Meharg Named ESPNU Top 5 Recruiter
1/30/2011 7:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Jan. 30, 2011
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - ESPNU and ESPN The Magazine named Maryland field hockey head coach Missy Meharg the No. 5 recruiter in all of college sports. The list was put together in conjunction with three dozen experts in college sports and recruiting. Meharg was the only field hockey coach to make the list.
ESPNU & ESPN THE MAGAZINE'S TOP 20
1. Pat Henry, Texas A&M men's and women's cross-country, indoor and outdoor track
2. Anson Dorrance, UNC women's soccer
3. Ed Orgeron, USC football assistant
4. Chris Dailey, UConn women's hoops assistant
5. Missy Meharg, Maryland field hockey
6. Mike Krzyzewski, Duke men's hoops
7. Russ Rose, PSU women's volleyball
8. Burton Burns, Alabama football assistant
9. Jay Clark, Georgia women's gymnastics
10. Chad Holbrook, South Carolina baseball assistant
11. Dan Jordan, Alaska rifle
12. John Calipari, Kentucky men's hoops
13. Mike McGraw, Oklahoma State men's golf
14. Jovan Vavic, USC men's and women's water polo
15. Thad Matta, Ohio State men's hoops
16. Kelly Inouye-Perez, UCLA softball
17. Mike LoPresti, Fairleigh Dickinson women's bowling
18. Tosh Lupoi, Cal football assistant
19. Kelly Amonte Hiller, Northwestern women's lacrosse
20. J Robinson, Minnesota wrestling
Meharg, a graduate of the University of Delaware and the Tatnall School, has coached four Honda Award winners that have won six awards, including 2009 and 2010 winner Katie O'Donnell, 45 All-Americans, five four-time All Americans, nine ACC Player of the Year recipients, and seven ACC Freshman of the Year winners.
O'Donnell was named the National Player of the Year and Offensive MVP by womensfieldhockey.com at the conclusion of the 2010 season. Four Terrapins, O'Donnell, Megan Frazer, Jemma Buckley and Jill Witmer were named All-Americans.
Four of Meharg's former athletes served on the U.S. National team for the Beijing Olympics in 2008. Lauren Powley, Keli Smith and Rizzo were on the 16-spot roster and Sara Silvetti served as an alternate. Katie Kauffman Beach was the Terps' first Olympian in Atlanta Games in 1996. Terrapin athletes have played on their respective national teams from eight countries around the world: England, Ireland, Chile, Holland, Germany, Australia, Zimbabwe, Scotland. Katie O'Donnell is currently the starting center forward for the U.S. National team.
Meharg led the Terrapins to their seventh National Championship in 2010, going 23-1 on the year. Maryland also claimed its ninth and third straight ACC Tournament title as part of a season-ending 15-game winning streak. Coming into the 2010 season, the Terps lost seven of 11 starters from a 23-1 NCAA runner-up team in 2009.
Meharg earned her eighth National Coach of the Year award at the conclusion of her 23rd season at the helm of the Terps. She was named the NFHCA's National Coach of the Year for the 13th time in December.
Meharg's overall record of 413-102-9 gives her a winning percentage of .796, which is second among all active coaches. She earned her 400th career victory with a 4-3 win at Michigan on Oct. 3. Over the last two seasons, the Terrapins are 46-2 with two ACC championships, two trips to the NCAA Finals and an NCAA championship.
The Terrapins won their fourth NCAA title in six years November 21 (2005, 2006, 2008, 2010) when they beat No. 2 North Carolina 3-2 in double overtime in College Park. Either Maryland or North Carolina has won the last six titles. The Terps won the crown in front of 2,381 fans at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex - the largest crowd in NCAA field hockey history.
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 was a 2010 USA Under 21 squad coaching staff member. She has worked with International teams in the ages of Under-21 and Under-18.
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.
