Meharg To Be Inducted Into NFHCA Hall of Fame
1/6/2010 7:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Jan. 6, 2010
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Maryland head coach Missy Meharg will be inducted into the National Field Hockey Coaches Association's Hall of Fame Saturday in the Association's annual ceremony, which will be held at the Greater Richmond Convention Center.
Meharg, a 1985 graduate of Delaware, has led the Terrapins to five NCAA titles in her 22-year career, including three crowns in four years from 2005-08, and eight ACC Championships. The seven-time NFHCA Coach of the Year and five-time ACC Coach of the Year, owns an overall record of 390-101-9. One of the most successful coaches in history, she has led the Maryland field hockey program to 11 NCAA semifinal appearances, including seven in the NCAA Finals round.
Her program has produced five Honda Awards won by four players, including four in the last five years. She has coached 41 All-Americans, with 14 of them earning the honor three or more years. Nine student-athletes under Meharg have earned ACC Player of the Year honors. Paula Infante won the league's Defensive Player of the Year award in 2005 and 2006, while current Terrapin junior Katie O'Donnell has won the Offensive Player of the Year award the last three seasons.
Four former Terps earned spots on the U.S. National team in the Beijing Olympics and a fifth served as an alternate. Terrapin athletes have played on their respective national teams from eight countries around the world: England, Ireland, Chile, Holland, Germany, Australia, Zimbabwe, Scotland.
Meharg served on the U.S. National Team coaching staff from 1993-1997. She assisted in the 1994 World Cup, the 1995 Pan American Games and the 1996 Olympics. Meharg is a 2010 USA Under 21 squad coaching staff member and has worked with International teams in the ages of Under-21 and Under-18. She currently holds a USA hockey level 3 coaching accreditation. Meharg has created seven teaching tapes and DVDs for Championship Productions.
Academics are an important part of Meharg's Maryland hockey program as well. Over 85 Maryland players have earned spots on the ACC's Honor Roll and 56 Terrapins have been named to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association's Academic Squad.
NOTE: Junior Katie O'Donnell, the 2009 Field Hockey Honda Sports Award recipient, will be recognized at halftime of this Sunday's men's basketball game vs. Florida State at 5:30 p.m.
