Pankratz Tabbed NFHCA West Region Coach of the Year
12/9/2015 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Dec. 9, 2015
CHANDLER, Ariz. -- University of Michigan head field hockey coach Marcia Pankratz has been named the 4U Field Hockey/National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division I West Region Coach of the Year, the NFHCA announced Wednesday (Dec. 9). Pankratz guided the Wolverines to an 18-5 record in 2015 -- the program's best mark in 13 seasons -- en route to runner-up finishes in the Big Ten regular season and postseason tournament and a spot in the NCAA quarterfinals.
After dropping its first two games of the season, Michigan claimed 17 of its next 19 games, earning 10 shutout wins over the stretch, to surge into the nation's top 10 rankings. The Wolverines also posted a perfect 3-0 mark in overtime -- last season's Achilles heel -- securing dramatic comeback wins against conference rivals Northwestern and Penn State. U-M tied the latter contest after a timeout in the final minute of regulation in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals, propelling U-M to the championship game for the 12th time in 16 seasons.
The Wolverines advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the 12th time in program history -- 10th time under Pankratz -- and opened play with a 2-1 decision against No. 7 Wake Forest, avenging their 3-0 loss from the season-opening ACC/Big Ten Challenge, before falling to top-ranked and eventual NCAA runner-up UNC, 1-0, in the quarterfinals.
Pankratz has garnered NFHCA West Region Coach of the Year accolades four times in her career, previously earning the distinction in 1999, 2000 and 2003. She is also a five-time Big Ten Coach of the Year. The winningest coach in Michigan program history, Pankratz has guided 19 different student-athletes to 31 All-America citations, including Lauren Thomas (first team) and Sam Swenson (second) this season. Thomas was also named the 2015 NFHCA West Region Player of the Year.
Assistant coach Ryan Langford has been on Pankratz's staff for seven seasons, while former Wolverine All-American Lucia Belassi White has been on staff for six seasons. The duo has contributed to two Big Ten titles and five NCAA Tournament berths over their tenure.
Communications Contact: Leah Howard
