COLLEGE PARK, MD -- Legendary Maryland field hockey head coach Missy Meharg has signed a contract extension through Dec. 31, 2028, Barry P. Gossett Director of Athletics Damon Evans announced Thursday. 

Meharg, who completed her 37th season as head coach at Maryland this past fall, has led her Terrapin squads to a record of 655-172-9 for a 78.9 winning percentage, 20 Final Fours, 12 NCAA title game appearances and seven NCAA Championships. The nine-time National Coach of the Year has also led the Terrapins to 27 conference titles between their time in the ACC and the Big Ten. 

The winningest active head coach in Division I college field hockey by victories and percentage, Meharg is also third all-time in Division I victories with 655. That total is the most by any coach in the history of Maryland sports. 

"Missy is a living legend, having set the standard of excellence for everyone here at Maryland," Evans said. "The winningest coach across all sports in Maryland Athletic history, Missy is an icon in the sport of field hockey and has left an indelible mark on the University of Maryland. We are thrilled to know Missy will continue leading our program for years to come."

"Thank you, to Damon Evans, Libby Ellis and all of Maryland," Meharg said. "​​I am deeply honored by your generous offer to extend my contract through 2028. It's a privilege to continue leading Terps' Field Hockey and building on the incredible legacy we've created together.  Here's to the future… Best of the BEST … GO TERPS."

Meharg was inducted into the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009. She was inducted into the DC Sports Hall of Fame in 2016. 

Meharg has coached 114 All-America Selections, 175 NFHCA National Academic Squad Selections, 128 All-Conference Selections, 75 All-Big Ten Academic Selections, 229 ACC Academic Honor Roll Selections, 23 Players on the U.S. National Team, 58 NCAA All-Tournament Team Selections, 14 Conference Tournament MVP Selections and 24 Conference Player of the Year Selections. Five Terps have captured the Honda Award as the sport's player of the year. 

Fifteen of Meharg's Terps went on to play in the Olympics for their respective countries including five this past summer in the 2024 Olympics. Meharg served as a coach of the 1996 United States Olympics team in Atlanta and also served as a commentator for NBC's field hockey coverage for the London Olympics in 2012. Meharg is currently a member of the USA Hockey Foundation Trustee.

The influence of Meharg is undeniable in the world of field hockey, Currently, 23 NCAA coaches either played under or coached alongside her. Additionally, six highly regarded youth clubs – H20, Field Hockey Life, PA United, Next Level (MD), SoMD Eliminators, Texas Pride, and Windy City – are owned, operated, and directed by former Terps.

Meharg came to the University of Maryland as a graduate student and served as an assistant coach to Sue Tyler from 1985-87. Together, they helped the Terrapins top North Carolina for the program's first-ever NCAA title in 1987.