KristaLee Mellott, a four-time all-conference player at the Division I level, has been named Hood's seventh women's soccer head coach for the 2013-14 season. She inherits the head coaching duties from Emily Clowser, who resigned from her position after three seasons with the Blazers. 

Originally from North Haledon, N.J., Mellott was a four-year starter at forward at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pa. She led the Bison to the Patriot League Tournament title as a sophomore and regular season titles as a junior and senior. Mellott was honored as a second-team all-conference selection as a freshman, sophomore and senior and garnered first-team accolades her junior year, becoming just the second Bucknell player ever to earn four all-conference certificates. She was also named the team's rookie of the year and offensive player of the year during her outstanding collegiate career.

Formerly KristaLee Gentile, she currently ranks fourth in Bucknell history in goals scored (34) and total points (83) and registered 14 game-winning goals in her four seasons. She was the recipient of the Lee S. "Bud" Ranck Memorial Award, which is given to a senior student-athlete "for outstanding spirit and contribution to the Bucknell athletic program." She also played semi-professionally in the W-League in 2010.

Mellott began her coaching career at Saint Mary's High School in 2008 as an assistant coach. She then made her collegiate coaching debut at Elmira College in Elmira, N.Y., as an assistant and interim head coach, helping the Soaring Eagles to 10 victories in her two seasons.

Most recently, Mellott completed a two-year stint as an assistant coach at Gettysburg College in Gettysburg, Pa. The Bullets posted an overall mark of 24-13 in her two seasons and advanced to the Centennial Conference tournament each year with a combined record of 16-4 in league matches. With Mellott on staff the last two seasons, Gettysburg has landed two players on the all-Mid-Atlantic Region team, 10 players on the all-conference team and freshman goalkeeper Eliza Gray was heralded as the 2012 conference rookie of the year. Additionally, the Bullets (12-6, 8-2 Centennial) were ranked as high as No. 4 in the region and received votes in the national top 25 coaches poll in 2012.

Mellott received a bachelor of arts degree in mathematics with minors in Italian and philosophy from Bucknell in 2008 and went on to receive a master of science degree in business management from Elmira in 2011. In June 2012, Mellott graduated from the NCAA Women Coaches Academy. She currently holds her national license from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).