A Top-Notch Coaching Staff
6/21/1999 8:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
August 27, 1998
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The 1998 University of Maryland field hockey team has perhaps its most talented coaching staff ever, in terms of playing and coaching experience. The result of such credentials could mean a memorable silver anniversary season for the sixth-ranked Terps, who open their season on Sept. 2, when they host Richmond at 7:30 p.m.
At the helm of the Maryland field hockey program is head coach Missy Meharg, who is beginning her 11th season at College Park. In ten previous years, Meharg has compiled a record of 148-61-9. She is just five wins away from equaling former coach Sue Tyler's record of 153 victories. Tyler had a record of 153-86-27 during her 14-year coaching career at Maryland (1974-87).
Meharg has led the Terps to the 1993 NCAA title, the 1995 NCAA finals and the 1991 NCAA semifinals. She has also led Maryland to the 1992 ACC title and eight NCAA Tournament appearances. Meharg was named the NCAA Coach of the Year in 1991 and 1993 and the ACC Coach of the Year in 1992 and 1995.
Meharg's coaching career has also expanded to the international level during the past decade. She was an assistant coach with the U.S. National Team from 1994-97 and was the head coach of the U.S. Under-21 team in 1995.
Meharg's top two assistants, Andrea Bradley and Steve Simpson, have also had prolific coaching careers on the college and international level. Bradley (in her second season at Maryland) is currently an assistant coach on the U.S. Under-16 team while Simpson (in his fourth season at Maryland) is an assistant coach on the U.S. National Team.
Bradley was also the head coach at Goucher College from 1991-94 and led the squad to a 37-18-2 record. In 1992, she was named the South Region Coach of the Year. Simpson, meanwhile, has been extensively involved with the USFHA Futures Program as both a coach and an administrative director.
Andrew Griffiths, Christine DeBow and Carolyn Schwarz all join the Maryland coaching staff with extensive playing experience on the international level. Griffiths has been on the Canadian Men's National Team since 1989, while DeBow and Schwarz have been on the U.S. Women's National Team since 1997. DeBow and Schwarz completed their collegiate careers at Maryland last season.
For the past 24 years, Maryland field hockey has had a tradition of outstanding coaching and judging by the credentials of this year's staff, that tradition shows no signs of declining.
