Meharg Named Dita/NFHCA Mid-Atlantic Region Coach Of The Year :: Mentor of the NCAA field hockey finalist Terrapins is a candidate for NFHCA National Coach of the Year honors, to be awarded Jan. 12.

Nov. 27, 2001

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - After guiding the Maryland field hockey squad to a 20-4 record and a trip to the 2001 NCAA title game, 14th year head coach Missy Meharg was named the Dita/NFHCA Mid-Atlantic Region Coach of the Year. The seventh regional honor of her career makes Meharg an eligible candidate for Dita/NFHCA Division I National Coach of the Year, which will be announced at the NFHCA Awards Ceremony on Jan. 12, 2002, in Philadelphia.

Maryland's all-time winningest field hockey coach with a career record of 226-76-9, Meharg was also named regional coach of the year in 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995 and 1999 and national coach of the year in 1991, 1993 and 1999. She is one of only four head coaches to have won multiple NCAA titles with two, and she now ranks 13th all-time among Division I field hockey mentors in coaching victories.

This season Meharg led the Terps to their 14th NCAA tournament appearance, third straight semifinal showing and fifth title game, in addition to Maryland's fourth consecutive ACC championship and fifth in program history. The Terrapins' 20-4 record marked the third time in Maryland field hockey history that the squad has captured 20 or more wins in a season, and second in the last three years.

With six Terps selected to All-America teams this season, Meharg's student-athletes boast 54 such national honors in her 14 years. In addition, 72 Terps under Meharg have been selected to the NFHCA Academic Squad prior to the naming of the 2001-02 team this spring. Meharg has tutored 31 athletes that have played internationally, including one Olympian, Kate Kauffman, who played in the 1996 Atlanta games. Meharg also served as an assistant coach on that U.S. National Team in Atlanta.

"Coach of the Year accolades, like individual player awards, are just an extension of a great team and great coaching staff," said Meharg. "The international experience of Canadian Olympian Andrew Griffiths and longtime Terp coach Steve Simpson blended well with our new freshmen and experienced players, and that is what allows us to enjoy such great success."

The NFHCA is pleased to announce that the following coaches have been selected as 2001 Dita/NFHCA Division I Regional Coaches of the Year:

Missy Meharg, University of Maryland: 2001 Dita/NFHCA MidAtlantic Region Coach of the Year
Meharg led the Terrapins to a 20-4 overall record and Maryland's third consecutive trip to the NCAA Division I Championship Semifinals and second title game appearance in three years. Maryland captured the ACC regular season and conference tournament titles. Meharg was selected as the 2001 ACC Coach of the Year for her efforts.

Kathleen Parker, Syracuse University: 2001 Dita/NFHCA Mideast Region Coach of the Year
Parker led the Orangewomen to a 16-4 overall record and a perfect 5-0 mark in the Big East Conference. Syracuse captured the Big East regular season and conference tournament titles and earned an automatic bid to the 2001 NCAA Tournament. Parker was honored as the 2001 Big East Conference Coach of the Year for her efforts.

Cheryl Murtagh, Northeastern University: 2001 Dita/NFHCA Northeast Region Coach of the Year
Murtagh led the Huskies to a 16-7 overall record and a perfect 9-0 mark in the America East Conference. Northeastern captured the America East regular season and conference tournament titles and earned an automatic bid to the 2001 NCAA Tournament. Murtagh was selected as the 2001 America East Conference Coach of the Year for her efforts.

Beth Anders, Old Dominion University: 2001 Dita/NFHCA South Region Coach of the Year
Anders led the Lady Monarchs to an 18-5 overall record and a perfect 3-0 mark in the CAA. Old Dominion captured its sixth consecutive CAA Tournament title and received the number one seed in the 2001 NCAA Tournament.

Shelly Morris, Ohio University: 2001 Dita/NFHCA West Region Coach of the Year
Morris led the Bobcats to a 16-5 overall record and a 9-1 mark in the Mid-American Conference. Ohio University captured the 2001 Mid-American Conference regular season and conference tournament titles and earned the school's first ever trip to the NCAA Tournament.

Contact: Mark Fratto
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