As the Red’s teams open up their 2026-2027 seasons, 13 new head and assistant coaches have joined Cornell Athletics.
The Sun reached out to the new coaches to understand their goals and background experiences before their new start with the Red.
Reid Johnson: Men’s Lightweight Rowing, Head Coach
Men’s lightweight rowing welcomed new head coach Reid Johnson following the resignation of former head coach Tyler Nase amid the team’s three-year probation for hazing. The team is currently on a three-year probation during which it will undergo several extensive hazing prevention education, leadership training and culture development programs.
Johnson spent nine years at the Pelham Community Rowing Association following a two season stint with Princeton’s heavyweight team.
In an email statement to The Sun, Johnson wrote that he was drawn to Cornell Athletics because of the “genuine passion and admiration” he found at Cornell and the long-standing tradition of the program.
Johnson added that given the coaching transition the team is going through, his goals are focused on demonstrating his care for the team. His coaching philosophy, Johnson explained, is that “how we do anything is how we do everything.”
“I hope that one of my biggest contributions to this team will be that we’ve created a program that promotes a culture that fully has those at the front and center of the team,” Johnson wrote.
Maite Sturm: Field Hockey, Assistant Coach
Former All-American Maite Sturm joined field hockey’s coaching staff this summer after spending two years at Temple University. Before leading the Owls to an appearance in the Big East final in 2024, Sturm worked for two college recruiting agencies, Keystone Sports and Scholarbook.
Sturm wrote to The Sun that as a former student athlete at Virginia Commonwealth University, she understands the demands of balancing academics, athletics and daily life — something she hopes to bring to her coaching time at Cornell. Her experiences both as a student athlete and playing professionally are ways she hopes to “connect” with and “support” the team.
She added that the keys to success in her coaching book are “strong relationships, communication, consistency, and a willingness to keep learning.”
“I hope to contribute by building strong and lasting relationships with our student-athletes and coaching staff while bringing energy, attention to detail, and a strong commitment to player development,” Sturm wrote. “I also look forward to contributing in areas I am passionate about, such as recruiting, player development, and game analysis.”
Caroline Ramsey ’23: Field Hockey, Assistant Coach
Field hockey added another former All-American and familiar face as Caroline Ramsey ’23 returns to Ithaca after spending four years with the U.S. Field Hockey national team. The former three-year Cornell captain hopes to use her experience to “be a role model” for the team, Ramsey wrote in a statement to The Sun.
“My biggest goal this season is for all of the girls to feel like they’ve grown, both on and off the field,” Ramsey wrote. “As a team, I think our goals are the same as they were when I was a player — to compete, win, and succeed on the field.”
This will be Ramsey’s first collegiate coaching experience, and she wrote that she hopes to bring “an added layer of experience” to the field hockey program. Ramsey wants to foster a culture of collective trust for the team, while also pushing the team to strive for excellence.
“Having been in their position just a few years ago, I understand what they’re going through, and I want to push them outside of their comfort zones and encourage them to grow as players, competitors, and young adults,” Ramsey wrote to The Sun.
George Drago: Men's Heavyweight Rowing, Assistant Coach
The tradition and legacy of the men’s heavyweight rowing team is what drew George Drago to joining Cornell Athletics, he wrote to The Sun. While Drago has not coached a heavyweight team, his experience with the men’s lightweight program at the University of Pennsylvania included helping lead the Quakers’ V4+ to their first-ever Intercollegiate Rowing Association National Championship title in May 2025.
Drago noted “consistency and goal setting” as keys to success for the team. He hopes to help athletes find a “sweet spot” between setting goals for themselves that are too challenging and ones that are too simple.
“[My goals] are to develop our athletes as best I can and do everything in my power to guide them towards winning a national championship,” Drago wrote.
Dante Pulphus: Volleyball, Assistant Coach
Coming to Ithaca from Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, Dante Pulphus wrote that she was drawn to come to Cornell for the community and the chance to work with head coach Trudy Vande Berg, in an email statement to The Sun.
“Being able to learn from someone who has invested so much into the program and has such a clear vision for what she wants Cornell Volleyball to be was a really exciting opportunity for me,” Pulphus wrote.
Pulphus was a defensive specialist at her alma mater Marian University. She wrote that she hopes to bring “energy,” “consistency,” and “a willingness to do whatever is needed to help the program succeed.”
She added that she hopes to become someone that athletes can lean on.
“Ultimately, I want to help continue building a culture at Cornell that the players are proud to be a part of,” Pulphus wrote.
Devin Waddell: Softball, Assistant Coach
Softball has been a part of Devin Waddell’s life since she was seven years old. As the Red’s new pitching coach for softball, she strives to help each of her pitchers “become the best version of themselves while learning to work together to compete as one unit,” Waddell wrote to The Sun.
Prior to Cornell, Waddell was a graduate manager at the University of California, Los Angeles. During her collegiate career, she was a pitcher and first baseman at Pomona-Pitzer and earned several awards.
The “extremely competitive athletic experience parallel to elite academics” drew Waddell to Cornell Athletics.
