Schenk was named the first head coach in Lander Field Hockey history in November of 2021 and has quickly established the Bearcats as one of the premier programs in the South Atlantic Conference and the Atlantic Region.
Through four seasons, Schenk has guided the Bearcats to a 47-26 overall record, highlighted by the 2023 South Atlantic Conference Tournament Championship, three consecutive South Atlantic Conference Tournament semifinal appearances, two championship game appearances, and three consecutive seasons with 10 or more victories. Under his leadership, Lander has compiled a 34-8 record over the past two seasons, set a program record with 15 wins in 2025 and reached as high as No. 7 in the NFHCA national rankings.
The 2025 season was the best in program history as the Bearcats finished 15-4, established a new program record for victories and advanced to the South Atlantic Conference Championship Game for the second time in three seasons. Lander also set program records with eight shutouts, including a school-record seven consecutive shutouts, while earning the No. 3 seed in the conference tournament. The Bearcats placed four players on the All-South Atlantic Conference Team, highlighted by first-team selections Victoria Hulst, Isabel Elenga and Olivia Bond, while Hulst became the first player in program history to earn NFHCA All-Region, NFHCA All-America and NFHCA Senior Team honors.
Following the program's breakthrough conference championship in 2023, Schenk led Lander to another outstanding campaign in 2024. The Bearcats finished 10-8 overall and earned the No. 3 seed in the South Atlantic Conference Tournament after defeating eventual conference champion Newberry during the regular season. Lander placed five players on the All-South Atlantic Conference Team for the second consecutive season and finished the year ranked among the nation's leaders in save percentage behind goalkeeper Isabel Elenga.
The 2023 season marked one of the greatest in program history as Schenk guided the Bearcats to their first South Atlantic Conference Tournament Championship. Lander defeated Belmont Abbey, Mount Olive and Limestone to claim the title after Victoria Hulst converted the game-winning penalty stroke in overtime of the championship match. The Bearcats finished 13-4 overall, won 10 of their final 11 games and placed five student-athletes on the All-South Atlantic Conference Team. Lauren Punt and Isabel Elenga earned first-team honors, while Aniek Vreeken, Philippine Drost and Leira Van Tilburg were named to the second team. Hulst was named the South Atlantic Conference Tournament Most Valuable Player.
In the program's inaugural season in 2022, Schenk led the Bearcats to a 9-8 record and a berth in the South Atlantic Conference semifinals. Schenk coached four all-conference players and one All-American in Sophie Schmitz. Under Schenk, the Bearcats averaged 2.1 goals per game, fourth in the conference, while allowing just 1.52 goals per contest. Goalkeepers Kelsey Gibbons and Isabel Elenga combined for a .759 save percentage, the second-highest mark in the conference. The Bearcats earned the first victory in program history with a 7-0 win over Lincoln Memorial on Sept. 17 before defeating Division I Lindenwood, 1-0, in overtime on Oct. 19. Lander closed the regular season with four consecutive conference victories to earn the final berth in the South Atlantic Conference Tournament before defeating Belmont Abbey in the program's first-ever postseason game to advance to the conference semifinals.
Schenk came to Lander from the University of North Carolina, where he served as an assistant coach from 2019-21. During his three seasons on the coaching staff, the Tar Heels compiled a 55-8 overall record, won three ACC Championships, captured two NCAA National Championships and saw the coaching staff earn NCAA National Coaching Staff of the Year honors twice.
Schenk worked with all aspects of the North Carolina program, with a primary focus on the team's offense. During each of his three seasons, the Tar Heels finished among the nation's top five in goals per game, points per game and scoring average.
Before joining the UNC staff, Schenk served as Hockey Development Manager at Hurstpierpoint College, a boarding school in the United Kingdom. There, he coached players of all ages and ability levels while redesigning the school's hockey curriculum and development programs. He also served as Head of Hockey Development at Caterham School in England.
Schenk has played and coached in the Netherlands, England and Australia. His playing career included stints with Premier League clubs in Den Haag, Netherlands; Melbourne, Australia; and East Grinstead and Oxted, England.
"I am excited for this opportunity at Lander to create and develop a program with strong core values in a safe and healthy environment for young female athletes," Schenk said. "Working at UNC has given me the experience of working in a top-class U.S. program, and combined with my international background, I bring a fresh perspective to the growing sport of field hockey."
