University of Delaware Field Hockey Head Coach Carol Miller Announces Retirement
November 8, 2010
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File Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell
• Biography/Year-by-Year Records
NEWARK, Del. -- Carol Miller, who brought her alma mater to national prominence in the sport of field hockey during her 18 seasons as head coach at the University of Delaware, announced her retirement Monday.
Miller (at right), a 2001 inductee into the UD Athletics Hall of Fame, led her Blue Hen teams to 11 winning seasons, one America East Regular season championship, two Colonial Athletic Association Tournament titles, and two NCAA Tournament appearances during her career. The Blue Hens went 8-10 this past season and tied for sixth in the CAA standings with a 2-6 mark.
Miller’s 18 seasons as head coach was the longest tenure in UD field hockey history and her 194 victories (194-159) with the Blue Hens ranks second only to her former coach, Mary Ann Hitchens, who posted a mark of 196-76-30 in 17 seasons between 1973-88.
“Carol has represented the University of Delaware well as both a player and a coach,” said UD Director of Athletics and Recreation Services Bernard Muir. “We thank her for the many years of service to the University and the guidance that she has provided to so many student-athletes. We wish her nothing but the best as she moves on to another chapter in her life.”
A national search to replace Miller will begin immediately.
“I've had a wonderful run here at UD, having the opportunity to come in contact with many wonderfully gifted student-athletes,” said Miller. “I can honestly say that I have learned from each and every one of them and they have touched my life in the most profound and enlightening ways. My predecessor Mary Ann Hitchens, taught me, first as a student-athlete and later as a mentor, that success is not only measured by the wins and losses but rather by how one comes away from the playing field having developed a strong sense of confidence, integrity, honesty and teamwork. If I’ve enabled my athletes to become better individuals, good citizens and self-sufficient young women then my job has been completed, my success obvious, and my time well spent. I wish to thank the university for allowing me the opportunity to serve.”
Miller began her coaching career at NCAA Division II Millersville where she posted a record of 86-51-18 in eight seasons between 1985-92 and led the team to four NCAA Tournament appearances, one in which her team placed second to the national champions, and two conference titles. She was inducted into the Millersville University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2004.
In 26 years as a college head coach at Millersville and Delaware, she posted a combined record of 280-211-18 and led teams to six NCAA Tournament appearances. She reached the 200-win plateau in Delaware's 4-1 win over Drexel Nov. 3, 2002.
She returned to Delaware in 1993 and led Blue Hen teams to 10 or more wins 11 times and to the conference tournament on 12 occasions. Delaware advanced to the league tournament championship game four times - 2001, 2003, 2004, and 2009 - and her squads won league titles and earned NCAA Tournament berths in both 2004 and 2009.
The Blue Hens captured their second CAA title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2009 when Delaware put together a record of 14-6, including a victory at Drexel to capture the league crown and automatic playoff berth. For her efforts, Miller was selected as the womensfieldhockey.com NCAA Division I National Coach of the Year.
Miller was also named the America East Coach of the Year in 1994 and led her Blue Hen teams to the regular season conference championship and the highest national ranking of her tenure during the 1998 campaign when Delaware rose as high as No. 6 in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association poll.
Individually under Miller, Blue Hen players have earned All-American notice eight times, including 2009 All-American Casey Howard, All-Region laurels 45 times, and all-conference honors 43 times. This past season, Michelle Drummonds and Missy Woodie earned second team All-CAA notice. In addition, Jodi Byrd was named the 1998 America East Player of the Year. Four of her former players - Lauren Baugher, Byrd, Sue Daddona, and Brenda Lear - have been inducted into the UD Athletics Hall of Fame.
Her athletes have also been outstanding students with numerous NFHCA All-Academic and CAA Academic Honor Roll award recipients. Kim Wagaman was the inaugural CAA Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2002 while Leah Geib won the award in both 2003 and 2004 while also earning CoSIDA All-District Academic honors. Kelly Cawley was a two-time CoSIDA All-District Academic selection in 1997 and 1998 and was named the 1999 NCAA Woman of the Year for the state of Delaware. Geib was the NCAA Woman of the Year for the state in 2005 and became the first UD student-athlete to be a top 10 finalist for the national NCAA Woman of the Year Award.
Miller served as chairperson for the NCAA Division III National All-American Field Hockey Committee from 1987-1990 and vice-president of the College Field Hockey Coaches Association in 1990-91.
She has previously served as chairperson of the Mid-Atlantic Coach of the Year committee, as the NFHA regional chairperson, as a member of the Mid-Atlantic Region All-American Committee, and as the chairperson for the Mid-Atlantic Region Polling committee. She also has her USFHA Level II coaching certification.
A 1982 graduate of Delaware, Miller is one of the most decorated athletes in UD field hockey history, earning All-American honors three times under Hitchens and competing as a member of the U.S. National Team. A two-time team captain, she led the 1978 Blue Hen squad to a second place Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) national finish and the 1981 team to a third place finish.
Her 46 goals and 100 points still rank in the top five all-time at Delaware. In track and field, Carol placed ninth in the javelin throw at the 1981 AIAW nationals and held the school record in the event (143-9) until this past fall.
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