 11 conference championships, including 12 NorPac titles, the 2011 NorPac Tournament championship, and the 2023 America East Tournament championship. Onstead was a six-time NorPac Conference Coach of the year.

Individually, Onstead coached nine All-Americans – including Liz Klompmaker last season – seven conference Players of the Year and six conference Rookies of the Year. Onstead's teams were consistently recognized for competitive improvement, academic excellence, and strong team culture in a sport traditionally dominated by East Coast programs.

Onstead's influence extended far beyond the Golden Bears' sidelines. She served as an assistant coach for the U.S. Women's National Team at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and held numerous leadership roles within USA Field Hockey. In 1999, she became the first woman ever named head coach of the U.S. Men's Under-16 National Team, one of several historic milestones in her advocacy for gender equity in coaching.

Her contributions also include overseeing youth and elite training camps nationwide, coaching U.S. youth squads abroad, and serving on NCAA committees focused on coaching education and sport governance.

As a player, Onstead also represented the U.S. Women's National Team in 1985 and 1986, further underscoring her lifelong contributions to the sport at every level.
Throughout her career, Onstead stood as a passionate advocate for Title IX and gender equity in intercollegiate athletics — championing expanded opportunities for women in sport, equitable resources, and the empowerment of female coaches. Her leadership helped pave the way for future generations of women in coaching and athletics administration.

"Shellie has been more than a coach — she's been an ambassador for this sport and a tireless advocate for gender equity," said Kathleen Wiler, who served as Kent State's head coach for the past 20 years and is a longtime colleague of Onstead. "Her impact on field hockey, on Title IX progress, and on the lives of her players is immeasurable."

Onstead was inducted into the Cal Athletics Hall of Fame in 2008, recognition of a career defined by competitive success, service, and leadership.

"My family has shared every part of this career with me — from long seasons to unforgettable moments — and I'm so very appreciative for the opportunity to now spend more time with them in this next chapter," Onstead said. "I will be forever grateful for this amazing journey and I am excited for what lies ahead — for both myself and the program."

Current assistant coaches Katrina Carter and Kieran Minton will serve as co-interim head coaches, and a national search for the next Donna Fong Director of Field Hockey will begin immediately.