Last Presenter: Key Characteristics College Coaches are Looking for in High School Athletes #NFHCA2018

The Coach

NFHCA

National Field Hockey Coaches Association

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Cheryl Murtagh

In her first 29 seasons in Boston, Murtagh gives the Huskies plenty to be proud of, both on and off the field. She's led Northeastern to 10 America East titles and the Huskies first CAA regular season title following the 2014 season, twice stringing together four-consecutive conference championships. Under Murtagh, the Huskies have reached the NCAA Tournament 16 times, including three Final Four appearances. A seven-time Northeast Region Coach of the Year, Murtagh entered the 2017 season with 399 career wins collected over 31 seasons, which is tops of any female coach in NU history and seventh most among active Division-I coaches.

Carla Hesler

Carla Hesler, who entered her 19th year at the helm of the Saint Michael's field hockey program in 2017, has established herself as one of the most successful coaches ever at the institution. Hesler is the only coach in the history of Saint Michael's Athletics to own the most victories with two different programs, having tallied 159 with field hockey and another 64 with women's lacrosse, previously guiding both programs simultaneously. The 2017 season was her 31st as a college field hockey head coach. Hesler also serves the College as the recreation sports coordinator.

Julie Ryan

The winningest coach in program history, Julie Ryan entered her 11th season as the head field hockey coach at Babson in 2017. Ryan boasts a .654 winning percentage and has taken the field hockey program to new heights since arriving in Babson Park in 2007. She has led the Green and White to 11 or more victories in nine of her first 10 seasons, and under her guidance the Beavers have gone unbeaten four times in NEWMAC play, won five regular season league titles, and captured two conference tournament championships over the last decade. Her players have earned six All-America awards, 31 all-region honors and 38 all-conference accolades.

NFHCA

The National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) is a non-profit organization serving field hockey coaches and supporters of the game from across the United States. The mission of the organization is to stimulate the professional development of coaching leadership within the sport of field hockey. The NFHCA strives to cultivate and recognize the professional contributions of its membership and to foster and promote the growth of the sport. The NFHCA is responsible for providing a recognizable presence and voice in regard to legislation affecting the sport as well as interscholastic and intercollegiate programs.