Athletics has never been known as a particularly romantic profession. Maybe it's something about the combination of sweaty socks and busy schedules. But there are a few couples who share both their love for athletics and for each other.

According to the Employment Policy Foundation, this Valentine's Day, more than four million couples will celebrate Cupid's holiday with spouses working in the same industry or occupation. These are brave folks who have decided that common interests are worth whatever logistical challenges that arrangement may bring.

Count Dan and Lori Hussong among the married couples who won't have to use any frequent-flyer miles to celebrate with each other. Lori Hussong is the head field hockey coach at Division I Rider University, and Dan Hussong is her assistant.

Lori Hussong was an all-American field hockey player at Trenton State College (now the College of New Jersey). A physical education major, she began her career teaching at West Windsor-Plainsboro High School, where she became the varsity field hockey and lacrosse coach. After four years, she became an assistant girls' basketball coach at the high school, where Dan was the head girls' coach.

The two became quite a team at the high-school level. Lori was Dan's assistant in basketball and Dan was her assistant in field hockey.

In 2000, the two of them turned to college field hockey. As head coach, Lori Hussong has guided the Rider program to Northeast Conference Championship games in each of her first three years, winning two of them. This past fall, she led the Broncs to one of their conference titles, advancing to the NCAA Division I tournament play-in game.

Dan Hussong has become known for working with goaltenders and recruiting, efforts that helped ensure the NEC Rookie of the Year the past two years has worn a Rider uniform.

And the Hussongs say being married to their work has actually been good for their marriage.

"Coaching takes up a great amount of a person's time," Lori Hussong said. "Sometimes a spouse doesn't realize that and doesn't relate to the emotional ups and downs that come with the job. Dan's right there with me all of the way. We're both on the same page, so to speak, and that really helps. We both enjoy coaching, and we know the commitment to the program is important to both of us. We make up such a good team."

Same job, different schools

Jim and Chrissy Findlay are among the married couples sharing an occupation this Valentine's Day, but don't look for them to do it together.

Chrissy Findlay is at the helm of the women's soccer program at Bucknell University, a Division I school in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. Jim Findlay is at the helm of the women's soccer program at Division III Susquehanna University in nearby Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania.

The two schools are in different divisions and nearly 30 minutes apart from each other, but Jim and Chrissy have faced off in preseason scrimmages in the past, and they also cross paths sometimes while recruiting.

The spousal rivalry hasn't hurt either their relationship or their records. Chrissy Findlay has completed her sixth season as Bucknell's head coach, and she guided the Bison to the Patriot League championship in 2001. She has led the Bison to the Patriot League tournament in three out of her six seasons, and she was named Patriot League Coach of the Year in both 2000 and 2001.

Jim Findlay was selected Commonwealth Conference Coach of the Year last fall, and he also completed his fifth season as the head men's soccer coach.

The Findlays were both all-American soccer players at Division II Wheeling Jesuit University, where they were classmates of Carrie Hanna, the first-year head coach of the women's soccer team now at Wheeling Jesuit, who is assisted by her husband David. (See the Briefly section of the October 28 issue of The NCAA News for their story.)

But don't look for the Findlays to share a soccer team anytime soon.

"I don't see that happening," Jim Findlay said. "She's able to run her program the way she wants to, and I can do the same with mine. We like it that way. We have two different coaching styles."

The Findlays do team up in other ways. "We don't cross much on recruits, unless it's to get players from the same school," Jim Findlay said. "When we go to games, we're definitely looking out for each other. She might tell me about a player that she's seen, and I do the same."

Another area where they work as a team is in raising their daughter, 3-year-old Caitlyn.

"The schedule around home can be difficult. It sure has its moments," said Chrissy Findlay. "But we work hard to prepare so we don't run into too many conflicts. We have plenty of wonderful people to help us out when we're in a bind. I think the fact that we were players and playing team sports most of our lives helped us tremendously in preparing for life."

Sounds like teamwork is what makes romance work for these Valentines.