Spend time with Rutgers Field Hockey and "family" is the word you will likely hear more than any other. And this is just how Head Coach Meredith Civico wants it to be. Since her first day as head coach, the foundation of Rutgers Field Hockey has been the culture, about intentionally creating a family atmosphere that allows student-athletes to thrive as students, as athletes and as people. Now, by attracting and recruiting the very best players and staff over her fourteen years as head coach, and giving them an environment in which they flourish, Meredith Civico has built the program into one of the top in the Big Ten – and the nation. 

Over the past seven seasons, RU is 84-47, a winning percentage of 64%, with 44 of the 84 wins coming against ranked teams. In 2018, the Scarlet Knights went to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 32 years, then made two additional NCAA Tournaments over the next five years. The team set the program record for wins in 2021 (19) and followed that in 2023 with the second most wins in program history (16). RU was the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament in 2021 after winning the Big Ten Tournament on home turf.

Success, however, was not automatic nor a foregone conclusion for Civico's program. Talented players and an exceptional supporting staff has pushed the team onwards, but the core tenant for the program has been the establishment of a strong, positive culture where progression is expected, differences are celebrated and family is everything. The feeling of togetherness in the locker room and when competing is what makes this team special and unique.

This year, Civico was a guest on "The Way of Champions" podcast with John O'Sullivan and Dr. Jerry Lynch. O'Sullivan, a team culture and performance specialist, works closely with the program. On the podcast episode, Civico dove in-depth into her thoughts on building the team's culture, the role of love in her coaching, her team values and how everyone on the team is able to feel comfortable being who they are to bring their best versions of themselves forward. 

"Culture is something you have to work at every single day; it doesn't just happen," Civico explained. "We have this acronym: RUTGERS that stands for our core values: Relentless, United, Tenacious, Gritty, Excellence, Respect, Strength. These aren't just words on a wall – they're how we live."

Over her time at the helm of the program, Civico has established tight bonds with the players on the squad. Between herself and fellow members of the coaching staff, they continually meet with the players to establish a clear flow of communication, dialogue and level-setting. But sometimes these conversations encompass far more than just what is taking place on the field.

"There are so many things that happen as a coach," Civico said, "The players come to you with all kinds of challenges. I always treat them exactly how I would want someone to treat me in that situation: with care and love and understanding".

The relationships that she has built with her players has been the foundation of the team's success.

"We're not just coaching a sport; we're coaching people," Civico explained. "Sports are played by people, and people are the most important."

In other words, like family.