Maryland's Meharg Given Contract Extension
9/11/2002 8:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Sept. 11, 2002
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland's four-time ACC and NFHCA (National Field Hockey Coaches Association) National Coach of the Year Missy Meharg has had her contract extended through 2007, announced by Maryland Athletics Director Deborah A. Yow. The coach's prior contract, which would have ended in 2005, was extended to the end of the 2007 academic year.
"Coach Meharg is an excellent mentor, a master teacher and a dynamic recruiter," said Yow. "I am pleased to be able to offer her the contract extension. She is in the midst of building Maryland field hockey into a dynasty."
The Terps' head coach, who led her squad to its fourth consecutive ACC title and third straight NCAA semifinal appearance a season ago, has been the recipient of national coach of the year honors in 1991, 1993, 1999 and 2001. Thus far in 2002 Meharg's Terrapins made their debut at No. 1 in the first NFHCA Coaches Poll of the season with a roster that includes 10 newcomers and a starting lineup that features six rookies.
"As a female coach in an Olympic sport, it is always an honor to know that you are working in a system that is constantly thinking about your successes and the successes of the program," said Meharg. "I think a five-year contract makes an enormous statement as to the importance of field hockey here at Maryland."
Maryland's all-time winningest field hockey coach with a career record of 231-76-9 in her 15th season, Meharg was named ACC Coach of the Year in 1992, 1995, 1998 and 2001, and Mid-Atlantic Regional Coach of the Year in 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1999 and 2001. She is the fourth-longest tenured head coach at Maryland, behind only wrestling coach John McHugh (25 years), gymnastics coach Bob Nelligan (24 years) and track & field coach Bill Goodman (15 years). A native of Wilmington, Del., and a graduate of the University of Delaware, Meharg was inducted into both the state and university's halls of fame.
Meharg is one of only four head field hockey coaches to have won multiple NCAA titles with two (1993 and 1999), and now ranks 13th all-time among Division I field hockey mentors in coaching victories. In 2001 Meharg's Terps made their 14th NCAA tournament appearance, appeared in their fifth title game and captured their fifth ACC championship (1993, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001). 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 four Terps selected to All-America teams following the 2001 season, Meharg's student-athletes boast 57 such national honors in 14 years. In addition, 84 Terps under Meharg have been selected to the NFHCA Academic Squad. Meharg has tutored 35 athletes that have played internationally, including one Olympian, Kate Kauffman, who participated in the 1996 Atlanta games, and Carla Tagliente, Keli Smith and Dina Rizzo, who currently team with Kauffman on the U.S. national squad. Meharg has spent time coaching internationally, including a stint as an assistant coach on that U.S. National Team during the Atlanta Olympics.