Waddell added in her email statement that she hopes to promote and elevate the culture of the team that head coach Tara Smith and assistant coach Marisa Runyon have cultivated.
“My keys to success are ensuring our pitchers feel comfortable being their true selves while competing to become their best selves,” Waddell wrote.
Clay Wilson: Men’s Basketball, Associate Head Coach
For Clay Wilson, returning to Cornell as associate head coach represented a chance both professionally and personally — to return to his family in Ithaca and to reconnect with head coach Jon Jaques.
Wilson was an assistant coach for the Red from 2019-2021 and played for Princeton for four years — an experience Wilson noted has helped him understand his athletes on and off the court.
“My goal every season is to help our players grow, both as people and as basketball players,” Wilson wrote to The Sun. “I believe winning is a byproduct of that growth. Helping our student-athletes reach new heights and maximize their potential is at the heart of the college experience.”
Since leaving Cornell, Wilson has had four coaching stints at the University of North Texas, Texas Tech University, the University of Pacific and University of Hawaii.
Spencer Furman: Women’s Tennis, Head Coach
Furman was named the interim head coach of women’s tennis in September 2025 and was elevated to head coach in July 2026. Under his reign, Furman guided women’s tennis to a 8-12 overall record — with the crowning jewel of the season coming on the road against then nationally ranked Harvard.
The win over the Crimson marked a significant moment for the program and showcased Furman’s ability to lead the team against nationally recognized competition.
Before taking over for the women’s team, Furman served as an assistant coach for the Red’s men’s tennis team. Prior to Cornell, Furman was also an assistant coach at Nebraska University's men’s tennis team.
Furman did not reply to a request for comment from The Sun.
Amber Easter: Women’s Basketball, Assistant Coach
Amber Easter joins the women’s basketball staff after spending last season as an assistant coach at Bethune-Cookman, where she helped guide the Wildcats to the second round of the Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament.
She previously spent three seasons at Radford University as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator, building experience in recruiting and player development.
Easter also has ties to New York, having spent three seasons at St. Bonaventure. Her coaching career also includes stops at George Mason and Virginia Commonwealth University, following her start at the high school level in her hometown of Hampton, Virginia.
Easter did not reply to a request for comment from The Sun.
Hannah Ondak: Women’s Rowing, Assistant Coach
Hannah Ondak is entering her first season as an assistant coach. She joins Cornell with collegiate coaching experience at both the Division I and Division III levels.
Ondak spent two years as a graduate assistant coach at Smith College, coaching the 3V8+ and 4V8+ crews while helping develop the program’s athletes and speed.
Before Smith, Ondak spent two years coaching at Boston University, where she managed the novice program. She also gained national-level experience with USRowing, supporting the U.S. Junior National Team.
Ondak did not reply to a request for comment from The Sun.
Colton Reinholtz: Volleyball, Assistant Coach
Colton Reinholtz arrives at Cornell with over 13 years of collegiate coaching experience under his belt. In his latest coaching stint, he was the head volleyball coach for Kuna High School and Idaho One Volleyball Club.
Reinholtz has amassed more than a decade of collegiate coaching experience, highlighted by four seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Lafayette College, where he helped guide the program to one of its most successful seasons.
Reinholtz also served as an associate head coach at Western State Colorado University and held assistant coaching positions at Saint Francis University, Hofstra University and Utah State University.
Across his coaching stops, Reinholtz has played a significant role in recruiting and player development, working extensively to identify and attract talent while helping student-athletes grow both on and off the court.
Reinholtz did not reply to a request for comment from The Sun.
Zach Tanelli: Wrestling, Associate Head Coach
Zach Tanelli brings nearly two decades of collegiate coaching to the associate head coach of wrestling position. His coaching resume includes several notable wrestling programs including Virginia Tech University, who produced two All-Americans in 2025 and Columbia, who ended their 40 year losing streak to the Red in January 2026.
During Tanelli’s time with the Lions, he led the team to break several school records, including most NCAA qualifiers in a season and highest team placement at the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association Tournament.
Prior to his tenure with Columbia, Tanello was an assistant coach at Purdue University for two years and spent five years at Hofstra University.
Tanelli did not reply to a request for comment from The Sun.
Danny Murphy: Men’s Lacrosse, Assistant Coach
Danny Murphy joined the Red’s lacrosse coaching staff in June 2026 after serving as associate head coach and offensive coordinator for the University of Vermont. At the helm of the offense, the Catamounts consistently led the country in several key categories namely, assists per game, points per game and scoring offense.
His other coaching stints include a year at the University of Michigan as a volunteer assistant focusing on faceoff specialists and player development. Murphy also spent two years as an assistant coach at Tufts after playing there for four years and earning All-American honors three times.
Murphy did not reply to a request for comment from The Sun.
Zeinab Faraj is a member of the Class of 2028 in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is a senior editor for the 144th Editorial Board. She was a features editor and an assistant sports editor on the 143rd Editorial Board and can be reached at zfaraj@cornellsun.com.
